YAMAHA R7 (1999 - 2000) Review

The Yamaha YZF-R7 was a limited edition machine top dollar machine only sold to the public so Yamaha could race it in World Superbike.

• Related: 2022 Yamaha R7 review

Just 500 were sold for road use (40 in the UK) and they were about £22,000. Also known as the OW02, the Yamaha YZF-R7's race success was limited partly due to the rules favoring twin cylinder bikes at that time.

Just looking at the Yamaha YZF-R7 you know it’s going to be good. The Yamaha YZF-R7's chunky frame screams ‘racer’, and there’s Ohlins forks and rear shock too. Ride it and it’s as good as you’d hope. Reassuring stability is combined with phenomenal precision that belies regular bikes. Ditto brakes. The Yamaha YZF-R7 is stiff though and wasted on bumpy roads.

You’d expect massive power. But a standard Yamaha YZF-R7 doesn’t deliver it. Output is very modest 106bhp. Yamaha do two race kits – the one is £750 and adds 25bhp while the £10K version adds about 55bhp. It’s based on the old YZF750SP but with much tricker internals. In road trim it’s smooth and quick but not outrageous. Some Yamaha YZF-R7 owners fitted R1 engines – sacrilege but effective.

Reliability of Yamaha YZF-R7 road bikes seems to be good – but there’s so few out there and most lead pampered lives. Take them to the track and tune them and you’re playing a whole different game and naturally longevity is compromised. Beware race bikes put back on the road.

Not good value for money in terms of bhp or mph per pound spent. If you want to go fast a GSX-R1000 is the way to go. But as a thing of beauty, an engineering masterpiece or for rarity value the Yamaha YZF-R7 takes some beating. The top end offerings in the 916/999 family and Honda’s RC45 are close but can’t match the Yamaha YZF-R7 for rarity value. Find Yamaha YZF-R7 motorcycles for sale.

If you’re after top boxes and grab rails for your Yamaha YZF-R7 you’ll be disappointed. But if it’s top-spec race components designed and built without compromise you crave then you’ll be impressed. The Yamaha YZF-R7 race kit enable adjustment of the rake, trail and height of the steering arm pivot. Mirrors and lights aren’t the best but they’re an afterthought.