Yamaha has announced a new 2022 YZF-R7 based around the engine and chassis found in the MT-07 naked bike. 20 years ago, the R7 was a relatively exotic production motorcycle homologated for superbike racing – here is a report of Anthony Gobert aboard an R7 contesting the AMA Superbike championship against Mat Mladin.
In a sign of the times, perhaps, the new R7 is powered by a middleweight parallel twin displacing 689cc. The new R7 borrows heavily from the MT-07, adding a full fairing and an upside-down fully-adjustable front fork. There are some other changes (including a Brembo radial master cylinder for the front brake) described in the following press release and video from Yamaha. The new R7 will be available next month at a U.S. MSRP of $8,999.
MARIETTA, Ga. – May 18, 2021 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, today introduced the all-new 2022 YZF-R7 as the latest model in the company’s Supersport motorcycle segment. Built from the ground up with a sleek ultra-thin lightweight chassis powered by Yamaha’s proven 700cc-class CP2 engine, and enhanced with track-focused supersport features, the R7 embodies the R-Series’ rich history of aggressive performance and racing dominance.
R World is Calling
Yamaha has a rich heritage of building the most sought after Supersport motorcycles designed to deliver the pinnacle of performance on and off the track. From the rider-friendly YZF-R3 to the exclusive and track-focused YZF-R1M, the Yamaha R-series model lineup provides options for riders of all skill levels to experience the pure exhilaration of R World.
The all-new 2022 YZF-R7 bridges the gap between the entry-level YZF-R3 and the prestigious YZF-R1, offering a midlevel option for both new riders looking to grow into a more powerful motorcycle, as well as experienced riders seeking a fully-faired motorcycle with Supersport performance that fits within their budget. With a unique package of performance, price and sporty styling, the R7 is true to its R-Series DNA and the lineup’s aspirational history of racing success.
All-New YZF-R7
The all-new 2022 YZF-R7 delivers proven power, a narrow chassis, and new styling that reflects the exhilarating next-generation of R World. It is packed with a range of features that include an engaging 689cc CP2 engine, a slim and lightweight frame with excellent aerodynamics, an inverted front fork with excellent front-end feel, and a racing-inspired cockpit with a supersport rider position.
689cc CP2 Engine
YZF-R7 uses Yamaha’s proven 689cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke, in-line two-cylinder, DOHC CP2 engine, giving the rider a feeling of a direct connection from the throttle to the rear wheel. Forged aluminum pistons with direct-plated cylinders integrated with the crankcase makes for lighter weight and excellent strength at higher temperatures, ensuring reliability at higher rpm. The crossplane engine’s 270-degree crank provides an uneven firing sequence with a more characterful exhaust note that emphasizes torquey acceleration and linear power delivery for outstanding response at all engine speeds. Additionally, the R7 has an optimized secondary gear ratio that creates an exhilarating ride and a sporty feel.
Ultra-Narrow Lightweight Chassis
The YZF-R7’s ultra-narrow, high-strength steel frame provides excellent rigidity for a sporty and responsive ride by mounting aluminum center braces near the swingarm pivot which improve torsional rigidity. Rake, trail, and wheelbase dimensions have also been optimized for superb handling while cornering on a racetrack or a twisty section of pavement. The narrow, lightweight frame design has resulted in the slimmest bodywork found in Yamaha’s Supersport lineup and reduces air resistance while incorporating the rider’s body into its design.
Sporty New Suspension
The 2022 YZF-R7 features an inverted KYB 41mm front fork with optimized spring rate and damping settings for an excellent front-end feel during cornering and braking. The product-specific settings make for easy and predictable behavior, with a stiff feel for twisty roads and racetracks. The fork is fully adjustable for preload, rebound and compression damping force. The inverted KYB front forks are mounted to the steering tube via a forged aluminum lower triple clamp, and a gravity-cast aluminum upper triple clamp.
A linked-type Monocross single-shock with adjustable spring preload and rebound damping strikes a balance between ride comfort and sporty performance for capability across a wide range of uses, from urban commuting to track days. The rear shock unit is mounted horizontally, fastened to the crankcase for efficient use of space and weight, contributing to mass centralization and further enhancing the bike’s compact size.
Potent Braking Power
The 2022 YZF-R7 is equipped with a new radial brake master cylinder from Brembo. This new Brembo radial master cylinder provides a more linear supply of hydraulic pressure to the radial mounted-mounted, 4 POT front brake calipers creating excellent controllability and stopping power through dual 298mm front brake rotors.
Comfort-Focused Racing-Inspired Cockpit
The YZF-R7’s new racing-inspired cockpit puts the rider in a comfortable and confidence-inspiring position that evokes an eagerness to ride. A comfortable new seat with material and cushioning used in the YZF-R1, combined with new low-profile fuel tank covers with deep knee pockets for optimal hip and knee positioning gives the rider freedom to adjust positions while also providing a firmly planted feel when leaned over and a sturdy body hold under braking. Separate clip-on handlebars are set in relation to the rider’s hips and footpeg positions for an aggressive position allowing the rider to naturally grip the machine with confidence, especially when tucking behind the windscreen on twisty roads or on the racetrack.
New LCD Instruments
The 2022 YZF-R7 features a new full LCD instrument panel. The high-contrast negative dashboard and its compact and lightweight multifunction display with larger displays for the clock, gear, trip meters and tachometer provide clear information. The use of spot color gives an accent for the high-rpm range display – and new handlebar switches enables the rider to operate the meter more easily and efficiently.
New LED Lighting
The iconic R-Series M-shaped intake duct and twin-eye front design of the new YZF-R7 houses an adaptive bi-functional LED headlight. The R7 is also equipped with a new LED taillight and front and rear turn signals. Light and compact, the new LED lighting complements the next-generation style of the bike and reinforces the premium specification of the Supersport class. Not only do the LEDs offer long life with minimal power draw, they provide brilliant illumination for confidence and visibility day or night.
2022 YZF-R7 Key Features
• 689cc crossplane technology CP2 engine
• 270-degree crankshaft for linear power delivery
• First Assist and Slipper clutch on a CP2 model
• Optional Quick Shift System for smooth upshifts
• Comfortable rider position for excellent handling
• Lightweight frame tuned for rigidity balance
• Slim proportions for aerodynamics and control
• Inverted front fork with excellent front-end feel
• Rear shock absorber with model-specific settings
• Radial master cylinder (by Brembo) and radial-mount brake calipers
• New LED headlight, taillight and front and rear turn signals
• Next-generation colors and graphics
The 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 will arrive at authorized Yamaha dealers beginning in June 2021 and will be available in Team Yamaha Blue and Performance Black color schemes for $8,999 MSRP. To learn more about the 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 visit https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/supersport/models/yzf-r7.
I have a 2003 SV 650S which makes about 75 HP. 45 ft/lbs of torque, Upgraded fork springs with cartridge emulators, aftermarket shock and superbike bar conversion kit.
While the R7 looks great, I would have hoped for more performance and street friendly ergonomics on a bike that is 18 years newer.I find it hard to justify buying a new bike.
As others have pointed out below, this is the SV650s that people have been saying that they want for a long time. It has fully adjustable usd fork, bodywork, sport ergo s and presumably abs. Consider the list of things you had to do to your bike and what they cost to make it more like this one comes from the factory.
The hp/torque figure isn’t going to change much at this price level, we have to pay more for that (see Aprilia RS660 @$12k). I wouldn’t replace a well sorted 2nd gen sv650 in good condition with this, but if I were shopping for new, I’d take this over anything else in it’s neighborhood without much consideration.
street friendly ergonomics would be the MT-07….used to have an Sv 650..the R7 will smoke it for performance…technology and a higher rpm
Pretty certain I’m speaking for most SV650 owners here.
WE HAVE WANTED THIS SINCE 1999!!
Common! What’s so hard about a SVXR 650? (Suzy must have tonnes of better suspension and brake bits lying around, not to mention fairings, all ready to bolt on)
Past Owner of 3 Gen1’s and a Gladius. Gen 3, new, 8 weeks ago,so I know where your coming from. Suzuki could fit the V twin into a MotoGP 2 frame and chassis if they wanted too. But we all know Suzuki thinks cheap initial buying cost first, middle and last.
Their idea is that you will continuously want to upgrade to GSX-R 1000, and if they overbuilt the great SV 650, why upgrade to a better future Suzuki bike ?
Less profits in that my Friend.
Here it is. Buy it in numbers or kiss it goodbye forever.
This is no R6…
And it’s not meant to be. The R6 had quit selling and Yamaha needed something that would. This bike will appeal to a far larger crowd while being a better street bike that will still be fun for track days. No, it’s not as good a bike as the R6 or even the Aprilia 660 but then it’s not $12,199 plus $430 destination either.
Yamaha never claimed it was a replacement for the R6 !!
Tired of hearing this..buy an R6 before they become extinct…they are a hard sell these days cause they are lots of $$
This is no R6…
Really…didnt know that..thanks for enlightening us all !!! lol
Sure is a lot of ad copy for letting us know that they plastic-wrapped the MT-07.
Probably about the same amount as Kawasaki printed for the Ninja 650 / z 650, or any other model launch.
This is how smart manufacturers will operate from now on. Make a good, versatile engine and frame and offer it in a range of configurations that meet market demand. I’m encouraged that they found enough demand to offer this particular configuration. I’ve been wishing they’d bring that FJ07 over. That’s probably the sweet spot for this VFR driver.
I like it but I’m past the age of “assuming the position “.
anthony gobert might be too fat for this r7.
Dirk, you need to get ahold of the original R7 and do a comparison to this new R7.
Some would say there is no comparison…I’m probably one of them.
But it sure would be fun.
And the little new R7 might surprise us on the track against the original R7.
I don’t quite understand the occasional perspective on the outgoing R6. People continue to say you need to rev them out for power (that is required for every vehicle, motorcycle or otherwise) and that its power is “peaky”. Have people ridden an R6? I could never call it gutless at any speed. In fact, if you put a rev limiter on the R6 and rode around in the same rpm range that the R7 allows, you would get nearly exactly the same performance. It would pull just as hard at any given speed but you would have better quality components underneath you. As long as you don’t mind the insurance premium. The R7 is a pretty cool bike but I’d probably just pick up an R6 with some Heli-bars and have the option of accelerating even harder on occasion.
Yeah, but you don’t have to ride the R6 at the same RPMs. If you were to do that you’d feel like you weren’t using the bike very well, it would be picking up steam just as you stop increasing revs. Its peaky not because of how the dyno chart overlays with other bikes, its peaky because bikes feel best in their power band it would just be perpetually edging to keep an R6 at an MT07s revs.
I totally agree with this. I have used 600cc sport bikes as everyday machines, and they excel in that role, IMO. A person can ride them around at lower rpms and in exchange be rewarded with smooth and abundant thrust. But then you can take that bike to a race track or twisty road and absolutely shred. Great engines, great brakes, great suspension, great chassis, affordable price. The ergonomics started approaching the extreme towards the end, but I never found them to be uncomfortable. Perhaps the only thing that might have made those bike a little laborious in stop and go traffic would have been the gearing, but that was just a few teeth on a rear sprocket away from a fix.
I’ve never ridden a 600 SS bike where this was the case. Anywhere under 8-9krpm there is little available torque. Any dyno graph you’ll find illustrates this. A 600 ss engine / bike is unquestionably faster but the low rpm drive-ability is a handicap that must be tolerated, unlike engines with a less “peaky” (there’s that word again..) tune or more displacement.
But does it matter? It will still accelerate harder than most other bikes. I guess it’s relative. No, it’s not accelerating as hard at 6,000 as it could at 12,000 (about half) but it’s still accelerating just as hard as a bike like this R7 or harder than a SV650 or harder still than a big American twin at these revs.
With an inline-four super sport that is capable of running well into five digit rpm levels, it’s nice having such a wide power band. Once you ride one you realize how flexible the engine is and happy to run at just about any rpm level while still providing impressive performance. A liter-class four is just downright insane…
I had another answer already written up but I guess it never got approved. The R6 has similar torque as the R7 at similar rpms. The difference is that the R6 has a very long and flat torque curve into very high rpms that gives you more choices of which gear to be in. If people are happy with the torque of a 650-ish twin, they should be perfectly happy with the same torque from a 600-four.
Have a look at the dyno results and you’ll see they aren’t very similar. The 07 makes 40lb.ft. From 2.5k rpm with a long rise to a 47lb.ft. peak @ 6.5k, hp peaks @ 9k or so. The r6 doesn’t reach 40lb.ft. until 10k rpm, hp peak up around 14k rpm. Pretty different.
I have an FZ6 and I can assure you – even with its “detuned for the street R6 motor” (I believe they moved the power peak down and maybe the redline as well) –
It. has. no. torque.
I demo’d an R6 just before they announced the end of production. It was a terrific bike. No idea what ride mode it was in, and it was just a standard 15-minute loop with a group demoing bikes from R3’s to FJR’s. Other than the low bars, everything about the R6 was great. It didn’t rip my arms out of their sockets @ 3k rpm, but there was no lack of torque. Easy to ride at lower rpm, plus great power if you wanted to wake it up. Great brakes, but not twitchy. All good except for the low bars. My neck hurt for a day after just a 15-minute ride.
This makes a million times more sense than the Niken ever did… About time Yamaha wakes up a bit, even if only to follow a trend started by others! Now how about hiring a new designer for the next FZ10?
I so badly wanted the original 1999-2000 R7 OW02, but buying one at $32,000 led directly to a divorce and neither daughter going to college. Only 500 were made, and almost every one raced. This new version is a bit more realistic, and the kids are long out of college…
I don’t think this is considered a successor to the OW-02 in anything other than name.
I like it and it makes a lot of sense. If the bars aren’t too low (uncomfortable) I’d like to get one.
Are we starting to see an end of the ‘Angry Insect’ look of modern bikes? I hope so.
the young bucks like that look..thats who the manufacturers market to !
So… about 95% of an R6’s discomfort but only about 65% of the performance? I think if I were looking for a sportbike I’d get a used 3 year-old R6 or pony up another grand for a new ZX-6R.
Maybe ride reviews will change my mind but as of now this one has me scratching my head.
The ZX-6 is simply the best sport bike still available. Not even close. It’s crazy it doesn’t sell by the absolute bucket load, considering anything even close is no longer being sold. That limited production Daytona, and the GSX-R750 being the only real contenders. But the former is sold out, and the latter is 20 years old.
I’m sure this, like the new ‘Priller, and the Ducati, are nice enough. But man, 16K rpms worth of purely otherworldly handling and engine responsiveness, they are not.
Agreed on the ZX-6R… I’ve always been attracted to sportbikes for the excellent performance but not for the riding position. I’ll usually add lower pegs, higher clip-ons or handlebar conversion, and maybe a bit of extra seat padding, ending up with performance and decent comfort.
If I add those things to this R7 I end up with… what? An MT-07 with better wind protection? If it came from the factory with a few inches higher bars and lower pegs it would have made a lot more sense; the ergos would have matched the performance.
I third the motion for the ZX. Reasonable price, outstanding performance. Faster right out of the box, mirrors and all, than the most expensive, hotrodded Twins Cup machines.
All that for only $1k more than this new R7. It begs the question, what’s wrong with it and that category that allows for so much opportunity for bikes like this and the new Ape? Yamaha even discontinued its direct competitor for it, the R6.
Nothing wrong with it other than four cylinders became passé, insurance costs went through the roof for the target market, and that target market shrank considerably since much fewer people in that age group are into motorcycles.
+1 on the zx6r. Surprisedly street able and you can always do stuff to make it more comfortable. No lack of torque at low rpms whatsoever. What you have in this R7 is a Ninja 650 competitor with better suspension and looks ( and higher price)
At 75% of the price. There is a lot of inflation going on, and not just for motorcycles, manifesting as lower quality goods at the same price.
Here are my old man complaints: I think the proportions are off… it reminds me of the faired Bandit 1250 which was not attractive. The design of the fairings are an ugly mess of incoherent details, the little aluminum heat shield on the right side stands out in particular. The riding position is too extreme for a daily rider with clip-ons completely below the forks, no matter what the press release might say.
The upgraded front end is nice, as is the all LED lighting.
I had hoped for something like a more modern Ninja 650 but that’s not this.
Funny. I realized when reading your comment that my opinion on the bike would be the exact opposite of yours except for the front end, which I agree with. I guess I would call it old man compliments.
I think this bike will be a blast and hope the other manufacturers besides Aprilia join the party.
I look at that and think, wow, I love the look of this bike. And my current bike is a Bandit 1250, which I like the look of.
I think the Bandit is very underated.
Bandits are great bikes and very under rated. I’m bummed Suzuki has discontinued them especially since I don’t love many of the sport touring bike options out there at the moment.
I owned a 2002 Bandit 1200S for many years and found nothing to complain about. Did carb and exhaust and polished the wheels. Kind of bummed that I sold it at 65k miles. Oh well, low-mileage examples show up on CL all time if I really want another.
No picts from the rear.
Must have an ugly butt.
Nae Picts???!!!!! They’ll never take the women from our homesteads, the cattle from our farmsteads, and the knobs off our bedsteads!!!
Well done, Scotty 😁
I suddenly feel like listening to Big Country
75 hp and 188 kg wet it will keep any bile honest on the road if it handles well.
Aprilla RS660 $11,300 403 lbs wet 100 crank HP
Yamaha R7 $9,000 414 lbs wet 74 crank HP
I don’t think that these two bikes directly compete in any way other than displacement and engine configuration. If they race in the same class, the Aprilla would clearly be superior. Even if you throw an extra $2,300 at the Yamaha, it isn’t going to match the Aprilla.
It sounds like riders using the Aprilia in Moto America Twins Cup are having a lot of success, which should come as no surprise. Even without it’s engine’s advantages, it is simply a more sophisticated chassis to begin with.
I think Yamaha will sell all of these. For those who think 75HP is insufficient think again.
A skilled R7 pilot on a technical road will “smoke” any poseur on a 125HP Super Sport…like the proverbial pack of Kools !
How about a skilled rider on a 125 hp supersport and a poseur kid on an R7?
Or the same skilled rider on both the 125 hp bike and a 75 hp bike?
Or the same poseur on a 125 hp bike and a 75 hp bike?
It should make Aprilia 660 hp to use the R7 moniker. Perhaps the OW-02 version in Red and Black is next? I need at least 100hp to want one.
Maybe a 900 triple is on the way?
Exactly….I’ll wait for the R9!
I doubt it. The MT09 SP suggests to me that Yamaha thinks experienced riders with money for new bikes prefer standard ergos.
How are R1 sales these days? I would think an “R9” be appealing vs an R1 in the same way an R7 is appealing vs the R6.
I hope so. I had an FJ-09 and thought the larger triple would have made a wonderful sportbike engine, especially as interest and racing classes for inline 600s kind of dissipate.
My local Aprilia dealer says the RS660 has been selling really well. He can’t keep them in stock, in fact, he’s also been selling them out of state because other dealers don’t get as many as he does. This isn’t quite the level of bike the Aprilia is but, if that bike is doing so well, this thing should be a strong seller off the bat. I did get an email from Yamaha earlier today that they’ve already sold out on all the pre-order bikes. I think it was within a few hours. Meanwhile, might as well pick up a used R6 if you want something just like this but better.
What is Aprilia reliability like these days?
maybe you know more than I do? People also say KTMs aren’t reliable and I commute daily on mine, roughly 12,000 miles a year. No problems, zero.
Actually that was a 100% honest question.
An R6 has a classically peaky high revving engine. Great on a track but not as much fun to live with on the road. This is going to be a much nicer street bike to ride aln live with when doing something other than cornering at speed.
I think the big point is being missed…this is most certainly going to be the hot new entry into the MotoAmerica TwinsCup competition, and should compete very favorably with the new Aprilia. I think Yamaha has set it’s sights on that class because it will sell a lot of motorcycles here in the states. And if the competition continues to bring us new offerings like this…all the better.
The Aprilia is significantly more powerful than the Yamaha engine in stock form, probably on the order of 30% more powerful. The Yamaha is already a popular bike in the class, and engine builders are already at the limit of what it can produce without grenading regularly. This “R7” uses the same engine, so I don’t see why this bike would make any waves in the series. The Aprilia is the exciting bike for that class, IMO. With the HP advantage it already has from stock, it should be able to make competitive power for much cheaper and have good reliability relative to the other bikes.
I noticed the relatively small exhaust pipe. Very nice & well done. If Yamaha can make that work well despite noise & emissions limitations, why do so many other bikes have pipes up to 3 times larger?
The hugeness of the Yamaha pipe is actually underneath the bike. The small secondary silencer you see is barely more than the outlet tip.
In blue, that is an extremely handsome bike.
Of most of the major manufacturers, Yamaha’s design language speaks to me the most clearly and consistently at this point. Odd angles and arbitrary design elements have been purged to make way for clean, seemingly purposeful lines (for the most part, not sure what the vents on the tank are meant to do except to provide a MotoGP ‘me too’ moment) without feeling sterile or bland.
I was looking at a 2008 Tuono for sale last night and thinking what a pretty bike that was in the right color/finish combination. This R7 feels like a return to some of the aesthetic from that 10-12 year-ago-era. To me, that’s not a bad thing at all.
If Yamaha’s 1000cc superbike is called an R1, shouldn’t this be an R.7?
I’ve often thought about that with the R6 and the R3. Makes no sense.
R125
FZ1/FZ6… they’ve been doing this awhile, I guess I’m just used to it.
Maybe Yamaha should have used a lower case “r”.
I’m with Jeremy. I do believe it’s sacrilegious to call it an R7.
For those of us who were adults when the original R7, a 4 cylinder 750, that was nearly unobtainable arrived… Yamaha made only 500 of these race only bikes…yeah, well…
This new R7 looks amazing however. And that motor is fun.
Maybe Yamaha should have used a lower case “r”.
An ARH!7?
At least for Talk Like A Pirate Day….
Very nice. This is a great way to “reset the deck” for street sport riding. There needed to be a greater difference between middleweight bikes and open class bikes and this is really appropriate in that regard. I expect there to be a lot of SV650s popping up on the used market.
I wonder if they didn’t go a little too aggressive on the clip-one, considering the target market but that’ll be addressed by the aftermarket if there’s really demand.
All,in all, I think they nailed it and I’m glad to see a major brand has enough confidence in this segment to invest in it again.
nice.
I love the looks of this bike.
Finally – a conservative smooth traditional Yamaha blue sport bike with a simple front end. Conservative means no sharp disruptive folds and creases to induce aerodynamic parasitic drag or hey look at be graphics. Elegant.
I think it is a beautiful bike. And while the 689cc twin will undoubtedly make a very practical street bike out of this kit, it seems almost sacrilegious to call it an R7.
I think it’s sacrilegious to call a 75 hp twin a “supersport”. Maybe in 1969 it would have been appropriate. IMO it takes at least 125 hp to earn supersport status, unless you are speaking “in body work only”
still it might turn out to be Yamaha’s most popular supersport.
I’d take one of the dirt versions with this supersport motor though lol
Google “Wade Boyd Yamaha R1 Sacramento Mile;” Wade on his dirt-modified R1 owns the amateur field on the dirt oval track. One of the all time most entertaining motorcycle videos.
Wade raced the same bike (before the dirt mods) at the Isle of Man.
In one of the videos, one of Wade’s “posse” spent the race visiting the pit crews of losing teams. He comes back to Wade’s pit and reports that members of the losing teams complained, “Wade’s bike is ruining the class,” to which he replied, “Swap bikes; check if you can win on the R1.”
Anyone used to racing a 60hp 200# single would crash the R1, maybe before the first turn. Wade himself can barely handle it for the first couple laps on cold tires. But by the 3rd lap he sucks every single off the track and wheelies down the entire straight.