Accessible, inexpensive, cool looking and, of course, fun, the littlest member of Yamaha?s MT lineup of ?hyper naked? sport bikes has a lot going for it. Photos by Joseph Agustin.

“Though she be but little, she be fierce!” — William Shakespeare

Consider for a moment that the best-selling Yamaha motorcycles for the past several years — across all categories — are the 321cc YZF-R3 sport bike and the 689cc MT-07 “hyper naked” sport standard, and you can understand why Yamaha is launching the newest (and smallest) member of the MT family with hopes for an army of future Yama-loyalists pinned to the MT-03?s pointy nose. The 2020 MT-03, essentially a YZF-R3 given the streetfighter treatment — no fairings, a flat handlebar and slightly revised front suspension — is an unapologetic gateway drug to the larger MT-07, MT-09 and beyond, a bike that will draw young, female and/or first-time buyers into dealerships, attracted to its aggressive styling, accessible size and $4,599 price tag. 
Read our 2020 Guide to New Street Motorcycles here!

At night, the MT-03?s LED turn signal/marker lights, headlight and position markers look like nothing else on the road.

Unlike some other naked sport bikes, there?s nothing dumbed-down about the MT-03. Its 321cc offset parallel-twin, DOHC engine with 180-degree crank and single counterbalance shaft, 6-speed gearbox, steel frame and swingarm, cast aluminum wheels, LCD ...