The holidays are always crunch time for Santa Claus. Keen to ensure a merry Christmas to all kids, Santa traded his 2022 Indian FTR Carbon for a shiny new 2022 MT-10 SP in Liquid Metal/Raven. Santa rode Yamaha this season because his elves read and watched a couple of new motorcycle reviews on the base MT-10 naked bike from the official US press introduction this past summer.
Editor’s note: Get up to speed on the new MT-10 in the Is Yamaha’s 2022 MT-10 the Best Naked Bike in its Class? and 2022 Yamaha MT-10 Review articles and videos.
“Overall we like what Yamaha’s done with the ‘22 version of the MT-10,” read his elves aloud to Santa. “We like the styling, we like the R1-based electronics; it’s all a nice step up, especially for track riders,” the article continued.
“So would we pony up $13,999 for this bike? If we were looking for a high-end, liter-class naked, this would be on our shopping list.” This statement sealed the deal for Santa who knows the worth of a dollar.
Still, Santa also has caviar tastes—and Yamaha delivers with its MT-10 SP ($16,899). The SP adds semi-active Öhlins suspension, a painted chin fairing, stainless steel front brake lines, and black clutch and brake levers. The seat cover also features a suede-like material with off-white stitching and the swingarm is polished. Aesthetically, this adds up to a much more tasty MT. The chin fairing especially adds a touch of class and makes it more competitive against European naked bikes.
Twist the right grip and the MT-10 SP excites with its rambunctious powerband. Although this YZF-R1-sourced 998cc CP4-spec inline-four is a tad dated in terms of architecture (its last major overhaul was eight years ago, with subtle durability and ride-by-wire enhancements for the 2020 MY) this engine continues to impress.
Yamaha’s crossplane crankshaft-equipped engine affords a character like no other. At lower rpm, the engine behaves much like a sport V-twin, yet at higher revs, it retains the traditional character of an high-revving inline-four. This gives riders like Santa the best of both worlds. In the sound department, the speaker-like cutouts atop the 4.5-gallon fuel tank emit a rowdy raucousness that makes Santa want to twist the throttle harder.
Speaking of the throttle, another notable improvement that all 2022-and-up MT-10s benefit from is the fresh APSG (Accelerator Position Sensor with Grip) throttle mechanism. This affords more precise throttle response. Like the R1, the MT offers four levels of combined engine power and throttle response. The most aggressive setting (PWR 1) is our favorite. Slide, wheelie, and engine-brake control are all standard features.
But the real news is the fitment of gold Öhlins suspenders. This suspension transforms the SP’s ride quality. It transforms from mild to wild with a push of a button. Considering how many miles Santa needs to cover on his way to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County in Southern California, having a comfy steed is paramount. Santa also values the bright LED headlamps which did a fine job of illuminating the highway after dark. He did say that it would be nice if Yamaha incorporated cornering head beams on a future iteration.
However, of all the features the SP offers, he was most impressed with the function of the least aggressive A-3 suspension setting. This allows the SP to float over bumps and generally improves ride quality, especially on worn-out and broken pavement. Yet it offers pleasing road holding through tighter corners. As always, faster riders can select the A-2 or A-1 settings for a firmer ride, say for trackdays. Equally as pleasing was the firmer brake lever response courtesy of the metal brake lines.
With its powerful and character-rich engine, comfy sport chassis, and slightly sharper brake response, the SP is absolutely worth the $2,900 upcharge versus the standard model. With added refinement and greater attention to detail in the styling department, the MT-10 SP can certainly compete with the finest liter-and-above class naked bikes from Europe.
Gearbox
Helmet: Arai Signet-X
Jacket: Santa Claus Suit
Pant: Santa Claus Suit
Gloves: Racer Guide
Boots: Santa Claus Suit
2022 Yamaha MT-10 SP Technical Specifications and Price
| PRICE | $16,899 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 998cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled, inline 4-cylinder; 16 valves |
| BORE x STROKE | 79.0 x 50.9mm |
| COMPRESSION RATIO | 12.0:1 |
| FUEL DELIVERY | Fuel injection, ride-by-wire |
| CLUTCH | Wet, multiplate slipper/assist |
| TRANSMISSION/FINAL DRIVE | 6-speed/chain |
| FRAME | Aluminum Deltabox |
| FRONT SUSPENSION | 43mm Öhlins, fully adjustable; 4.7 in. travel |
| REAR SUSPENSION | Öhlins, fully adjustable; 4.7 in. travel |
| FRONT BRAKES | Radial-mounted Advics 4-piston calipers, dual 320mm discs w/ ABS |
| REAR BRAKE | Nissin 1-piston Nissin caliper, 220mm disc w/ ABS |
| WHEELS, FRONT/REAR | Alloy 5 spoke; 17 x 3.5 in. / 17 x 6.0 in. |
| TIRES, FRONT/REAR | Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22; 120/70-17 / 190/55-17 |
| RAKE/TRAIL | 24.0°/4.0 in. |
| WHEELBASE | 55.3 in. |
| SEAT HEIGHT | 32.9 in. |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 4.5 gal. |
| CLAIMED CURB WEIGHT | 472 lb. |
| WARRANTY | 12 months, limited |
| CONTACT | yamahamotorsports.com |
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com