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Expert Review

Yamaha R7 (2021 - ) review

A belated go on Yamaha’s accessible, MT-07 based sports bike reveals a riding experience as exciting as it is affordable

Dan Trent

Words by: Dan Trent

Published on 14 January 2025 | 0 min read

The Auto Trader expert verdict:

4.5

Taking fairings off to create nakeds may have seemed like a great idea, until their increasing popularity threatened to kill off the very sports bikes on which they were based. But now things have come full circle, and the same bikes are being reclothed to create a new category of sports-style machines combining the affordability of nakeds with the sportier vibe of race-style machines. It’s a vibrant class full of talented bikes from big players like Triumph, Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki and in this company the Yamaha R7 looks one of the older, less powerful options. It fights back with a razor-sharp riding style, less weight and important stuff like high-quality suspension to deliver a thrilling ride at an affordable price.

Reasons to buy:

  • tickLight, pointy and agile
  • tickHigh quality suspension
  • tickGutsy engine

At a glance:

2024 Yamaha R7

Design

The R7 still looks more authentically ‘sports bike’ than many of its rivals
While effectively an MT-07in jogging bottoms, the R7 still looks more authentically ‘sports bike’ than many of its rivals. It may have a steel frame rather than the aluminium Deltabox of the now track-only R6 but shared spirit is clear, from the sharp-nosed fairing to the properly racy clip-on bars, rear-set pegs and kicked-up tail. Suffice to say, it all looks a good deal more hardcore than the Honda CBR 650R, Suzuki GSX-8R or even Triumph Daytona 660 that may also be on your shopping list. True, some may point out it has less tech. But we’ll take that for the higher-quality adjustable KYB forks, more sophisticated linkage-driven rear suspension and significantly lighter weight.
Expert rating: 5/5
2024 Yamaha R7

Riding position

It’s not a comfortable bike by any means
Where some of its rivals successfully combine sporty looks with more comfortable riding positions the Yamaha makes no such concessions. With low-set clip-on bars, a slim and minimally padded seat and a peg position that seemingly tucks your feet up around your ears it’s not a comfortable bike by any means. But that’s fine – you know from the looks of it what you’re in for and if you want something more all-round just save some money and stick with the MT-07 on which it is based. Where the R7 succeeds is putting you in the mood to really attack the road – or track. And in that sense it represents a bigger step up from the naked on which it is based than many of its equivalents.
Expert rating: 3/5
2024 Yamaha R7

Practicality

Yamaha does at least offer a reasonably priced set of quick-release soft panniers for trips away but it’s still no tourer
See above. While we managed a couple of hours in one stint without crippling ourselves too badly anyone over six foot is going to find the riding position hard going for longer runs, and where rivals like the GSX-8R or CBR650R are viable all-day bikes you’re better off saving the R7 for shorter blasts or track days. The R7 doesn’t have much in the way of tech either, so none of the big screens or phone connectivity of rivals. If you do fancy taking your R7 further afield Yamaha does at least offer a reasonably priced set of quick-release soft panniers for trips away but it’s still no tourer.
Expert rating: 2/5
2024 Yamaha R7

Performance & braking

188kg fuelled and ready to ride means the Yamaha is a whole 20kg less than the likes of the Honda CBR650R
It’s tempting to focus on the engine here but perhaps the more significant figure on the R7’s spec sheet is the weight, or lack of it. Like-for-like comparisons aren’t always easy given the way different manufacturers measure weights but 188kg fuelled and ready to ride means the Yamaha is a whole 20kg less than the likes of the Honda CBR650R, which you feel in the sheer urgency of its performance. That more than makes up for the 689cc CP2 parallel-twin’s relative lack of top end, the 73.4 horsepower lagging behind the Honda and others though torque is on a par. This and the weight mean real urgency when you twist the throttle, the CP2 engine delivering a satisfyingly crisp bark and great response. Lack of weight again helps the braking, which is via twin radially-mounted calipers and has lovely feel through the skinny lever. So, even if your mates may scoff at the capacity and horsepower stats a well-ridden R7 will run rings around any equivalent middleweight.
Expert rating: 5/5
2024 Yamaha R7

Ride & handling

With your weight forward and over the front tyre you have a real connection to what it’s doing
We mentioned the lack of weight, didn’t we? Well, here again it makes its presence felt through razor-sharp responses and a simply delightful sense of agility. With your weight forward and over the front tyre you have a real connection to what it’s doing, building confidence in the grip levels and as equally exciting to sports bike newbies as it will be more experienced riders returning to the fold. The R7 also scores over its rivals with the quality of its suspension, and where most use non-adjustable Showa kit Yamaha has invested in fully tweakable KYB forks and a linkage-driven monoshock. We didn’t get opportunity to fiddle with the settings but even straight out of the box you feel the benefit of decent suspension, the R7 combining racy firmness with an ability to float over the bumps and maintain a constant contact pressure to the road through its tyres. All of which helps your confidence and encourages you to push harder.
Expert rating: 5/5
2024 Yamaha R7

Running costs

The modest power shouldn’t test the chain or other transmission components too much
While it’s quite a bit more upfront compared with the MT-07 on which it is based the R7 delivers with a considerably more focused and exciting riding style. Beyond that, though, running costs should be just as reasonable, the engine not bad on fuel while the modest power shouldn’t test the chain or other transmission components too much. You might get through tyres and brakes a little faster, though, given the riding style it encourages.
Expert rating: 4/5
2024 Yamaha R7

Reliability

The fact the R7 has fewer electronic gizmos than some rivals might also be seen as a plus
The CP2 engine is well-proven in nakeds, adventure bikes and now sports bikes alike so we don’t see any real reason to worry on this score. The fact the R7 has fewer electronic gizmos than some rivals might also be seen as a plus for some.
Expert rating: 4/5
2024 Yamaha R7

Warranty & servicing

Servicing is every 6,000 miles or annually, whichever comes first
Yamaha’s confidence in its build quality is underlined by the longer than average three-year warranty, which is a bonus. After the initial 600-mile bedding in check servicing is every 6,000 miles or annually, whichever comes first. Some way short of the 10,000-mile intervals on the Triumph Daytona 660 but probably within the typical yearly distance most owners will travel given the nature of the bike.
Expert rating: 4/5
2024 Yamaha R7

Equipment

No fancy TFT screen, no rider modes and no six-axis IMU or cornering rider aids
Depends on your priorities here, but there’s no escaping the R7’s tech feels left behind by the rest of the pack. So, no fancy TFT screen, no rider modes and no six-axis IMU or cornering rider aids. There isn’t even traction control, which perhaps isn’t a deal breaker on a bike of relatively modest power like this. But something most modern bike buyers probably expect. Of course, if you’re of the opinion that all these gimmicks are a distraction and you prefer the money has been spent on quality hardware like decent suspension then you’ll like the approach. The test bike got the optional quickshifter, which suited the frenetic nature of the R7 while various billet bits and bobs can be added to trick it up, ours including a brake lever guard as a racy finishing touch.
Expert rating: 3/5
2024 Yamaha R7

Why buy?

It’s all good if the accessibility of this format appeals and you want the sharpest, sportiest and most aggressive one of the bunch
We wouldn’t be surprised if the R7 gets an update like the MT-07 it’s based on to bring the tech up to standard, this being the only weak spot when compared against the other new-school middleweight sports bikes it’s up against. Other than that it’s all good if the accessibility of this format appeals and you want the sharpest, sportiest and most aggressive one of the bunch. True, it’s not as comfortable or versatile as some of the alternatives. But where the others could be accused of playing as sports bikes this feels much closer to the real thing, and perhaps the most convincing if you’re riding it in restricted form on an A2 licence where the athletic kerb weight will be a real advantage.
Expert rating: 4/5

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