P88
RIDE REVIEW I 2022 YAMAHA YZF-R7
the replacement to the dearly
departed R6. An R6 would an-
nihilate an R7 in every conceiv-
able performance department,
but the new R7's mantra is to be
all things to all sport bike riders.
Easier to live with, easier to ride
to work, easier to ride on track.
Easier all round.
The $8999 2022 Yamaha
YZF-R7 thus represents a new
era for Yamaha's sport bike.
Not to put too fine a point on it,
but the R7 is basically an MT-07
in drag. Wrapped in very R6-
esque bodywork that houses the
fantastic looking LED headlights
on either side and inside the
intake, the R7 runs the same
689cc parallel-twin CP2 motor,
and the same six-speed gear-
box (although it does come with
an assist and slipper clutch the
MT-07 lacks). It also utilizes the
same steel frame design with
a few mods like a 5mm shorter
wheelbase, 10mm less ground
clearance, 0.7° steeper steering
geometry at 23.7° , and 2mm
less trail.
The swingarm is the same unit
as on the MT, but the rear wheel
sits a little further back thanks
to a one-tooth-smaller rear
sprocket that makes the gearing
a little taller for racetrack/sporty
speeds. Couple this with a dif-
ferent rear suspension linkage
on the R7 and you've got a much
better setup ready for the track.
The R7 also runs fully adjust-
able inverted 41mm KYB forks
and a shock with preload and
rebound damping adjustment.
There's also radial-mounted
four-piston front brake calipers,
compared to the conventionally
mounted calipers on the MT.
Yamaha's hoping
to leave the
competition
black and blue
with the new R7.
Oh man, that was
bad, even for us.
