1991 Yamaha FZR750R OW01

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: 3PK001175. The seller purchased the bike six months ago from a private party who had it sitting for 10 years.

During his ownership the seller has covered approximately 200 miles. The odometer shows 10,113 miles.

Maintenance:
The seller states he recently, “Rebuilt the shock and replaced the fork seals, head bearings, and chain and sprocket. Recent touch up blend in (spray) on belly pan to make it blemish free.”

Modifications:
Full NOS Termignoni exhaust system.

Inside of the tank:

It is riding on Metzeler tires which are aged out.

The sale includes one key.

Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:

Currently located in Carnoustie, Scotland this Yamaha is offered on a clean U.K. title. Have any OW-01 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!