Yzf For the Road
YZF FOR THE ROAD
RIDING IMPRESSION FROM THE GREAT WHITE NORTH
AS IMPRESSIVE AS YAMAHA'S AMA SUPERBIKE credentials are, the company inexplicably has not offered a street-legal 750 for sale in the U.S. since the FZ750 of 1988, five long model years ago.
That could change in 1994 with the anticipated U.S. introduction of the YZF750R, a more streetable version of the YZF750SP tested in this issue. Though the SP offers a host of track-oriented componentry, the SP and R models clearly come from the same mold, a mold cast by Yamaha’s YZF750 works endurance racer.
Yamaha will sell the R-model in Canada this year, priced at $8200, some $2300 less expensive than the SP. Making the R-model somewhat price competitive-it’s still $1000 up on the ZX-7 and GSX-R-meant taking some shortcuts in terms of hardware, but according to Cycle Canada, which recently tested a YZF750R, the shortcuts actually make it a better streetbike than the track-oriented SP.
Consider its engine: Yamaha claims the R’s motor has the same power output as the SP’s, though it gets by without the SP’s close-ratio racing gearbox and flat-slide carburetors. That’s a plus on the street, where the SP’s ultra-tall first gear makes takeoffs a chore. And the R-model’s 38mm CV mixers are sure to carbúrate better than the SP’s flat-slide versions, which offer less-than-ideal throttle response for road use. According to Cycle Canada, the R carburated crisply and ran strongly, besting a liquid-cooled GSX-R750 on their dyno by 2 horsepower.
The R’s suspension should be better on the street, as well. As we discovered, the SP’s rear end is racebikestiff; the R-model, with its more progressive linkage ratio, promises to be more compliant.
Cycle Canada came away impressed with the bike that could make it to U.S. showrooms next year. “The YZF750R’s compact wheelbase and steep steering geometry give it quick and light steering that invites comparison with 600s rather than other 750s,” the editors wrote. “Yamaha has come up with an ace of a 750, with strong engine performance and particularly fine suspension, handling and brakes. It’s good to see Yamaha back in the hunt.” -Mitch Boehm
