Motorcycle specifications YamahaR7 700 2021 Sport infusion for the MT-07

It 's a name from the past; from a time on the edge of the millennium; from an era when Superbikes opened the battle between 750 4-cylinders and 1000 twins. When Noriyuki Haga was riding one of the most fabulous machines Yamaha had ever designed. That glory was the R7!

Today, he's back. But with different pretensions, a different vision, a radically different meaning. The new R7 is not at all a hypersport or a descendant of the exceptional 7 and ½ from 20 years ago. It's a mid-range sports car, positioned between the ex-R3 and the R6. It's powered by the same engine that makes the MT-07, the manufacturer's must-have roadster, such a joy to ride.

Other elements betray the origins of its innards. The swingarm, engine, exhaust and other parts come from the MT-07. All cleverly concealed beneath a highly evocative exterior.

The R7 is a real eye-catcher, to say the least. Perfectly in line with the iconic R1 and R6. It's sleek, taut, ready to take corners and bite vibrators. Even the position of the half-guidebars (under the fork crown) indicates a desire to fight. As a result, the handlebar/seat/footrest triangle slips into the same appetite for dynamism.

so it 's not really a streamlined roadster, like the Ninja 650 since the Z 650? No, no, Yam has gone further. Take a look at the front end, which is much stronger. It's an inverted fork with radial calipers. This 41 mm KYB element is fully adjustable - a real plus when you want to be sporty; and a real departure from the MT-07, which offers no means of configuring its fork. The R7's rear shock features preload and rebound adjustments.
The brake shoes are made by Advics, with 4 pistons each. The radial master cylinder is from Brembo.

As for the powertrain, it's unchanged. It's a pity, as we were hoping for a few more watts to match its provocative, pursuit-filled silhouette. However, the 73 grunts are invigorating and exciting with this roadster, contributing greatly to its success.

Yam has tweaked the fuel injection and intake ducts and shortened the transmission to change the character of acceleration. Boredom should be a thing of the past, except for dedicated sports enthusiasts. We're only sad to say that this level of power is unworthy of such an appellation. The YZF-R7 in 750 was twice as powerful - but in another era. As a consolation prize, it can be downsized to A2. The R7 is also equipped with an anti-dribble assisted clutch and can be fitted with an optional shifter.

The stern is a fine example of an exciting rear end. The front end is more perplexing. Certainly, its tapered eyes are extremely charming. Yes, we're still carried away by this mimicry of the MotoGP M1. But that solitary eye embedded in the air intake is... intriguing .

the atmosphere is less tortured, but just as tension-building as the silhouette. The dashboard is a typical R3 LCD model, with a long bar graph, speed in the spotlight, and somewhat misleading design effects: it almost reminds us of a TFT screen.
Geeks will be baffled. No Bluetooth on board, no traction control, no control chips to analyze every trajectory. Only ABS. And young drivers will be happy. They're the ones who'll have to manage everything, with no electronic safeguards.

We now have a better grasp of the terrain in which this R7 will be playing. Radical, howling at 15,000 rpm, the circuit as the only place to use it, that's out of the question. With this machine, the pleasure lies elsewhere: on the road; and why not for a moment on the track. As the RS 660 defends. I'm sick of having super-exclusive missiles. There seems to be a return to motorcycles that were sporty but not extreme. Some will remember the Thundecat, CBR 600 F, SV 650 S, R 1100 S, SZR 660... They all disappeared when track bikes took over.

The latter are becoming marginal. Maybe it's time to have some fun again, without constantly revving up to Mach 2. That's what the R7 is for. Well, not just yet. It's not due to arrive until the end of 2021.
But was Yamaha right to take on this name? Marketing-wise, it's a real eye-catcher. In terms of filiation, fans of theOW-02 will hardly begrudge it.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos