In 2006, Yamaha released the MT-03, a naked or Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM), also known as the FZ-03, that featured a 659cc single-cylinder engine derived from the Yamaha XT660R machine.
Yamaha reintroduced the MT-03 motorcycle in 2016, still a naked machine that came with a completely new 320cc parallel-twin engine and a six-speed manual transmission. The bike was based on the Yamaha YZF-R3 sports motorcycle.
In 2019, Yamaha presented the new 2020 Yamaha MT-03 motorcycle with several changes and upgrades. Some modifications included an inverted front fork and a tuned rear shock absorber, an LED backlight, a redesigned two-piece seat, a typical MT series exhaust system, and new elements incorporated into the user-friendly instrument cluster.
In the power department, the 2020 Yamaha MT-03 was brought to life by a 320cc liquid-cooled four-stroke parallel twin-cylinder engine, boasting 41 hp at 10,750 rpm and 30 Nm (22 lb-ft) torque with a peak force at 9,000 rpm.
The stopping power was handled by a hydraulic caliper with a 298 mm disc on the front wheel and a hydraulic caliper with a 220 mm disc on the rear wheel, offering optimum and reliable braking performance.
As for suspension, the bike was fitted with a 37 mm upside-down KYB telescopic fork on the front and a spring preload-adjustable KYB shock absorber on the rear, offering optimum suspension performance and handling.