2026 YAMAHA YZF-R7
Base Price: $ 9,399 Website: YamahaMotorsports. com Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse parallel-Twin, DOHC w / 4 valves per cyl. Displacement: 689cc Bore x Stroke: 80.0 x 68.6mm Horsepower: 72 hp @ 8,750 rpm( factory claim) Torque: 50.2 lb-ft @ 6,500 rpm( factory claim) Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated slip / assist wet clutch Final Drive: O-ring chain Wheelbase: 54.9 in. Rake / Trail: 24 degrees / 3.6 in. Seat Height: 32.7 in. Wet Weight: 417 lb Fuel Capacity: 3.7 gal.
Looks are important to sportbike buyers. Even though the new YZF- R7 is priced well below 10 grand($ 9,399 to be exact), its styling is on par with bikes that cost twice as much. Its sleek front end, LED position lights and headlight, and LED turnsignals embedded in the mirrors are derived from the top- ofthe- line YZF- R1M. It also has a MotoGPinspired triple clamp, black anodized clutch and brake levers, and updated handlebar switches.
When Yamaha introduced the YZF- R7 in the summer of 2021, it hosted a track- only press launch at Atlanta
Motorsports Park. Recognizing its primary use case, this go- round we tested the R7 on the street, including freeways, city streets, and canyon roads.
Few of us are lucky enough to live at the base of a fantastic motorcycle road. Most of us must ride a while to get to twisties. We have to escape the city or suburban sprawl, endure an hour or so on the interstate, or just drone along flat, straight roads before things get interesting. This sort of riding is not the R7’ s happy place. Sure, it now has cruise control, but even with the revised ergonomics the riding
position puts a lot of weight on the rider’ s wrists. Also, on the particular bike I was riding, the engine radiated excess heat, roasting my inner thighs.
For the first 50 miles, I wasn’ t a fan of the new R7.
Then we turned onto California Route 76. Stop lights and traffic gave way to smooth pavement and a series of nicely banked curves that ascended into the Peninsular Range of northern San Diego County. On the sides of its grippy tires, the R7 was in its element.
A few miles later, we turned onto South Grade Road, which climbs to the
Top: Inspired by surf culture, Breaker Cyan / Raven is a new color this year. Bottom: The high, rear-set footpegs allow deep lean angles but also put a lot of bend in the rider’ s knees.
18 / JULY 2026 / RIDERMAGAZINE. COM