Released during the tail end of the 1980’s, Yamaha’s FZR750R OW01 was the company’s answer to Bimota’s YB4 and Honda’s RC30 — which at that time was dominating in WSBK competition. The machine was an elite-spec version of the FZ750, with a number of key differences separating it from the standard three-quarter-liter sport bike.
Powering the OW01 was a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, traverse four-cylinder (five valves per cylinder), DOHC 749cc engine that made a claimed 121hp at 12,000rpm and 51.3 ft-lbs of torque at 9,000rpm. Married to the Japanese four-barrel was a six-speed close-ratio gearbox and cable-operated wet multi-disk clutch. The 412lb (dry weight) OW01 could clock a standing quarter-mile in 10.7 seconds — reaching close to 130mph in the process — and boasted a top-speed of over 160mph. Some of the differences on the OW01’s power plant were its pistons which only had two rings, the con-rods were made of titanium, a four-butterfly EXUP valve and flat-slide carbs.
The chassis on the machine was derived from the standard FZ750 but the aluminum used on the OW01’s twin-spar frame was of a much higher quality. Unsurprisingly, the suspenders on the Yamaha were top-shelf units, consisting of an Ohlins rear shock and 43mm telescopic forks in front — both of which are adjustable. The bike was also equipped with a generous amount of magnesium and titanium components. The braking hardware was made up of large Nissan four-piston racing calipers biting 320mm discs.
Despite being road-legal, the OW01 is objectively a race machine, much better suited to the track than city streets. This was only furthered by a special supplementary race kit which upped the bikes compression. Many of these examples were used by various factory Yamaha teams, while a myriad of the machines made there way to showrooms where they were available, albeit for a very steep price. Only 500 examples are said to have been produced over the course of two years, and supposedly the OW01 carried a price of $16K when new in 1989 — which translates to almost $33K in today’s money.
This particular 1990 example has been thoroughly upgraded, with the original buyer supposedly instructing the dealership where it was purchased to install any additional factory race components that were available including Marchesini wheels, Brembo rotors/P34 calipers, Ohlins forks, dry clutch and gearbox, carbon muffler, and a supposedly rare magnesium alternator kit. The bike is also outfitted with a handful of parts from YEC Racing such as the triple clamp, clip-ons, rear sprocket, swing-arm kit, ram air tubes, and lower radiator.
According to the seller, this example has been tracked but never raced. It is both mechanically and cosmetically in good shape, though there are a few minor imperfections here and there. The Marchesini rims don’t drive the odometer, and the bike has a few minor scratches. For the last several years this example has sat on display, meaning a servicing will be necessary to get it back to being track worthy.
You can find this race-kitted 1990 Yamaha FZR750R OW01 for sale here on Craigslist in Longview, Texas with a price of $31,000.