1999 Yamaha R7 OW-02

Description

Additional photos of this 1999 Yamaha R7 OW-02 are available here for your perusal.

In 1999, Yamaha introduced its most advanced and race-ready production model ever with the YZF-R7, also known as the OW-02. Built in order to meet World Superbike Championship homologation rules, 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.

Right out of the box, the race-ready R7 only produced 106 hp and 53 ft-lbs of torque, though 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. 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 nitrite-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: JYARM011000000508. The seller acquired the bike through an Iconic auction and had us convert the it back to stock.

The odometer shows 16,986 kilometers (10,556 miles).

Maintenance
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us install a new battery. Olly did the work, he notes the following in his condition report:
Tire Year Front/ Rear: 2018
Tire Life – Front/ Rear: 100%
Tire Pressure – Front/ Rear:36/38 PSI
Brake Life – Front/ Rear: +50%
Hydraulic Fluid : Ok
Engine Oil – Level: Ok; Quality: Ok
Coolant – Level: Ok; Quality: Ok
Low Beam: Ok
High Beam: Ok
Turn Signals: Ok
Tail Light: Ok
Brake Light: Ok
Plate Light: Ok
Killswitch: Ok
Horn: Ok
Battery: 12.6V

Modifications:
Battery tender lead.

Inside of the tank:

It is riding on Dunlop Sportmax Q3 tires with date codes of 3318 and 3818.

The sale includes one key.

Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the photo album up top for photos of all known cosmetic blemishes. Here’s 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. Have any R7 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the comments!