Description
Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
The increasing popularity of the World Superbike Championship since its inception in 1988 has been responsible for the introduction of over-the-counter road bikes boasting specifications aimed squarely at the racetrack. The most famous of these limited edition ‘homologation specials’ is Honda’s iconic RC30, but Yamaha’s answer, the 1989 FZR750R, better known as the OW01, is even rarer and more exotic with only 500 built.
Although it was a street-legal machine, the OW01 had a spec sheet that was all about racing. And at $16,000 plus a few thousand more for the race kit, the OW01 was easily one of the most expensive bikes on the market in 1989. Yamaha crafted the OW01’s aluminum frame from a higher-quality aluminum alloy than its regular offerings. Emphasizing light weight, the engineers went so far as to use an aluminum fuel tank in place of steel.
With a Showa fork at the front and an adjustable Öhlins shock at the rear, it was fit for sharp handling. However, because of its thinly padded foam seat, high-up rear sets, and low clip-on handlebars, it was not exactly built for comfort.
At the center of the FZR750R resided an all-new, extremely over square four-cylinder engine with a 72-mm bore, a 46-mm stroke and five valves per cylinder–a development pioneered by Yamaha some years earlier for high-RPM power. Titanium connecting rods were attached to pistons that used just two rings each for low-friction operation. Fueled by a quartet of Mikuni flatside downdraft carburetors, the OW01 made 121 horsepower (restricted to 77 for the Japanese market), a big number for a 750-class machine in 1989. The engine had an almost two-stroke-like “light-switch” power band that came on hard above 9,000 RPM and pulled to a sky-high 14,000 RPM redline. Yamaha also fitted the OW01 with a close-ratio six-speed transmission that allowed the rider to always keep the engine in the power band pushing around 445 lbs dry weight. A factory race kit (for several thousand dollars more) included upgraded pistons, camshafts, a race-only ECU and a full race exhaust. The published OW-01 quarter mile was 11.20 seconds at 130.81 MPH, with the bike topping out at approximately 160 miles per hour.
The OW01 was never sold as a street bike in the U.S., but when the AMA altered the rules to allow as few as 15 examples sold to homologate a model, Yamaha USA sold them directly to licensed racers and teams, despite the bikes being fitted with headlamps and a full set of gauges. Worldwide, some OW-01s had smooth headlights and taillights, while others had sunken-in headlights and taillights that stuck out.
This example is VIN: 3SJ000101. This example came to Iconic from an import out of the U.K.
The odometer shows 14,374 kilometers (8,931 miles).
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us disassemble the engine due to a noise coming from the lower end. We inspected the pistons, the rods, and the transmission, and replaced the starter clutch idler gear to ensure that everything was sound. Though some noise still persists, Adam rode the bike home on a test ride this weekend and shared his thoughts in this social media video:
Additionally, we cleaned and synced the carbs, installed a new battery, replaced the spark plugs, flushed and filled the engine oil and coolant, rebuilt the fuel pump and gas cap, repaired the left hand rear turn signal, and installed 3D printed velocity stacks/airbox mounts. The drive chain was replaced along with the front brake lever, the petcock and gaskets, the neutral position sensor, and the tail light grommets. Finally we cleaned the fuel tank, polished the frame and mirrors, refinished the upper triple clamp and handlebars, gave the bike a detailing, and installed new Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires with date codes of 1422 and 4422.
Our service department notes the following in their condition report:
Gas Tank Condition: Ok
Tire Years – Front: 4422; Rear: 1422
Tire % – Front: 100%; Rear: 100%
Tire Pressure – Front: 36PSI; Rear: 38PSI
Brake % – Front: 80%; Rear: 80%
Hydraulic Fluid – Front: New; Rear: New
Engine Oil – Level: Ok; Quality: Ok
Coolant – Level: Ok; Quality: Ok
Low Beam: Ok
High Beam: Ok
Passing Light: Ok
Parking Light: Ok
Turn Signals: Ok
Tail Light: Ok
Brake Light: Ok
Plate Light: Ok
Killswitch: Ok
Horn: Ok
Battery:
OCV: 12.68V, New
Test Ride: 8.4 Km, unit operates as designed
Notes:
-Rear subframe bent
-Dent on RH swingarm
-Engine a bit noisy
-RH bar end rashed
Modifications:
Battery tender lead.
Inside of the tank:
The sale includes one key.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California, (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Yamaha is offered on a clean Oregon title. Please note that as an import, this bike lacks certain compliance and emissions stickers that the state of California would require to transfer a title. Have any FZR750R OW01 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
