IN a move to get more bums on sports bike shaped seats, Yamaha has taken the sensible decision of turning one of its most successful naked bikes for new riders and turned it into a supersports bike for the masses - the Yamaha R7.
It may not be the OWO3 that the grumpy blokes on the internet were (literally) crying for, but in many ways, it’s a much more important bike, both to Yamaha and the motorcycle industry as a whole.
Yamaha R7 video review | Road and Track on the new sports bike
Built to bridge the sizable gap between the Yamaha R3 and flagship R1 – the space where the R6 used to reside – the R7 is an accessible yet sporty machine, that’s also available in A2 compliant form.
Like the MT-07 that much of the bike is based on, tech is thin on the ground. And that’s not a swipe at the diminutive sports bike! Keeping the new bike free from such electronic frivolities keeps the riding experience about the bike, and not riding modes and wheelie control – save that for the R9 please Yamaha! That isn’t to say the R7 is totally devoid of any electronics, you do get the option to use the Yamaha MyRide app to clock your lean angle, route and more. Great for bragging to your mates at the local Maccy D’s!
Styling-wise, Yamaha went all out with the R7 to make it a true R series sports bike, worthy of the name. You have the now obligatory M-shaped intake at the front that houses the centrally mounted LED headlight, that’s flanked by those trademark LED DRLs. The side profile is totally evocative of the R6 and R1, with the shape of the fuel tank, fairing and even seat unit all making this bike look perfectly at home in the range.
Beneath that svelte new bodywork lies a chassis that is totally revolutionised when compared to the MT-07. One of the most important changes comes in the form of a revised frame, that is now stiffer than before. Frame braces in the centre and at the steering head are mated to new fully adjustable USD forks. To say the riding experience is transformed is an understatement. The front end is a peach, but then again, it had to be. Chucking a sports bike out into the big wild world with the composure of the MT-07 would not have been a good move.
For more information on the new Yamaha R7, head over and check out our full editorial review.
To configure your own bike or find your nearest dealership, head to: www.yamaha-motor.eu
