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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Yamaha’s CP2 is a family of 270-degree-crank parallel-twin engines, best known in bikes such as the MT-07. Its uneven firing intervals give the engine a distinctive character; Yamaha says the design is intended to deliver linear response and make efficient use of combustion torque. The important distinction: “CP2” names an engine concept and family, not one fixed specification shared by every model year and motorcycle.
What does CP2 mean?
Yamaha uses CP2 as shorthand for its “Crossplane Concept” two-cylinder engine family. The name refers to an approach to engine design, rather than a single unchanging set of dimensions or performance figures.
In Yamaha’s description of the 2021 MT-07, the engine is a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC, four-valve, 689 cm³ parallel twin with a 270-degree crank. Other CP2 applications and model years may differ in specification and equipment.
What does the 270-degree crank do?
The crank arrangement gives the two cylinders uneven firing intervals. Instead of firing at evenly spaced intervals, the combustion events are staggered. Yamaha’s Crossplane Concept aims to reduce inertial torque and make effective use of the torque created during combustion; the company presents that approach as a route to direct, linear engine response.
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Yamaha’s 2020 MT-07 factsheet says the uneven firing interval gives a “strong feeling of acceleration and great traction” and describes the torque as “deep” and “linear.” Those are Yamaha’s product-character claims, not independent measurements proving a specific acceleration or traction advantage over other engine designs.
Why does that make the CP2 distinctive?
The appeal is the combination of a parallel twin’s compact layout with the response and sound character Yamaha associates with its uneven firing order. Yamaha describes the result as linear torque and an engaging acceleration feel, rather than simply emphasizing peak output. Whether a rider prefers that character is subjective; the crank design alone does not establish that a CP2 is faster or better than every competing twin.
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Yamaha has also revised CP2 applications over time. For the 2021 MT-07, the company said it adapted the engine for EU5 emissions and revised the air ducts, exhaust, ECU and fuel-injection settings, including changes intended to optimize low-speed, small-throttle response. These model-specific updates are one reason not to treat all CP2 engines as identical.
CP2 specifications depend on the motorcycle and year
For the MT-07 announced on November 4, 2020, Yamaha published the following figures. They describe that announced version, not every CP2 engine:
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- Package Dimensions: 3.7 L X 20.7 W X 27.7 H (Centimeters)
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| 2021 MT-07 specification | Yamaha-published figure |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 689 cm³ |
| Bore × stroke | 80.0 × 68.6 mm |
| Compression ratio | 11.5:1 |
| Maximum power | 54.0 kW at 8,750 rpm |
| Maximum torque | 67.0 N·m at 6,500 rpm |
More recent descriptions reflect further changes. Yamaha’s European MT-07 product page describes an EU5+ 690cc CP2 with revised internals, while listing displacement as 689cc. In a February 2025 Japanese MT-07 release, Yamaha said YCC-T electronic throttle control was being used on a CP2 engine for the first time. On that motorcycle, Yamaha says the system enables ride modes and an optional quickshifter. These details are specific to the stated market and model; equipment should not be assumed to match across regions.
Which Yamaha motorcycles use the CP2?
Yamaha’s cited materials confirm the CP2 in these models:
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- MT-07: Yamaha’s central example for the engine concept and the dated specifications above.
- YZF-R7: Yamaha said the 2021 model used the same CP2 engine specification as the 2021 MT-07, but with a different secondary ratio: 42/16 rather than 43/16.
- XSR700: Yamaha describes it as based on the MT-07 and equipped with its 689cc CP2 and 270-degree crank.
This is a set of confirmed examples, not a complete worldwide catalogue. Availability and specifications can vary by market and model year.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to compare when choosing between CP2 bikes
Shared engine-family branding does not make two motorcycles equivalent. For a useful comparison, check the model year and market, then compare published power and torque at their stated rpm, emissions version, throttle and ride-control equipment, gearing, chassis and riding position. Yamaha’s 2021 YZF-R7 announcement, for example, identifies a different secondary ratio from the MT-07 even while describing the engine specification as the same.
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