Yamaha has confirmed UK pricing for its MT-07-linked R7, and it drastically undermines the Aprilia RS 660
No one buys sports bikes anymore. The market for powerful mid-weight bikes with aggressive riding positions has fallen on its ass, prompting many manufacturers to respond accordingly. Yamaha, for example, ditched its long-standing YZF-R6 model last year, and rather than directly replacing it, the Japanese company released this: the R7.
Instead of a high-revving 599cc inline-four producing 117bhp, it has a 660cc parallel-twin making a much more modest (and very road-friendly) 72bhp. The riding position is much more relaxed, and while the R6 was around £ 12,000, Yamaha this week confirmed the UK’s price for the R7 at £ 8,200. In the United States, the MSRP is $ 8,999.
If you want the gorgeous white and red 60th anniversary version (and why not you), it’s an extra £ 300. Anyone wishing to take the PCP route will be charged £ 94 for 36 months after paying £ 2,083, with an optional final payment of £ 3,757.50.
The £ 8,200 price tag makes the R7 around £ 50 more expensive than the Honda CBR650R, another sports bike that isn’t quite a sports bike we have in testing at the moment (more on that coming soon) ). That’s considerably cheaper than the Aprilia RS 660 which costs £ 10,149 and the Ducati Supersport 950 which weighs in at £ 12,295. A Kawasaki Ninja 650 is inferior to the Yamaha with a starting price of £ 7,349, but its parallel twin is less powerful and uses a conventional (and therefore less attractive) fire order.
The R7’s “CP2” engine uses a 270 degree “crossplane” crankshaft to give uneven firing order, similar to that of a V-twin. You will also find this engine in the ever popular MT-07 bare bike. , with which the R7 shares a lot, including its frame. It’s not entirely accurate to call the R7 “an MT-07 with fairings and clips” as there are other differences including the suspension setup and some frame reinforcement plates on the R7. In terms of price, the R7 costs around £ 1,300 more.
Want one? It will be in UK Yamaha dealers by November and reservations are open now.
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