Please note: Per customer feedback, Iconic is testing out variable minimum bid increments for this auction:
Between $1-$9,999, the minimum bid increment will be $100
Between $10,000-$29,999, the minimum bid increment will be $250
Between $30,000-$99,999, the minimum bid increment will be $500
Above $100,000, the minimum bid increment will be $1000
In 1999, Yamaha introduced its most advanced and race-ready production model ever with the YZF-R7, also known as the OW-02. With the advent of the Yamaha YZF-R1 in 1998 and the subsequent elimination of the YZF750R, Yamaha was forced to create a one-off 750cc race machine to campaign in the production-based World Superbike Championship in 1999. Yamaha only produced 500 units in total. While it may have bore a good deal of aesthetic resemblance to its 600cc and liter-sized YZF-R-siblings, underneath its slick bodywork the R7 was an entirely different beast.
At the heart of the OW-02 was a liquid-cooled, 749cc, four-stroke, 20V, DOHC, inline-four engine married to a tri-axis, vertically-stacked race-style six-speed close-ratio gearbox with a wet multi-plate clutch with a “back-torque limiter” which acted similarly to a slipper clutch, keeping the back wheel from locking up under hard downshifts. The sophisticated Japanese four-banger boasted electronic fuel-injection, titanium valves (paired with aluminum valve retainers), “H” section titanium con-rods, ion-nitrified titanium crank, an over-sized 15-liter air-box, alloy exhaust system ending in a carbon muffler, incredibly short (and strong) short-skirt forged pistons with nickel-plated crowns, one-piece crankcase and a Formula One car-style CNC-machined cylinder head. The trick internals allowed for top speeds exceeding 160mph, along with the ability to achieve 11-second standing quarter-mile runs.
Out of the box, the “race-ready” R7 only produced 106 hp and 53 ft-lbs of torque, though (much to the chagrin of those who wanted to race them) it was restricted in its street-legal form. Yamaha offered two special race kits for the OW-02; one for around a grand that bumped power up to 135 hp; and a second $12K kit that brought that figure to a staggering 162 hp (this bike come with the stage 1 kit). Housing the hopped-up lump was a shortened Deltabox II chassis that used the motor as a stressed member and was derived from Yamaha’s two-stroke GP racers like the YZR500. The race-bred frame was mated to 43mm inverted titanium nitride-coated forks and a mono-shock, both of which are fully-adjustable top-shelf Ohlins items. The frame’s steering geometry and swing-arm pivot were also adjustable. Bringing the 416lb R7 to a stop were four-piston calipers grabbing a pair of 320mm discs, aided by a smaller single disc in the rear.
Yamaha wouldn’t sell the fabled race machine to just anyone and the demand reportedly exceeded the supply, with the tuning fork company supposedly only selling it to buyers that demonstrated their plans to race it. For this reason, very few ended up in private collections on display and many examples were raced into the ground, making finding a clean R7 today very difficult.
This example is VIN: JYARM0110XA000390. The seller states “I was a builder in CA, and a client had two R7’s that he bought new and saw my interest in the bike while working on his house and he offered one to me. He purchased the bike with the Stage One Race Kit from Wilson’s Motorsports in Fresno and they maintained both bikes for him.”
The odometer shows 8,268 KM which is 5,137 miles.
Maintenance:
The seller states “Regular oil changes and a spark plug replacement.”
Modifications:
The seller states “please note the horn and rear brake light were disabled on my bike for track days, just as the headlights were covered over with the perforated membrane as seen in the photos. I believe the throttle system has been replaced and as shown in the photos, there is also an Öhlins steering damper installed. No other race kit modifications can be confirmed.” He goes on to say “the damaged stock canister end cap has been replaced with a 3-D printed, anodized aluminum replacement end cap.” Included with the sale is a complete Stage 1 YEC race kit.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Dunlop Sportmax tires which have aged out with date codes of 3705 and 0806.
The sale includes two keys, front and rear pitbull stands, extra exhaust end cap, Stage 1 YEC race kit, owner’s manual and a Baxley Trailer Company front wheel chock.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Rossland, British Columbia, this Yamaha is offered on a clean British Columbia title with a previous California title. The seller has stated that he is able to bring the bike back to the US and is willing to deliver the bike over the border of Canada. It may be possible to re register this bike in California but Iconic cannot verify this.
Have any R7 OW-02 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
