Description
Click here for an VINData Motorcycle History Report on this 1991 Yamaha FZR750R OW-01.
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. For more information check out this press release from Yamaha Japan from 1989.
This example is VIN: 3PG000130. The seller imported it from Japan approximately three years ago and states, “This bike is a full power bike, it is not restricted. The bike was imported from Japan but I believe the bike was intended for the German market because of the German VIN tag that is on the bike, but I’m not 100% sure on that. The VIN tag is written in German, and from what I have found the 3PG VIN code designation comes up with other German OW-01 models when you Google it. I’m not sure how this bike ended up in Japan or if the bike was intended for Germany but never got exported, who knows what happened, but this bike is a full power bike.”
During his ownership, the seller has covered about 400 miles. The odometer shows 5,369 kilometers (3,336 miles). “The speedometer goes up to 300 kilometers on this bike, unlike the Japanese models which only go up to 180 kilometers.”
“I purchased this bike because I have always wanted to experience a OW-01, along with an RC30 and RG500, it has been one of the bikes that was on my bucket list and now I’m ready to move one, still need to buy an RG500 one day, have not ever owned one yet.”
Maintenance:
“Carburetor was fully cleaned and full tune up was done, this includes all new brake fluids front and rear, oil change, new spark plugs, new air filter.”
The seller states that there are no known mechanical issues. It “pulls very hard in the high rpms, super fun bike to ride.”
Modifications:
Per the seller, this bike is completely stock.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Michelin Road 5 tires with date codes of 3221 and 3721.
The sale includes one key, owner’s manual, and tool kit.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
“Muffler has a small scrape as pointed out in the pictures, and the solo seat back pad has some foam chipping which is also pointed out in the pictures, otherwise the paint is perfect, frame is great, and engine looks nice and clean.”
Currently located in Seattle, Washington, this Yamaha is offered on a clean Washington title. Have any OW-01 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
