Bike World Dream Rides | Yamaha YZF-R7 (OW-02)

Another iconic Dream Ride at the Bike Specialist, the homologation special Yamaha YZF-R7.
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[@Tefloncoated]

Noriyuki Haga sliding his R7 back in the day was a sight to behold. Beautiful bike.

[@deborahchesser7375]

Hard to believe how long ago that was already damn. Even Rossi is middle aged now, how does time get away.

[@HeroRR]

Not only is this bike just rare to see in person, but there are a serious lack of videos and photos of it on the internet. Thanks for sharing this gem!

[@notanicename]

Next bike? 👀

[@UrgetoRide]

I spoke in great length about the R7, truly an absolute gem. We're sorely missing the whole 750cc class of bikes to be honest. The class is dead and that makes me super sad

[@englishsteel-nz6im]

GSXR750 dude lol

[@Showmetheevidence-]

I agree. It was a great class- and my gsxr 750 was 1 of the best bikes I owned!

[@chriss6971]

750 class is epic so much fun to ride on road had gsxr 750 too was my favourite bike.

[@marcusgeorge1825]

Two words Chris. Thank you.

[@jamesowen4360]

@@englishsteel-nz6im is dead 😭

[@faafo2]

The "engine sounds" explaining the powerband and close ratio gearbox was just brilliant 🤣*waaaa wooaa wooaaaa*

[@paulvanhout9695]

Though “only” 106 HP that motor sings! What a stunning piece of art.

[@manitolas]

I remember yamaha sell a sbk kit and climbs up to 180hp,perhaps with a price of a new apartment 🤔🤟

[@paullacey2999]

God that straight bit of road.....Loved the sound effects🤭

[@xavierlaraserra]

I race the R7 back in the day, a prototipe build by Folch Endurance, they called R71, and it was indeed a R7 with a R1 engine. This was in Montmelo 24 h, early 2000s. Chasis was awesome, not color against an R1 chasis of that time.

[@PeterPunkBCN]

Uau!

[@malcolmrowe5031]

The r71 was an R1 with a modified swingarm and fairings to look like an R7, I know a guy who used to spray the kits up for them

[@King_Harrold]

This series is awesome. Keep it up Gents

[@jackleonard2088]

Spectacular bike. Back in 98 I had one of the very first R1s in the US and Harris offered an R7 kit that would change out the bodywork and fuel tank. If I’d had the funds I would have done it.

[@RCLTalksBikes]

What an absolute stunner! Definitely a machine for the collection in years to come. Another great vid on a great bike, keep up the great work guys !

[@ThisOldGuy3]

I road 750 and 1100 superbikes in the 80's and early 90's and at 57 I now own a 60th Anniversary Edition modern R7 with a few minor mods and absolutely love it. While it may be down on power compared to an R6 it is so much fun to ride and it never feels like it wants to kill me even when I am pushing it. Congrats on getting to experience the OG R7... 😎🤘🎸🏍

[@lestersmyth692]

Nice one Bike World a mate of mine had one of these back in the day much to the envy of all who rode with him. Happy days 😊

[@fishingwcp]

That bike and the Rc-45 are the best looking bikes in history

[@P.Kindavong]

The legendary R7 OW-02 that got me into riding motorcycles and owned a part of it. Thank you for sharing 🙌🏼🔥💯

[@Phillc748]

Love this!! Love that you took it out and rode it how it should be

[@megapet777]

Looks absolutely beautiful. It's incredible how modern the R7 looks.

[@Captain-Donut]

Absolutely amazing series Love from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@rwd323]

The best looking Japanese bike of all time in my opinion

[@LeeTillbury]

Dream bike right there. Absolutely gorgeous 😍

[@ENLSN77]

Superb. Thanks Chris for riding it properly.. Those roads look hard to ride too.

[@ILikeMotorbikes]

I've been patiently waiting for this video! I know they aren't the fastest or best thing in the world but I would give me left plum for one! Wouldn't even have to consider it. Proper, proper dream ride for me!

[@2wheels4life2]

REVS YOU HEART! 🤘 Great viewing, one of the greatest machines in design terms on 2 wheels for sure. Had myself a 2002 R6 and I remember the headlines upon its release, like the R7 a racer straight from the crate.

[@dukie1616]

These series of videos have been awesome, please keep doing them👏

[@woooster71]

Absolute stunner of a bike! I recently turned 51 so this bike represents the pinnacle of 90s Superbikes we all dreamt of owning.. I think if pushed, I would still prefer a mint UK RC30, but this and the OW01 come a very close second. Sadly I only have the cooking models for the more poor peasants of the day, a ‘90 ZXR750 H2, ‘99 Fireblade & ‘98 750 SRAD, plus a few other bikes.. but I love them all 😊👍🏼

[@neilwiddison6529]

Same mate rc30 for me.

[@MatNewtonTrio]

Oh jeez.. this is absolute perfection. Proper track weapon.

[@Showmetheevidence-]

This was a bike I truly lusted after (thanks Haga 😊) But couldn’t afford. And then some lucky guy showed up at our local track with one - the envy of the track day for a good year or two!

[@jonnytheboy23]

Another great video Chris. I remember when the OWO2 was released and Dan Harris had one (he worked for Superbike at the time) the amount of work and money that was thrown at it was huge and it still wasn't as competitive as some of the other manufacturers offerings, a real thing of beauty though! I could be wrong but I don't remember any teams, other than the official Yamaha one running them in WSB.

[@MotoTrackSide]

it was ahead of its time. Back then I would see one or two at Newcombs. The good old days.

[@kevinoduor-noah1231]

Fantastic & beautiful classic! Love these vids mate! Keep it up! That K1/4/5 gixxas next please!😁

[@verdeboyo]

Yeah Boyeeee! The actual race homologation bike from thee 90s👍🏻 I met some guy back in the day that actually owned one. Slower than the series 1 R1, but only cos it was detuned deliberately by Yamaha. As a WSBK race bike it was a winner. Awesome bike👍🏻

[@sergiotransalpero717]

El tiempo no pasa por ella. Un diseño absolutamente actual 🏍👊✊️

[@sk2283]

I LOVE this bike, I really wish I had bought one back then

[@rickphillips2900]

Great as always, thanks.

[@panchochilli11]

Beauty! And I still have my Arai Haga replica helmet from ‘99. ❤

[@SteveMuir]

A mate of mine had one here in Australia. just changing the throttle unleaashed a few more horses. It was part of the race kit but the local bike shop found a stock one of another modal that did the trick way cheaper.

[@martinthompson5255]

"Marrrp..Marrrp..Marrrp...Marrrp!" 😅 bloody loving it, what a bike and review♥️👍

[@Justin-iw7pl]

Been waiting for you to get to try this.Epic!!! Unless Bike specialist have got a Evo Blade or NR750 cor see you topping this One for the memory bank👌

[@PureEvolution]

Mortimer road as well such a nice teknical bit of road love doing that on my MT09

[@-DC-]

Stunning Motorcycle the detailing in the engineering of the components is glorious ❤️

[@pleenc30]

Not that long sold one of these. I owned it for a few years and it was a genuine privilege to own, but i struggled more and more with it on the road, mostly for the reasons your said, its stiffness and extreme riding position but also its low down rpm manners and lack of grunt made it a very difficult bike to live with and ride. Also its physical size and weight. i seem to recall mine came in fully fuelled on the PB scales of justice at around 205 kilos. She was a heavy old thing for sure. The RC30 is so much smaller and easier to live with for sure and honestly is quicker A - B than most homologation specials on real roads being so usable and confidence inspiring. No doubt when the planets align and things are just right, the OW02 was a formidable machine and will always be seen as one of the best looking bikes ever made.

[@cabovermike]

I think mines really light, i always say it handles like a 250, feels like a 600, and goes like a 1000,.

[@joestrickland5153]

YES One of the ALL TIME BEAUTIES

[@scottmason2756]

Awesome bike, the number plate suited it very well also 😉

[@deborahchesser7375]

Put the race kit on it and tune the suspension, you’d really be in love. What a bike and rare as hens teeth. 🐾✌️🇺🇸

[@marksmallman4572]

Love your enthusiasm...

[@ragerider6283]

Great vid, lovely bike. Sounds amazing. I keep forgetting how much I miss the sound of a screaming i4 middleweight. Odd that Yamaha took this route with the R7 but it somewhat made sense at the time I guess. Although that's not the point is it. No surprise Yamaha didn't make many of them or for very long but that makes it all the more special.

[@DonnieDesmo]

Haga!!! I'm a Ducati guy through and through, but this R7 is a dream.

[@crispincurtis8585]

Wow an Actual R7 🤓👍🤙really groovy bike

[@mark675]

I cant like this enough times 🙌

[@ragnarironspear1791]

My dream bike back in the day

[@DadDoesOutdoors]

Best bike ever!

[@screaminchief]

Great video as always chaps

[@gixxerlemans]

Beautiful bike, love it,

[@Mekaeshi]

Old will always be Gold.

[@scottieray]

There is one of these at the Birmingham Motorsports Motorcycle Museum. In person, it is a gorgeous Motorcycle that does not look dated at all. The race kit is probably as valuable as the motorcycle if you can find one.

[@sc2320]

unreal machine kidd 💯💪

[@RideThatThing69]

Another great review 👊✊️✊️

[@chrisnightingale6417]

This great series has definitely thrown up some interesting conclusions. Your disappointment in the RC45 and your highest praise for this thing wasn’t expected though.

[@roey600]

That Strines road is a challenging ribbon of tarmac

[@maamajhigouri1207]

Fabulous is what I can say ❤

[@jerryharris4458]

Great series, hope you do the Suzuki GSXR 1000 K5. ❤

[@dedensomantri3436]

True dream superbike ❤❤❤❤❤

[@opticalecho119]

I’ve seen one of these in the upstairs collector’s room of the dealership where my MSF course was

[@maximilliancunningham6091]

You guys are very likable. (R1 pilot)

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Back when Yamaha was in the beauty game. Early 2000's they made stunning shapes. I'm guessing only a change of business management took that business model into the beat-with-and-ugly-stick that Yamaha has been doing for nearly 2 decades now.

[@theriderdtm8650]

Sweet ❗✌🏻

[@skts2610]

Love your passion every time you jump on anything with two wheels Chris👌🏽

[@ktkace]

Proper Japanese unobtanium!!

[@robertmaitland09]

Gorgeous bike with enough power for the road, having said that 30bhp would be enough over the Strines.

[@metalheartmachine]

We need a super cut of Chris making all the engine sounds.

[@iToy80]

Hi. I personally don’t love this plastic racers. But I love the show. Is that engine the same as on the T7?

[@CrisURace]

you should give it a spin on the track !

[@yiannishayabusaofficial]

WOW I LOVE THE BIKE IS AWESOME AMAZING FANTASTIC MAGICAL SUPERB TOP TOP TOP

[@christopherjohnson7613]

If I remember correctly I think Terry rymer raced one with an R1 engine in it.

[@Pstaines439]

Best looking Yamaha ever! I don't know why Yamaha didn't make the R1's look exactly like this.... better looking than the OW01, which sort of sat on its ass.

[@darrylcoomer1539]

Please, please, please do a ride comparison on a track (preferably) between this and the RC45!!!!!!!!

[@bigjam8429]

Can you do the 04-05 blade

[@lawrencejack5038]

My old mate has one up here in south Lanarkshire Scotland

[@ztsystem]

How to compare with GSX-R750(1998) and OW-02?

[@Jerbartolo]

Now follow up this video with a first year R1 (in red/white livery).

[@springcorgi]

Can you do a review on a 2002 Triumph Daytona?

[@hunterxtint9084]

Please do a reveiw for hunter 350

[@vyas555]

Chris, can you get your hands on a Moto3 bike and review it for us? 60hp with just 80kg should be fun. For comparison MT07 is 70hp with 183 kg.

[@malrobles]

the real R7

[@hopalong8715]

How does it stack up against the Aprilia Mille you reviewed a couple months ago? They're similar in power, for similar people. I'm too young to have ever sat on either bike let alone own one, but I'm tempted to get a 1st gen Tuono for my next bike.. that sharing the mille's frame makes me very curious how it stacked up vs this beautiful R7. Loved the video!

[@tubejorrit]

The mille makes more horsepower and much more torque in the lower rpm's. The R7 is a special bike but mostly because it's so rare, I wouldn't want to ride it on the streets with that tall 1st gear and lack of torque. A Tuono is a great bike for the streets and you can keep up with a lot of modern bikes, especially if you get the R or Factory model!

[@hopalong8715]

@@tubejorrit yeah that's how I feel, they are so underpriced for what they are! A nice low mileage one is only £3500. Plus you have the kudos of riding something rarely seen on the road. I'd still love to know the difference in the chassis / handling between the R7 and it though...

[@robertsole9970]

In the US the only sold the R7 to race teams with a pro license rider.

[@bruceleong9534]

Would have loved to see Chris ride it with modern tyres.

[@LeeTillbury]

Don't think the tyres were the same age as the R7 dude!🤣

[@bruceleong9534]

@@LeeTillbury not sure about you but I had Michelin Pilot Power on my R6 in 2003. I think it’s 2023 now.

[@stubbk3]

the end series over

[@tony4love97]

james with his 23k shoe... damn!

[@MalShakur]

Unless you spent the extra $40 grand US at the time, a stock GSX-R750 of the day would run circles around this thing. Pretty bike of course since it takes after the R1 that debuted a year earlier, but I never quite understood the hype around this bike. If Yamaha mass produced it like they did R1s and R6s I doubt any of you would care so much. And yes...for $40,000 extra at the time for the race kit, you could make your own bike a lot more special too and even throw some Ohlin's on it. That would be about $72,000 extra in today's dollars by the way. Nice bike but I think it may be a bit overrated.

[@nigelbarratt9807]

🤩

[@laundrieshanging9077]

750cc class is gonna come back strong trust

[@neilsolomon9149]

The Japanese are masters. ❤️

[@tomevans4078]

Thanks for this Chris, you lucky b*stard!

[@r6singh]

You have naturally aspirated 165 hp vocal chords. 👍

[@LeeTillbury]

Hi Chris. The OW01 was an FZR750R not a YZF 👍🏻

[@MrSlurry]

If I understand correctly, he was going through the 750cc Yamaha superbikes - 1 OW01 / FZR750R 2 YZF750R 3 OW02 / YZF-R7

[@LeeTillbury]

@@MrSlurry That's not what I heard Chris say. The YZF wasn't a homologation special ( built in limited numders- like the R7) anyway

[@MrSlurry]

@@LeeTillbury the YZF750 was raced in world superbikes between the OW01 and the OW02, I remember Haga and Edwards sliding around on it, amongst others. There was a homologation version ('sp'), but it wasn't sold in the USA. The sp had an adjustable swingarm pivot, flatslides, single seat, better suspension among other differences to the standard YZF750R

[@LeeTillbury]

@@MrSlurry I know that

[@kilabot749]

I think the old R7 looks a lot better than the new one, the new one looks a bit malnourished.

[@dougiequick1]

The R9 will come closer to doing it justice even if comes with current bone stock MT09 motor and frame...I think anyway I mean it wont scream like a 3 but it will have a wonderful 100+ honest hp and if they even use the MT09 SP suspension it will be fine enough street bike

[@arkus9905]

Hey Folks, I’d love to get one of those ‚bikes are awesome‘ shirts. Do you sell them yet?

[@BikeWorldTVshow]

They're coming very soon

[@boostaholic7116]

@@BikeWorldTVshow Excellent hoodies as well please Chris ❤️ your channel 👍

[@peterfinney2060]

Why don't any of you bike guy's mention the yzf750sp

[@LeeTillbury]

It wasn't a homologation special

[@lovelessissimo]

How does he have so many bikes?

[@LeeTillbury]

Cos he's a bike dealer!!