3-17 Update: Reader Joel C. has just let us know that this Yamaha FZR750R OWO1 is available on Craigslist for $29,995.
Post-Sale Update: This Yamaha FZR750R OWO1 did not meet reserve at $20,100.
Apparently, it’s Yamaha sportbike day today at Bike-urious. We go from Yamaha’s first race replica to the Yamaha FZR750R OWO1, a bike that makes even the Honda RC30 look pedestrian. With only 500 built, it was more exclusive than the RC30, and it was five grand more expensive, too. This was a homologation special so that Yamaha could race in WSBK. This was as close to a racebike for the street as you could get at the time.
Compression (with the race kit) was up to an impressive 13.5:1, but the engine gives you a long, flat torque spread. With the race kit that this specific bike has, top speed was over 170mph. You got top notch Ohlins suspension units and four-piston Nissin racing calipers.
This specific Yamaha FZR750R OWO1 has a detailed history on the listing, but here’s what you need to know: The current owner has owned it for over 15 years, and when he bought it, the bike was nearly unrideable, as the previous owner had slapped on every Yamaha race part he could find, with little regard for tuning. Eventually, the new owner replaced the carbs with Keihin flat slides, and the bike seems to have worked beautifully after that moment. Though the bike looks good in pictures, the seller notes that there are scars and that the paint is “far from perfect.” Hopefully this will bring the price down to a level where someone will feel comfortable actually taking this beauty to a track.
Find this Yamaha FZR750R OWO1 for sale document.write(‘here on eBay.‘);
This bike-uriousity brought to you by reader Zack B!