There is an old motorcycling adage that says that riding a slow bike fast is much more fun than riding a fast bike slow. The Yamaha R7 is a case in point, the bike offering a modest amount of power shoehorned into a small, lightweight package with a sports bike heritage. Yamaha's most powerful motorcycles are a modern marvel, but the R7 takes a different approach to riding.

Twisting the throttle full-stop on the Yamaha R7 and pitching the bike through corners with little to no braking necessary may just be one of the most enjoyable riding experiences out there. The Yamaha R7 debuted as a 2022 model and has carved its way firmly into the battle for the best middleweight sports bike in an increasingly popular market segment.

The sporty twin pulls off the ultimate balancing act between performance and price, comfort and aggressiveness, practicality, and fun. As one of the best new motorcycles under $10,000, there is a lot to love about the Yamaha YZF-lines middle child as well as a few things to keep in mind.

The Yamaha R7 Is A Fun And Affordable Middleweight Sports Bike

The Yamaha R7 is ultimately the Japanese firm's response to the 2008 global economic downturn, when bike markets worldwide started to see a sharp decline in the purchase of large displacement superbike-style bikes. Motorcycle companies generally responded by shelving the programs for building the fastest superbikes ever made, and instead focused on bringing more reasonable bikes to market.

The R7 is proof that a motorcycle does not need an excess of horsepower to be competent on the road as well as the racetrack. It lends itself well as one of the most fun sportbikes for beginners, while simultaneously offering experienced riders enough performance to still have a blast.

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Yamaha solved the puzzle of making high-performance bikes affordable for the everyday rider by utilizing cross-platform thinking.

The Yamaha R7 is, at its core, essentially a revised Yamaha MT-07 with upgraded suspension and brakes, quicker steering, and wider wheels fitted with stickier tires. Both bikes also share the same tubular steel frame, with the R7 frame getting stiffened at strategic points and biased more towards the front for sharper handling.

The Yamaha R7 Uses The 72 Hp CP2 Parallel-Twin Engine

One of the best features of the Yamaha R7 is the tried and true Yamaha CP2 motor. Much has gotten written about the 689 cc parallel-twin motor with cross-plane crankshaft. One thing that is certain is the sheer versatility of the powerplant, with Yamaha utilizing the engine in no less than four different bike models. The MT-07, Tenere 700, XSR-700, and YZF-R7 all depend on the CP2 for their internal combustion needs.

Engine Specs

The Yamaha CP2 engine is an engineering marvel, packing modern technical advancements into a small, lightweight design. One of the main driving forces (literally) behind Yamaha's ability to keep the R7s price down is the fact that the CP2 motor has a low parts count.

Obviously, the twin-cylinder comes into play here without doing the math versus a four-cylinder, but the parallel configuration also cuts down on parts count compared to a V-twin as it requires only one head, one drive, and two cams whereas the V-twin requires double that respectively. ​​​​​​​

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Some of the best motorcycle engines ever made got that title by making good power, but also by being bulletproof. The CP2 is ultra-reliable and durable, being able to withstand the rigors of road racing with the Yamaha R7 GYTR and off-road riding with the Yamaha Tenere 700.

Sporting all the modern bike engine technology on offer with four valves per cylinder, fuel injection, and liquid cooling, the CP2 is able to deliver a healthy 72 hp and a smooth, flat torque curve throughout the RPM range while remaining incredibly dependable and reliable. ​​​​​​​

The Yamaha R7 Packs Performance In A Small Lightweight Package

The design of the Yamaha R7 can't get faulted, taking a page out of the outgoing Yamaha R6 supersport motorcycle book with its racy body curves and aggressive overall look. The Yamaha R7 World GP 60th-Anniversary Edition even sports the traditional red, white, and black-colored livery which, according to the Yamaha Motors Global website, harkens back to the beginning of their Grand Prix racing days. ​​​​​​​

While the R7 is at home on the racetrack, it is equally practical on the road.

The bike offers a claimed 58 mpg and weighs just 414 lbs with its 3.4-gallon fuel tank full. The Yamaha R7s ergonomics are not the most comfortable, but if it's any consolation, the bike's clip-on handlebars get positioned higher than most traditional sportbikes.

The Yamaha Motorsports website claims the R7 has the slimmest profile within their entire sportbike lineup and with a seat height of 33 inches, the R7 is almost 3/4 of an inch lower than the R6. That may not seem like much, but for height-challenged riders, that could be the difference between being able to flat-foot at a stop versus having to do the old lean-on-one-foot gig. ​​​​​​​

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The Yamaha R7 Riding Experience

With a slightly shorter wheelbase than the MT-07, perhaps the greatest feature of the R7 is its nimble handling, allowing the rider to let off the brakes early, carry a ton of corner speed, and gas out of a corner without having to worry about too much power breaking rear traction or pushing the front.

The R7 gives more the more you give it. Pitching it into corners, the great CP2 engine with a slipper / assist clutch and real-deal KYB suspension provides a planted feeling that gives the rider confidence. Throw on a full exhaust or slip-on for a bit more power and a much better engine and exhaust note, and chase the next bend to happiness.

One of the common complaints with the R7 concerns the stock brakes. On paper, the dual front brake disks and Brembo master cylinder are the business, but the non-switchable ABS may provide a vague feel through the brake lever.

Yamaha R7 Features

• Slipper / Assist clutch
• Standard ABS
• Front / Rear LED lights
• LCD dash
• Fully adjustable KYB inverted front forks
• KYB rear shock w/ adjustable preload and rebound
• Four-piston radial front brake calipers
• Brembo master cylinder
• Nissin one-piston rear brake caliper

How Much Does A Yamaha R7 Cost?

The middleweight sports bike segment has gotten hot over the last few years with major offerings from not just Japanese manufacturers but also European makes as well.

The Yamaha R7 goes head-to-head with the Kawasaki Ninja 650, Honda CBR650R, and the particularly tasty Aprilia RS660.

Yamaha looks to aim squarely in the middle of the competition with its very reasonable price point balanced with its high performance. Arguably sportier than the Ninja 650 but more practical than the RS660, the R7 definitely deserves a seat at the table. ​​​​​​​

Yamaha R7 Vs The Competition

All in all, the Yamaha R7 is packed with features and provides value at a price point. It's not pretending to be a high-revving 600 supersport like the R6, but it also doesn't hold back when it comes to providing sporty, track-capable features.

Understanding the genesis of the R7 and giving it props where they are due while understanding it's not the perfect "do-it-all" bike (if that exists) makes it easy to say that the Yamaha R7 is one of the best sport bikes made today.