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Rennie rides and reviews the new Yamaha YZF-R7

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 Review

Motorcycle Test by Rennie Scaysbrook

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: the new Yamaha YZF-R7 has absolutely nothing to do with the Yamaha YZF-R7. The Yamaha YZF-R7 OW02, I mean.

1999 Yamaha YZF-R7 OW-02

The original R7 (which in my mind should be the only R7) ran for a couple of years at the turn of the century and was so damn sexy and exclusive it is at the very top of bikes I’d like to own despite the fact it won nothing other than a few WorldSBK races. Yet the only thing this 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 has in common with the OW02 is the name on the seat and the fact it’s made by the same company.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

As a student of motorcycle history, I was rather pissed Yamaha called the ’22 R7 the name they did. I felt it was like Ferrari creating a Mazda MX-5 and calling it an F40. But history counts for little these days—it’s not going to bring in the dollars the board so dearly craves—and Yamaha told us the naming of the R7 came after several of the dreaded ‘focus group’ groups said naming a Yamaha sportsbike anything other than a YZF-R-something would be just too damn confusing. Poor souls.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

So now we have the 188kg ready-to-ride Yamaha YZF-R7, which comes hot on the heels of the production death of the bike that would smoke it in every conceivable performance test aside from a sub-2000 rpm torque run-to-the-pub in the YZF-R6. Confused? Yeah, me too. Bloody focus groups.

2017 Yamaha YZF-R6
Yamaha’s YZF-R6 is no more but is a sharper scalpel than the new R7

It’s called R7 because this is essentially an MT-07 in sporty garb. The Scaysbrooks are massive fans of the MT range, so much so that my mum, Sue, even bought one and has ridden more miles on it than I’ve done on press bikes in the past 12 months.

689cc CP2 Yamaha parallel twin and a special 655 cc learner legal version for Australia

Under your crown jewels on the R7 sits the same 689 cc parallel twin-cylinder four-stroke CP2 motor mated to a six-speed gearbox and thankfully no adjustable engine maps. Yamaha doesn’t quote horsepower or torque but a rough guess of around 70 hp and 65 Nm would be close to what you can expect from the little twin.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

This is probably the most unintimidating motor currently on sale in full sportsbike attire—it picks up revs sedately and smoothly with very few vibrations, offering plenty of torque that continues until 8000-8500 rpm, at which point it tapers off significantly before hitting the 9500 rpm redline.

The CP2 engine also pulls duty in the MT-07, XSR700 and Tenere 700

Yamaha absolutely smashed it when they bought out the CP2 motor back in 2014. It’s a bit like a modern version of the RD350, a motor that can have nuts ridden off it or cruised to the shops just as easily and always come back for more. In many ways, the CP2 makes for the perfect sportbike riding tutoring tool, an engine that any rider of any skill level can get on and enjoy without getting scared or bored by it.

Optional quick-shifter

Our tes-tbike came fitted with the optional quick-shifter for clutchless up-shifts but you still need to go old school and match the revs on the down-shift. It was here some of the more budget aspects of the R7 shone through, as getting a smooth downshift when pushing hard on the track wasn’t always a given. You need to be very deliberate with your shifts when the revs are high, making sure the next cog has been selected before dumping the lever and relying on the slipper clutch (which the MT-07 missed out on) to keep everything from locking up and sending you sideways under brakes.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

You’re graced with ADVICS four-piston monobloc front brakes matched to unswitchable ABS on the R7. Although braking power is reasonable enough, the ABS would kick in at a faster rate than I would have hoped when testing at the tight and twisty Atlanta Motorsports Park, and I’m still unsure if the pad material is quite right for pushing hard on the track.

Decent stoppers but some different pads might be in order for serious track use

The brakes do the job of hauling you up from speed, but we have to be picky here, ladies and gentlemen, if I were taking this to the track the brakes would be the first thing I’d upgrade.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

The R7 looks suspiciously like the R6 but that’s where the similarities and my comparisons with it will end. In fact, the R7 has more in common with an R3 than anything else. The top of the fairing where you tuck in behind is narrower than the R3, making it the most svelte machine in the Yamaha sportsbike line-up. I’ve got to give the styling department a golf clap—they did a fantastic job of making the R7 look like a racebike straight out of the crate with the LED lights hidden inside and either side of the intake. It makes the R7 look far racier than it really is, which is a nice little boon for the stylists.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

The bodywork wraps itself around the same MT-07 steel frame with a few mods like a 5 mm shorter wheelbase, 10 mm less ground clearance, 0.7° steeper steering geometry at 23.7° and 2 mm less trail. The swingarm is the same unit as on the MT, but the rear wheel sits a little further back thanks to a one-tooth smaller rear sprocket that makes the gearing a little taller for racetrack/sporty speeds. Coupled this with a different rear suspension linkage on the R7 and you’ve got a much better set-up ready for the track.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

The suspension comes from KYB in the 41 mm fully-adjustable fork and a rear shock that’s pre-load and rebound damping adjustable. Again, it’s mid-level in terms of spec and handles the job of hustling around a racetrack admirably enough, but push the R7 really hard and you’ll start to get a bit of flex from the frame which transfers through the front end. Many of the guys who run modified MT-07’s in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup series have issues with the frame not being stiff enough for hard racetrack use, which is something understandable given the fact the frame comes straight off what is essentially a commuter bike that wasn’t designed to go racing in the first place.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

Be that as it may, the R7 is an incredibly nimble motorcycle. That slender CP2 motor and the fact the internals weigh bugger all and thus don’t have a lot of reciprocating mass means the R7 changes direction on a dime. With a relatively rangy wheelbase of 1395 mm, stability is never in doubt—the motor doesn’t really have the power to stress the chassis anyway, and you can wind the gas in super hard without the fear of the chassis kicking sideways and spitting you off.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

Helping matters here was our testbike was fitted with the brilliant Bridgestone Battlax Racing R11 tyres, which is the Japanese company’s ultra-stcky production race tyre. The R7 will not come with that rubber at the dealer, but never fear because you will get the more appropriate S22, a tyre I tested in Spain and was pretty blown away by the overall grip and longevity. On a side note, at the 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R launch at Portimao the S22’s were standard fitment on that bike, too, and the test-bikes did some 15 sessions in a row without a single front or rear change with a bunch of hack-handed journo’s riding—that was more impressive than when we rode them at the launch…

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

The R7’s arrival has really highlighted the need for Yamaha to build a bridge between it and the R1, as the performance gap is just too great. Me thinks a 120-ish horsepower YZF-R9 based off the MT-09 would be a rather tasty plate indeed, although I have no idea whether Yamaha is thinking the same thing.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

I’ll admit it’s hard not to compare the 2022 R7 to the original R7 or even the R6, because it’s human nature to compare. It gives us a ranking and helps us feel in control, but to categorise the new R7 as anything other than a new direction for Yamaha’s sportsbikes would be unfair.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

The R7 has its charms, has its drawbacks, but I’m pleased to see it come to production. It deserves to be here, and will hopefully serve as a platform to bring new riders back into the sportsbike fold, as Trev suggested in his piece on the R7. If they do that, in time Yamaha may have created a bigger legend than even the old OW-02 was.

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

The new R7 is schedule to arrive in Australia this December and will be priced at $13,999 ride away for the LAMS variant while the full power version, as tested here, will retail for $14,999 ride away.


2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 Specifications

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 Specifications
Engine type Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC inline twin-cylinder; 4-valves per cylinder
Displacement LA: 655cc / HO: 689cc
Bore x stroke LA: 78.0 mm x 68.6 mm / HO: 80.0 mm x 68.6 mm
Compression ratio 11.5 : 1
Fuel delivery Fuel Injection
Starter system Electric
Transmission system Constant mesh six-speed w/ A&S clutch
Final Transmission Chain
Frame High tensile steel Deltabox
Front suspension KYB 41 mm USD forks, preload, rebound and compression adjustable; 130mm travel
Rear suspension Linked monoshock, preload and rebound adjustable; 130mm travel
Front brake Dual 298 mm rotors, radial four-piston calipers, Brembo radial master-cylinder
Rear brake Single 245 mm rotor, Nissin caliper
Wheels 10-spoke cast alloy wheels
Tyres Bridgestone BATTLAX S22, 120/70-17, 180/55-17
Overall length 2070 mm
Overall width 705 mm
Overall height 1160 mm
Caster Angle 23.7-degrees
Trail 90 mm
Wheelbase 1395
Seat height 835 mm
Min ground clearance 135 mm
Wet weight 188 kg
Fuel tank capacity 12.8 L
 Colour Team Yamaha Blue, Performance Black
Warranty 24 months
Lights & Dash LED lighting, LCD dash
Price – YZF-R7 HO $14,999 Ride-away
Price – YZF-R7 LA $13,999 Ride-away (LAMS)

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 Images

Photography by Drew Ruiz

Source: MCNews.com.au

Aprilia RS 660 Factory Works Trofeo ‘Trophy’

Aprilia RS 660 Factory Racer


Aprilia will be offering a special Trofeo or ‘Trophy’ edition of the RS 660, following the success of the single-make series in Italy, making available a track/race version developed by the Aprilia Racing Department, and joining the Factory Works programme.

Aprilia RS 660 Trofeo

Alas, this RS 660 is not available from your local Aprilia dealer, as Aprilia sell them direct, in the same way that the RSV4 race programme is managed. Thus if you want to get your paws on one, then you will need to deal directly with the Aprilia Race Department in Noale.

Stripped back for racing, the RS 660 Trofeo removes the ignition switch assembly and ABS system, saving weight and helping simplify the machine. The braking system is also modified running independent lines, while the ABS control unit is retained and connected to the electronic system which is integrated.

The ECU is a reprogrammed Race version which offers maximum performance exclusively for track use, and is calibrated for the SC Project racing exhaust included with the bike.

The TFT display has also been reprogrammed and features an integrated buttoon block on the left hand switchblock.

An SC Project exhaust is run alongside an Ohlins rear shock

Suspension has been beefed up with “Misano by Andreani” internal cartridges, and offers compression, rebound and preload adjustability.

At the rear on the other hand, an Öhlins AP948 shock absorber is fitted, offering the same level of adjustability as the forks.

Forks run “Misano by Andreani” internal cartridges and race switches are fitted

Tyres are a set of Pirelli Supercorsa V3 SC1 rubber.

The RS 660 Trofeo’s ride height is also lower due to the racing upper steering yoke fitted and adjustable semi-handlebars, with footpegs likewise adjustable.

Fibreglass fairings are by Cruciata Racing and are also part of the package, while retaining the RS 660’s styling and the Zanasi Group have painted them.

Cruciata Racing fibreglass fairings

Aprilia are also boasting that they’ve tuned the bike to produce 105 horsepower, with the dry weight brought down to 153 kg. In comparison the dry weight on the RS 660 is quoted as 169 kg with 100 hp.

The engine is tuned for 105 hp with the SC Project exhaust and runs case protectors

Part of that weight reduction is the removal of the secondary air system and thermostat, with aluminium guards also installed on the clutch and alternator covers, and a Spring air filter fitted.

Aprilia’s Factory Works RS 660 Trofeo

Pricing in Europe, excluding VAT is quoted at €14,700.00, which thrown into the currency exchange calculator equals about $23k in Australian dollars, although obviously that’s excluding VAT (GST here) and any other associated costs that might be added should the Aprilia RS 660 Trofeo come to Australia. 

Source: MCNews.com.au

Akrapovič Has Two New Exhaust Options For 2021 Aprilia RS 660

One Street, One Track

It ain’t an Aprilia if it isn’t screaming like a MotoGP track bike… Right? Akrapovič – the industries leading exhaust manufacturer – has two full exhaust systems ready for the 2021 Aprilia RS 660 motorcycle.

The Racing Line (S-A6R2) is a carbon fiber exhaust that will rely on your stock ECU mapping (this is a major benefit; you will avoid the expensive tuning cost to have your motorcycle run properly with the new airflow metrics) with a 2.5 horsepower increase at 11,200 rpm and 2.7 lb-ft bump in torque at 4550. This exhaust will also shed a pound off the wet weight of your motorcycle.

S-A6R1 is the “track use” (haha) variant that aims to bring 3 horsepower and 5 lb-ft of torque while also shedding 2.5 pounds from the weight of your ride. This exhaust won’t keep your ride Euro 5 compliant, however.

Bitcoin

The official Akra website currently has no info regarding pricing or purchasing these exhaust systems, but I’m sure you can expect to find them through official dealers in the new year.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcyclist Magazine Takes The 2021 Aprilia RS 660 For a Spin

Aprilia has a long history of producing large-displacement racebikes without much room for compromise when it comes to riders who want an affordable mid-displacement bike. This is where the RS 660 swoops in to save the day. The RS 660 was just introduced as a brand new bike for the Aprilia brand featuring a 659cc parallel-twin engine (with design elements taken from their world-famous RSV4 engine) that produces 100 horsepower and 49.4 lb-ft of torque.

Motorcyclist magazine essentially pioneered the ‘MC Commute’ video style, with their previous hosts, Zach and Ahri; and since their departure from the company have continued the MC Commute series on their Youtube channel to keep the information flowing for riders seeing details about new motorcycles put into actual practice.

In this video, the RS 660 is put through its paces from the perspective of an every-day rider to see if it is something that is worth your time. Adam Waheed – the reviewer – mentions that this motorcycle lacks a bit of power and prefers to ride it in the ‘highest power’ rider mode setting though, but the torque is still great due to the fact that you’re riding on half of an RSV4 engine.

The bike comes with traction control, wheelie control, engine braking control, cruise control ABS, etc.; but Adam mentions the TC system is perhaps not even a worth feature of this bike as it barely makes enough power to break the rear loose.

Overall, the RS 660 leaves a good impression on Adam, and you really can’t go wrong with this motorcycle if you’re looking for an affordable motorcycle that’s easy to ride through the city.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Aprilia RS 660 Debut at Laguna Seca

The Rs 660 Finally Shows up to the Party

If you’ve you’re a fan of Italian motorcycles but are intimidated or have no use for a literbike, the Aprilia brand has pretty off-limits with producing mid-displacement motorcycles – especially ones with that of a sport-bike form. Sure, you have the Mana 850, Shiver 750 and Dosoduro 750; but all these bikes have one thing in common… None of them feature your typical street-bike (crotch rocket) styling and design.

Yamaha has the smaller R6 to their R1, Honda has the CBR 600RR as a smaller option to their 1000RR etc. Aprilia finally hits the market with their agile 600cc class sportbike and have decided to host the official unveiling on the Westcoast of USA at none other than the legendary Laguna Seca race track.

Aprilia has teamed up with Rennie Scaysbrook to be their official demo rider, an Aussie racer who took the Aprilia Tuono V4 on a victory run at the infamous Hillclimb of Pikes Peak.

The brand unveiled a new colour option for the motorcycle at the event in addition to the full-speed race demo to display the capabilities of the motorcycle.

The new ‘Acid Gold’ colour scheme available for the RS 660

The new RS 660 is a 4100 pound, two-cylinder, 100HP “full-fairing sport bike with semi-handlebar that exploits the dynamic qualities of perfect chassis architecture“, as their official release states.

2017 Honda Grom stars

Currently paired along with their Europian press launch – as of yesterday – those of you in europian markets are welcomed to prebook online and order the new RS 660 from the official Aprilia website.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Aprilia Australia Confirmed RS 660 Arrival Date and Price Range

Aprilia’s Middle-Displacement Sportbike Is Almost Here

The Aprilia RS660 is a hotly anticipated motorcycle for just about any market out there. In Australia, Aprilia has now said when the model will arrive and roughly what it will cost. 

The motorcycle will get official pricing a little closer to arrival, but when those numbers do come in, they should be between $18,500 and $19,00 AUS. The motorcycle will arrive on Australian shores in March of 2021, so you have a bit of a wait before you need to round up your cash or your financing. The price listed above will be inclusive of GST and on-road costs.

What’s interesting is the fact that after the RS660 arrives, Aprilia will likely be hard at work coming out with other middleweight machines.

According to Motorcycle News Australia, there will be a Tuareg adventure bike and a Streetfighter both based on the RS660 platform that will come soon after. How soon, though, is still up in the air.

I knew about the Taureg adventure bike the but I’d only heard rumors of the Streetfighter bike. The fact that the publication lists it like its a sure thing, gets me excited. Time will tell how long Aprilia will take to get those bikes ready.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

The Aprilia RS 660 Trofeo Is Coming Soon

A Trofeo Version? Yes Please

The Aprilia RS660 is a sportbike that a lot of people are excited about, and it’s not even out yet. It’s coming and should be here soon, but Aprilia isn’t just sitting around. The company will have a Trofeo version soon.

Moto2 rider Tommaso Marcon recently posted an image to his Instagram that showed an Aprilia RS660 Trofeo at the racetrack. In his post, he said simply: “COMING SOON.. 🤩🚀”

That will be a seriously cool motorcycle when it comes out. Other than the simple post to his Instagram, Marcon didn’t disclose any other details about the bike.

As Motociclismo reported, there simply aren’t any other details about the bike at this time. However, you can see that there’s a SC-Project racing exhaust on the bike. Otherwise, the updates are a bit of a mystery. Things should become clearer in the future, though.

Osaka japan

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFz7firh_y3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Will Aprilia RS 660 suit learners?

Aprilia plan to introduce a lower-powered version of its upcoming RS 660 lightweight sports bike so it can be ridden by learners and novices under the European A2 motorcycle licence.

The announcement came in a quirky Instagram post that says “A2 driving license? Aprilia RS 660 95hp version confirmed! Keep updated!”Aprilia RS 660 learner bike?

The A2 licence is a similar system to the Australian and New Zealand Learner Approved Motorcycle System, so there could be scope to also make a LAMS version alongside the fuel-powered version.

This has been done with several other bikes on the market, notably the Yamaha MT-07LA which has reduced capacity (from 689cc to 655cc) and restricted power (from 55kW to 38kW) via 25% throttler restriction, different cams and pistons.

Yamaha MT-07 missing stickerYamaha MT-07LA

The lithe Aprilia RS 660 weighs in at 169kg dry and fits in the 660cc or below capacity limits of LAMS.

However, they would have to do a fair bit more power restriction on the 95hp (70kW) bike to fit the scheme which also has a power-to-weight formula of 150 kilowatts per tonne or less.

Aprilia RS 660

Aprilia RS 660 lightweightAprilia RS 660

The Aprilia RS 660 was unveiled at the EICMA show in November 2019.

Aprilia sees the bike as having wide appeal, even as an everyday commuter.

In fact, its five riding modes spell it out: Commute, Dynamic, Individual (we imagine that’s a customisable mode), Challenge and Time Attack.

It has adjustable Kayaba suspension, a double aero fairing and smartphone connectivity with navigation display on the instruments.

The bike is expected to arrive in the latter half of the year with prices and full tech specs announced closer to that time.

2021 Aprilia Tuono 660 concept2021 Aprilia Tuono 660 concept

It will be followed in 2021 by a Tuono naked version like the concept presented at EICMA which is slightly downtuned at 96hp (71kW).

There is also expected to be a restricted version for Europe that may also come in under Australia’s LAMS rules for novice riders.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Aprilia RS 660 | 100 hp Parallel Twin | 169 kg

Created around a totally new technical base, defined by the 660 parallel twin, Aprilia promise a new generation of lightweight, high-performance bikes that are sophisticated in design.

Aprilia RS
Aprilia RS 660

A return to the mid-sized engine, supported by the electronics and technology of the Aprilia Racing department.

The first born in this brand-new generation of Aprilia bikes is RS 660.

Aprilia RS
Aprilia RS 660

The light-is-right concept is behind the RS 660 project and can be summed up by its excellent weight/power ratio that makes for enjoyable riding, whether relaxed or more sports-orientated: 169 kg plus 100 HP is what Aprilia sees as the perfect formula for enjoyment on the road.

Aprilia RS
Aprilia RS 660

A new frame and swingarm in lightweight aluminium, and a new high-performance parallel twin engine accessible to everyone.

Aprilia RS
Aprilia RS 660

Inherited from the unbeatable RSV4, the electronic equipment is top class and comprises a Ride-by-Wire throttle and a six-axis inertial platform for optimum operation of the APRC electronic aids.

Aprilia RS
Aprilia RS 660

It offers five Riding Modes designed to regulate the behaviour of the electronic controls for safety and fun during daily riding, dynamic riding on the road, and extreme riding on track.

Aprilia RS
Aprilia RS 660

RS 660 also stands out for its particularly advanced aerodynamics comprising a double fairing with aerodynamic appendage function to optimise stability at high speeds, effectively protecting both rider and passenger from the air pressure.

Aprilia RS
Aprilia RS 660

Source: MCNews.com.au

Patent reveals Aprilia RS 660 details

Details of the Aprilia RS 660 production bike have been revealed in patent drawings that show the Italian company’s intention to go turn the concept into reality.

The concept twin was revealed at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan last November.

It is powered by two cylinders from a Tuono/RSV4 1100 engine as a 660c parallel twin.Aprilia RS 660 patent drawing

Now, patent images have shown a planned production bike with much of the concept’s features, including MotoGP style winglets, twin LED headlights, asymmetrically mounted rear monoshock and upside-down telescopic front forks.

The concept’s suspension was supplied by Ohlins.

The Italian company said the RS 660 supersport project was aimed at younger riders.

They also said it would be the “development base for a wider range that intends to make Aprilia a key player in an extremely strategic market segment in Europe, but also in Asia and the American market”.

So the patent drawings may not necessarily be the only version to hit the market. We expect there could also be a naked version and maybe even a tourer or adventure bike.

RS 660 aeroAprilia RS 660 concept is half a Tuono

Most notable is the aero, which is now a prominent feature of most MotoGP bikes.

Aprilia said the Concept RS 660 was developed out of a “series of aerodynamic studies” in a wind tunnel.

The aero components appear to be coming to the production model, based on the patent drawings.Aprilia RS 660 patent drawing

With fuel economy top of mind and emissions regulations tightening, motorcycle manufacturers are looking for ways to compete and aero remains one of the biggest hurdles to motorcycles, even more so than big, bulky cars.

Click there to find out how aero affects motorcycles.

Aprilia’s Concept RS 660 features a unique “variable front section” which can adjust air flow direction to vary downforce.

The RS 600 has a large saddle and a comfortable riding position to suit most rider sizes. However, there is no pillion seat on the concept or the patent drawings.Aprilia RS 660 concept is half a Tuono

It is supported by a lightweight aluminium frame and swingarm with the engine as a stressed element.

The right arm of the swingarm has a curved shape to accomodate the exhaust, while the shock absorber mount is mounted directly to the swingarm with no linkage to reduce weight.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com