MT-07 inspection checklist
RM04 · 2014-2017. Take this to the bike and tick as you go; ticks stay on this device only. Every item comes from the MT-07 guide.
It's the bike you think it is
Every used bike
Service history to ask for
Known faults to check for
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What to look for
The budget went into the engine, not the suspension. The non-adjustable forks dive heavily under brakes and the rear shock is underdamped, which shows up as a vague, wallowing feel over undulations at speed and a front end that runs wide when pushed. It is a design cost decision, not a fault or a wear item, so a low-kilometre bike behaves the same as a high one.
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What to look for
The LA and the HO look near-identical and private ads routinely use the wrong name. This matters in both directions: a learner who buys what turns out to be an HO is riding an unapproved bike on their licence, and a rider on an open licence who pays HO money for an LA has bought 24 fewer horsepower than they think.
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What to look for
The standard front brake is adequate rather than good; the lever feel is wooden and it needs a firm pull for hard stops. Compounded by the fork dive above, which makes the whole front end feel less settled under brakes than it is.
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What to look for
Finish quality on exposed fasteners, brackets and the rear subframe area is ordinary. Bikes kept outdoors or ridden near the coast show furring and surface rust well before anything mechanical is worn, which makes a sound bike look neglected and a neglected bike look terminal.
This is a checklist, not a diagnosis. Anything that fails, or that you can't check, is worth a mechanic's pre-purchase inspection. Amber “unverified” tags mean we couldn't confirm that figure against a manufacturer source.