Travis John’s 10-Year MT-07 Journey
Power, Mods, and Loyalty
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 in Australia, and it’s not hard to find riders from the Gen 1 era have retained their first MT-07 and still get the same thrill out of rising it as they did on day one.
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Travis John
In June 2015, just months after the all-new Yamaha MT-07 was released in Australia, Travis John upgraded from his 300cc sports bike to a first-generation Yamaha MT-07. Being on a restricted license at the time, he purchased the LAMS-approved model, the MT-07 LA. Travis still owns his MT-07 a decade later and enjoys riding it as much today as he did a decade ago.
"When I purchased the MT-07 back in 2015 and rode it for the first time, I remember thinking, 'Wow, this bike is so much fun and has so much power!'" Travis explained. "But I quickly got the hang of it and rode it everywhere,"
When first released in the MT-07 LA, the 655cc liquid-cooled, inline twin-cylinder CP2 engine was a game changer for the middleweight LAMS market. Its outstanding low—to mid-range torque and linear throttle response gave Travis the performance his 300cc sports bike couldn't deliver.
Even after obtaining his unrestricted license and exploring larger-capacity bikes, Travis remained loyal to his 2015 MT-07—so much so that he added a second MT-07 to his collection. "I've never been tempted to sell my first MT-07," he says.
Over the years, his MT-07 has been meticulously modified to enhance its performance. After derestricting the bike to extract more performance, he installed an Öhlins rear shock and Andreani cartridges in the fork legs—upgrades he describes as "a game changer." "When I upgraded the suspension, I fell in love with the bike all over again," he reveals.
Travis replaced the original headlight with a quality mini projector LED to improve nighttime visibility. Next, he plans to retrofit a 3-inch bi-LED projector for even better illumination.
After 10 years of faithful service, Travis' trusty MT-07 has now been completely stripped and is undergoing a complete bare-metal frame restoration. He has crafted his own velocity stacks and intake setup, aiming to achieve 60kW (80hp) on the dyno once all the work is complete.
Along with adding power, Travis is also focusing on reducing weight by conducting a bolt-by-bolt audit to shed unnecessary kilograms. "According to my spreadsheet, it's already more than 16kg lighter than the stock non-ABS model," he explains. "Once it's finished, it'll be a fun, powerful, light, and reliable beast."
Travis also revealed that his trusty MT-07 has never let him down throughout his decade of ownership. "I've serviced it at the correct intervals, and it has not given me any trouble."
Travis' journey with his bike is another example of the connection riders often develop with their machines, especially when they invest time and effort into personalising and maintaining them.
As Yamaha celebrates the release of the 2025 MT-07 and marks a decade since the model's introduction in Australia, stories like Travis' highlight the MT-07's enduring appeal and reliability.
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Even after obtaining his unrestricted license and exploring larger-capacity bikes, Travis remained loyal to his 2015 MT-07—so much so that he added a second MT-07 to his collection. "I've never been tempted to sell my first MT-07," he says.
Over the years, Travis has meticulously modified his MT-07 to enhance its performance. After derestricting the bike to extract more performance, he installed an Öhlins rear shock and Andreani cartridges in the fork legs—upgrades he describes as 'a game changer.' "When I upgraded the suspension, I fell in love with the bike all over again," he reveals.
Travis replaced the original headlight with a quality mini projector LED to improve nighttime visibility. Next, he plans to retrofit a 3-inch bi-LED projector for even better illumination.
After 10 years of faithful service, Travis' trusty MT-07 has been completely stripped and is undergoing a complete bare-metal frame restoration. In addition to de-restricting the bike, he has also crafted his own velocity stacks and intake setup, aiming to achieve 60kW (80hp) on the dyno once all the work is complete.
Along with adding power, Travis is also focusing on reducing weight by conducting a bolt-by-bolt audit to shed unnecessary kilograms. "According to my spreadsheet, it's already more than 16kg lighter than the stock non-ABS model," he explains. "Once it's finished, it'll be a fun, powerful, light, and reliable beast."
"I'm now on the home stretch for the restoration, engine is back in the frame and just need to print a few things/tweak the designs and put it all back together.
The goal for the bike is to get a power to weight ratio of 0.5hp+/kg (standard gen 1 HO is 0.406hp/kg and gen 1 lams is 0.285hp/kg) As a reference the MT07 competitors GSX-8 and the Trident 660 are 0.406hp/kg and 0.428hp/kg respectively, it's going to be the king of mid sized twin-cylinder bikes." he added.
Travis also revealed that his trusty MT-07 has never let him down throughout his decade of ownership. "I've serviced it at the correct intervals, and it has not given me any trouble."
Travis' journey with his bike is another example of the connection riders often develop with their machines, especially when they invest time and effort into personalising and maintaining them.
As Yamaha celebrates the release of the 2025 MT-07 and marks a decade since the model's introduction in Australia, stories like Travis' highlight the MT-07's enduring appeal and reliability.