The Evolution of David's MT-07 LA
From Learner Ride to Championship Machine
Looking at David Nhan Cao’s motorcycle, you’d be forgiven for not immediately recognising it as a Yamaha MT-07. But beneath its transformed exterior lies a 2015 first-generation version of Yamaha’s legendary middleweight naked bike. Over the past decade, David’s MT-07 has undergone an incredible transformation from a learner machine to a full-blooded race bike, taking David from road rider to championship winner.
Ten years ago, Yamaha set out to build a motorcycle that would redefine the middleweight segment. The result? The MT-07 — a machine that caught the attention of new riders and veterans alike due to It being available in LAMS and High Output versions. For the instant fanbase attracted to the new middleweight naked bike when it hit Aussie shored in 2015, the MT07 was the perfect balance of power, style, and price. A decade later, it’s still one of the most beloved bikes on the road, and it’s not hard to find riders from the Gen 1 era who have retained their first MT-07 and still get the same thrill out of riding it as they did on day one.
David purchased his MT-07 brand new in 2015 and initially rode it throughout his red and green P-plate restricted license periods. Even after obtaining his unrestricted license, the MT-07 remained his trusted companion. However, as he transitioned to more powerful sportbikes and began focusing on track days, the MT-07 was placed in storage.
A turning point came after David experienced a high-side accident on his superbike. He reevaluated his approach and decided to revisit the MT-07. “I had the MT-07 just sitting there and thought it would be a good idea to take a step back and actually learn how to ride properly on a smaller-capacity machine,” David explains. That decision began the MT-07’s transformation from a road bike into a track weapon.
The build began with straightforward modifications. “I did the usual de-restriction of the LAMS model that everyone does and fitted aftermarket rearsets and an aftermarket exhaust,” David recalls. Things then escalated when a friend in the racing scene encouraged him to try competitive racing. “I said yes straight away and entered my first race; I then headed out to the garage, removed the headlight and slapped on a number board with my race number. I was pretty much hooked straight away,” David’s newfound passion was the catalyst for making the MT-07 faster and more competitive in the racing classes he contested.
Realising the importance of suspension upgrades for racing, David began with a budget-friendly approach, fitting a YSS rear shock and fork emulators. “I raced it that way for a while until a set of Matris cartridges and a rear shock came up on Marketplace,” he says.
The launch of Yamaha’s YZF-R7 in Australia presented a new opportunity, and a crashed YZF-R7 provided the parts needed to further transform the MT-07 into a hybrid machine. “I fitted the R7 fuel tank, some bodywork, and seat, and modified the subframe to make it all work,” David explains. “At this stage, the bike remained a naked machine, but I’d reached a limit in lap time performance due to the lack of aerodynamic advantages, so I needed to make the next step.”
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David’s solution was full race fairing. With help from friends, he sourced YZF-R7 race fairings and a front fairing stay. “A mate welded on a mount for the fairing stay and fitted the fairings to make it what you see today,” he says. The result is a stunning fusion of MT-07 and YZF-R7 components that’s as competitive as it is unique.
The hard work and dedication paid off. David has since achieved multiple championship victories on his MT-07, including the St. George Motorcycle Club’s Summer Night Series Twins Cup and last year’s Formula St. George Championship. He also claimed the Bracket Racing title for the 1:47 brackets.
Despite the racing success, David’s MT-07 LA still retains most of its original 655cc engine internals “I’ve flashed the ECU with Woolich Race Tools and had it dyno tuned by LNS Mechanic, and installed high lift cams,” David explains. “These changes didn’t provide a lot of power increase but the engine now breaths really well all the way to 10,500rpm.”
David’s journey with his Yamaha MT-07 is a remarkable story of transformation for both rider and machine, but the story is far from over. “The next stop of the performance chase will probably involve opening up the engine and messing with compression ratios,” David reveals. “That will include bigger pistons or even sourcing a 689cc HO CP-2 engine; mine is still the 655cc LAMS engine. But for now, I’m just working on my riding technique to become a better racer. The MT-07 has been a wonderful bike to ride and modify and one I know I’ll keep well beyond my racing career.”