• last year
Earlier this year, Yamaha announced it was retiring its beloved YZF-R6 four-cylinder sportbike. (Find out more in the 2021 Yamaha YZF-R6 Race First Look Preview article).

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Replacing it on paper, but not in spirit is its more affordable and easy riding twin-cylinder- powered YZF-R7 (learn more in the 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 Preview write-up and video). After test riding it a couple of times during the 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 Review and 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 MC Commute Review, we got our hands on one of our own motorcycles.

So we hauled it out to a Yamaha R World owner’s trackday operated by Z2 Track Days at northern California’s Sonoma Raceway. Tune -in to watch what it's like to ride around the circuit on OE-fitted Bridgestone Battlax S22 tires. Lastly, stay tuned for another review dedicated to the R7’s capability as an everyday street bike.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 Preview: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/news/2022-yamaha-yzf-r7-preview/

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 Review: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/2022-yamaha-yzf-r7-review/

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 MC Commute Review: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/2022-yamaha-yzf-r7-mc-commute-review/

Full story here: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/2022-yamaha-yzf-r7-trackday/

Photography: Drew Ruiz

Video/edit: @AdamWaheed

Motorcycle Riding Gear Worn

Helmet: Shoei X-Fourteen
Custom Helmet Paint: Tagger Designs
Suit: Alpinestars Race Replica V2
Gloves: Alpinestars GP Plus V2
Boots: Alpinestars Supertech R

Motorcyclist Shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/motorcyclist
Shop Products We Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/motorcyclistmagazine

See more from us: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/

Category

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Sports
Transcript
00:00 Hey folks, so today we're coming at you from Sonoma Raceway in Northern
00:05 California. We are taking part in a Yamaha R-World owner's appreciation
00:13 track day. Now if you are a Yamaha street or sport bike owner, you can sign up for
00:21 a discounted rate. Z2 Track Days out of Northern California is the host of the
00:29 track day and this track day is open exclusively to Yamaha riders. We lugged
00:37 out our 2022 YZF-R7 sport bike to spend some laps around this infamous US
00:50 racing circuit to tell you what it's like to ride. So strap on the helmet
00:55 we're going for a ride. Alright folks there it is our 2022 YZF-R7. We've
01:05 reported on this vehicle extensively in our various reviews that we have on this
01:12 channel so we encourage you to check out those reviews. They should pop up right
01:17 here. So look at all of that content and we're gonna do a quick summary of this
01:24 bike. This is Yamaha's all-new parallel twin powered 689 cc sport bike for the
01:34 2022 model year. Now this motorcycle replaces on paper but not in spirit the
01:42 YZF-R6 that is a GYTR accessory quick shifter so we can make lightning fast
01:52 upshifts without the clutch. Now this replaces the YZRF I'm sorry the YZF-R6.
02:02 Now while the YZF-R6 was a competition spec vehicle this motorcycle is more of
02:10 a full fairing street bike. So this bike isn't necessarily built for racing and
02:15 competition like the R6 like the R1 but you can very well easily put a belly pan
02:22 on this motorcycle, safety wire a couple of the key bolts on it and go racing on
02:31 this vehicle. Now what's so cool about these YZF-R7 is number one the
02:37 price $9,000 for this motorcycle that's over $3,000 less expensive than the
02:44 outgoing R6. These motorcycles are also very easy to ride. Yes they have no
02:52 electronics, yes there's no adjustable power modes or traction control but this
02:58 689 cc CP2 it has such a limited power output and such a friendly power band
03:05 and torque curve that it makes for a very easy motorcycle to ride. The seat
03:12 height's relatively low, it's very narrow, it's light and with 67 horsepower at
03:19 that Bridgestone Batlax S22 rear tire it's not gonna get you in trouble.
03:27 Alright folks enough yapping I'm gonna throw on my Alpine Stars race
03:33 replica suit and we are going to ride this vehicle here at Sonoma Raceway
03:40 formerly known as Sears Point, formerly known as Alpine Raceway. Let's go!
03:48 Alright folks here we are and we have a nice mechanical key. This isn't the same
03:55 nice new mechanical key design of the MT-07. This is the old-school Yamaha
04:00 street bike key but we will live with it. Alright let's let out the clutch and go
04:09 for a ride. We are here with the Z2 track day provider at the Yamaha Owner
04:19 Appreciation Ride track day that offers discounted track day events for Yamaha
04:25 owners. Yesterday was the Yamaha only day, today it's open to Yamaha owners and
04:32 other make and models of motorcycles. However they do not get the discounted
04:41 price. Now what I like about this YZF-R7 is it's just so affordable and easy to
04:51 ride. The seat height's nice and low, the seat and riding position's narrow and it
04:58 is a very accommodating sport bike for anyone to ride. You don't have to be an
05:05 expert to ride this motorcycle. The character of the 689cc in line 2 is very
05:15 friendly. It produces 87% of its peak torque from as low as 3,500 rpm. Again
05:24 that just makes for a very easy motorcycle to ride. Now it's worth noting
05:32 that while the other Yamaha R bikes, the R6, R1, those things are high revving
05:40 screamers. This motorcycle doesn't rev like that. This motorcycle only revs to
05:47 just north of 10,000 rpm and it really lacks the adrenaline and the character
05:55 of the inline 4 power sport bikes.
06:01 Now we have the GYTR accessory electronic quick shifter which enables
06:10 full throttle upshifts through the 6-speed gearbox. The quick shifter, it
06:17 works well but it could be a little faster. It doesn't feel as fast as it in
06:23 terms of its shifting performance as it did on the R6, outgoing R6 and R1.
06:32 I love how nimble this motorcycle it is. It really is an easy motorcycle to put
06:39 where you want on track. Now because this vehicle isn't capable of the crazy speeds
06:51 of an inline 4 power sport bike, the braking package is more than adept at
06:58 shedding speed on this vehicle. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that the brakes do
07:05 feel a tad spongy at the circuit. Now it's not a deal-breaker, it's not
07:12 something that's really gonna compromise the performance of this motorcycle. Just
07:18 because you have to remember it only has 67 pounds at the back tire. So
07:23 realistically you're not gonna need a set of 320 millimeter rotors to get this
07:28 thing slowed down. It just doesn't, it's just not able to make those kind of top
07:35 speeds that necessitate that performance.
07:40 But the brakes do feel a tad spongy. The ABS program. Now ABS is the only
07:49 electronic countermeasure that this motorcycle employs. There is no traction
07:55 control, there is no adjustable power modes. ABS is all you got. An ABS system
08:02 works well, but it is a tad intrusive at a track pace. When you really start
08:11 getting it after it, you can feel the ABS come in a little bit. Especially through
08:18 this section when you go up into fifth gear. You can string it out in fourth gear, but
08:25 realistically if you're just stringing this bike out and not upshifting, you're
08:29 not going anywhere. You have to keep this thing rolling through the gearbox for it to
08:35 accelerate.
08:37 God, this thing is pretty fun to ride though. Though it does lack the pure acceleration of an R-bike.
08:50 Now the suspension on this motorcycle, it is definitely soft and spongy feeling.
08:59 It lacks the precise feel and the exquisite roadholding of the retired R6 and the
09:09 current model R1. And that is something that really makes this bike less
09:16 pleasurable to ride on the racing track. Obviously on the street that nice cushy
09:22 suspension is awesome, but whoa.
09:28 Speaking of R6, there's an R6 guy right there. But on the track we would want more
09:34 handling precision. That would be a nice feature. Sorry folks, I was trying to pass
09:41 that guy, but I just didn't have it. Didn't have it in me today.
09:46 During the Yamaha Spread the Love Owner's Track Day. Maybe we can do it here.
09:54 Entering the carousel. Oh yeah, here we go guys. Now because the fork lacks that
10:02 precise handling feel, I can't really lean on it through that carousel turn.
10:07 Anytime I do, the front end starts just feeling strange. And that's not something
10:14 that I can really tune out with the damping. It's just the character of the
10:19 bike. So again, while this bike is fun for street riding and mellow track day
10:25 riding, when you really start getting after it here at the circuit, this chassis
10:30 just doesn't have the sharp, rigid feel of a normal R1.
10:37 Which compromises the fun factor. It's not like I wouldn't do a track day on this
10:45 bike, but I'm not going to be as pumped at doing a track day on this bike as I
10:50 would on an R6 or R1. But then again, to ride an R6 and R1 at the level to
10:59 really get that exhilaration feel, and meanwhile still staying safe,
11:07 you have to be a little bit more skilled rider, we'll just say. So for the vast
11:16 majority of people in today's world, this motorcycle will likely give you a fun
11:24 experience without you having to worry about
11:30 cooking your bacon at the racing track. But for those of you who are more
11:38 experienced and want something that you can just put gas in and go and really
11:44 haul ass on, R1 or used R6 would be the bike to do it on.
11:54 All right, carousel time again. Boys and girls, and I feel that strange
12:00 sensation from the front end on this bike. It's rather unnerving for me. It's
12:05 almost like the front end's popping. We are riding on the OE Bridgestone
12:12 Batlax S22 tires. And these tires, for just a general purpose, sports street
12:20 tire, they work BOM! But, one, start riding in this motorcycle with vigor, like we
12:31 talked about, the tires, they work good, but they definitely let you know, along
12:38 with the chassis, that they've had enough. Ooh, there was the ABS kicking in a little
12:45 bit. I think I held her on the throttle a little bit longer and made my speed a
12:51 little higher and I needed to brake a little more. Still, the S22 is a very well-rounded
13:01 bike. This corner is another area where that
13:05 spongy suspension, it just feels like the bike is just not totally planted in that
13:12 section.
13:16 Well, folks, that was a quick review of Yamaha's $9,000 YZF-R7 at Sonoma
13:29 Raceway here in Northern California. If you ever get a chance, come up and
13:37 experience the undulation in the hills of this legendary circuit. Also, sign up
13:45 with ZT Track Days. They are a very nice track day organization, very
13:53 accommodating, very easy to work with and participate with.
14:02 And I gotta sign off. I gotta try to pass these guys in front of me.
14:09 See if this '67 horsepower R7 can do it. We'll see you guys later. Thanks for
14:16 watching.
14:18 All right, folks, there it is. Yamaha's 2022 YZF-R7 as ridden during this Yamaha
14:28 R-World Owner's Appreciation Track Day. Now, would I spend my $9,000 on this
14:37 motorcycle? Well, I think it's a nice street bike and I think it's a good
14:42 entry-level twin-cylinder sport bike for track riders looking for a friendly,
14:51 mellow, full-fairing sport bike. I think it's a good option for those people. But
14:58 if you're someone who's more experienced, someone who really wants the visceral
15:03 feel of an R6 and R1 and that crazy handling pedigree and crazy hard-hitting
15:12 power, I don't think you're gonna get that sensation from this vehicle. I would
15:19 not buy this motorcycle for track use. It's just a little bit too wimpy for me.
15:27 That said, if I was to purchase this motorcycle for track use, I would
15:33 definitely invest in some suspension upgrades, possibly a totally different
15:38 fork with a thicker front axle, a different shock, a solo seat with a
15:45 thinner, more racy seat. I'd also splurge for some stainless steel brake lines and
15:52 the exhaust with a reflash to really try to get more oomph out of that engine. And
15:59 that's what I would do if I was really serious about riding this bike at the
16:03 track. But for that kind of money, you may as well just buy an R1 and R6 or an R6
16:09 and call it good. Alright folks, make sure to log on to MotorcyclistOnline.com.
16:16 That's where all of my written content lives. Check out the numerous articles
16:22 we've written on this vehicle. Check out the numerous videos we've published on
16:26 the MotorcyclistMag YouTube channel on this vehicle. And please give this video
16:32 a thumbs up if you liked it, thumbs it down if you didn't, and we'll see you
16:36 next time. Thanks for taking a moment out of your day to tune in to this premium
16:41 content.
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