2022 Yamaha YZF-R7LA (LAMS) Review

What I would have given, when I was just starting out on two wheels, to have a bike like this brand-spankers, 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7LA... 

The LAMS (Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme) version of Yamaha’s all-new and full-power YZF-R7HO (High Output) looks every bit like it has just taken the chequered flag at a race meeting, yet here it is in a novice-friendly format, with a down-sleeved 655cc parallel-twin engine and restricted output. 

We will review the full-power 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7HO shortly, but here we are putting the learner-approved YZF-R7LA under the microscope. 

Accessible sports performance 

The sportsbike category may have waned in popularity over the last 20 or years but Yamaha is taking a novel approach with its new YZF-R7. 

Engine aside it is an all-new model, but that engine – Yamaha’s ‘CP2’, or Cross-Plane crank parallel-twin – produces more accessible, more modest performance while also enabling the bike's designers to keep the bike ultra-light and ultra-narrow. 

It’s all about handling and agility with accessible mid-range punch, rather than the ferocious performance of, say, the YZF-R1, or even that screaming top-end zinger, the YZF-R6. The R7 has a focus on simplicity too – it may sport LED lighting and new LCD instrumentation, but bar ABS it is devoid of fancy electronics. It’s a rider’s bike, pure and simple. 

This could be the start of a trend. Aprilia released its RS 660 last year – another middleweight parallel-twin sportsbike, but with a higher specification (and a price tag to match!). Then again, parallels can also be drawn between the YZF-R7 and Yamaha’s SZR660 of the late '90s. That was a single-cylinder sportsbike, not a twin, but it was also super slim, a middleweight, and ultra-nimble. 

Related reading:
All-new 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 revealed
Yamaha gives popular models World GP 60th Anniversary treatment
2021 Yamaha MT Range Launch Review

How are the YZF-R7LA and YZF-R7HO different? 

What is the difference between the Yamaha YZF-R7LA and the Yamaha YZF-R7HO? Simple: it is all down to its engine. Instead of the 689cc version of Yamaha’s ‘CP2’ parallel-twin, the LAMS version gets a down-sleeved 655cc unit, with a bore and stroke of 78.0mm by 68.6mm instead of 80.0mm by 68.6mm. 

The LAMS model also has an intake restrictor and a tweaked ECU (Electronic Control Unit). 

The compression is slightly lower, at 11.0:1 instead of 11.5:1, as of course is the engine’s output: 52.1hp (38.3kW) at 8000rpm and 57.5Nm at 4000rpm for the YZF-R7LA, versus 73.4hp (54kW) at 9000rpm and 67.0Nm at 6500rpm for the YZF-R7HO. 

Wet weight is identical, at a claimed 188kg, as is everything else: the geometry, the seat height (835mm), the instrumentation, the chassis, suspension, brakes etc. 

The Yamaha YZF-R7LA is only produced for the Australian and New Zealand markets. 

What does the Yamaha YZF-R7LA cost? 

The 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7LA sits alongside the full-power Yamaha YZF-R7HO, while both models are also available in a limited-edition colour scheme that

The Yamaha YZF-R7LA costs $14,049 ride away and the Yamaha YZF-R7HO costs $15,049 ride away, while the anniversary models – with their heritage GP paint schemes, gold wheels, gold forks, black levers, and commemorative badging – cost $600 more apiece. 

The Yamaha YZF-R3 ($8199 ride away) remains as the entry point to the Yamaha Supersport range, while the R7s slot in between that and the higher-performance YZF-R6 ($19,049 ride away), which in turn sits below the YZF-R1 ($28,199 ride away) and flagship YZF-R1M ($37,099 ride away).

Shopping around for something similar? Honda's CBR650R (an in-line four-cylinder) is $13,353 ride away, Kawasaki's Ninja 650L (also a parallel-twin) is $12,747 ride away, while Aprilia's RS 660 LAMS (another parallel-twin) is $19,990 ride away.

So, how does it go? 

It may have a more modest output than its full-power sibling, but the Yamaha YZF-R7LA is still an incredibly satisfying tool with which you can carve corners. The engine is perky and willing from a standing start and acceleration through the lower of its six gears is brisk, but not intimidating – certainly, there is sufficient go to enthrall new riders and keep them entertained and engaged while they hone their skills.

The power delivery feels totally linear – there is no defined power band as such – and through most gears it pulls well enough through to its rev-limiter, just north of 10,000rpm. It’s relaxed enough on the open road, too, the tacho sitting on 4000rpm at 100km/h in sixth. 

The cable clutch is nice and light and the gearbox is precise. No quickshifter though, although that is an option on the HO model.

The CP2 engine in this bike is the exact same unit you will find in Yamaha’s MT-07LA naked bike, but the R7 has an appreciably higher top speed due to its ‘head down, bum up’ riding position and its wind-cheating screen and bodywork. Track tests have shown the R7’s terminal velocity to be up around 190km/h, given a long enough straight, so it’s no slow-poke!

This powerplant is also beautifully refined. While the exhaust note is almost apologetically quiet on start-up, the 270-degree crank and the uneven firing order it delivers does lend the YZF-R7LA some character, especially as the revs build through its top-end. But it's also smooth for a twin, with just a hint of vibration felt through the clip-ons; enough to blur the (tiny) mirrors just a little, but not enough to annoy.

Engine performance aside, this YZF-R7LA is just a beautiful little thing to punt along a winding road; feather-light and nimble, it remains composed and planted despite its sporty steering geometry (a short 1395mm wheelbase and a steep 23.4-degree rake). It’s a far cry from the two-stroke race replicas of my early days on two wheels, when tank-slappers on bumpy corner exits were a real and present danger. 

The Yamaha YZF-R7LA, on the other hand, holds a line beautifully, although changing that line only involves the barest of shoves of the 'bars. And there is masses of cornering clearance. 

The KYB suspension does an excellent job. The set-up is firm and sporty, as you would expect, yet there is a degree of compliance too – and all the manual adjustors are easy to get to. Our advice to new buyers? Ask your dealer to set the preload at each end for your weight, stick with the factory damping settings to begin with, and enjoy. 

The brakes are 'proper' sportsbike jobs, with four-piston radial-mount front calipers and a radial Brembo front brake master cylinder. These are superb stoppers – not that they have too big a task before them at this weight – and they deliver a heap of feel and feedback, all backed by ABS.

The rear brake offers a good amount of power too. This is not always the case with sportsbikes, but helpful for a bike that will ultimately spend most of its time on the road, not a track. 

Ergonomics? I’m 188cm tall (6ft 2in) and I fit on the bike okay. It’s a sports ride position; legroom is a little cramped and there is a bit of weight on the wrists once you lean forward to grab those clip-ons. But I’ve sampled more extreme sportsbike ergos and I'd say this is fine for commuting and the odd day trip, even for lanky sorts.

It’s a great little commuter. The steering range isn’t too limited, as is the case on some sportsbikes, and it’s so slim that lane filtering is a breeze (not that we recommend the practice until you have built a fair degree of confidence in your riding and road craft). 

Mind you, if you want to do bigger distances, or if you just want a roomier ride position with a bit more comfort, I recommend taking a test ride of the Yamaha MT-07LA ($12,749 ride away). Same engine, but an upright ride position that taller riders especially will find more forgiving. And the high and wide handlebar makes slow-speed maneuvers like U-turns easier too. 

And the question must be asked, is a brand-new $14k sportsbike a great choice as a first bike? Is a brand-new motorcycle a great choice for anyone starting out? Only you (and your budget) can answer that, but it’s worth remembering that full fairings generally cost lots to repair, even if the bike has only just toppled over at a standstill in your driveway... 

But this Yamaha YZF-R7LA is certainly a sharp looker. I love that central front intake, along with its trick LED headlight and LED daytime running lights. And the LCD instrumentation – though basic – is attractive and easy to read. 

It’s a bit of a shame there’s no traction control, which I feel many learner riders would appreciate, but then it’s not like this is a tyre-frying litre-class bullet, threatening to highside you into orbit whenever you give it a handful. 

As for fuel economy, we achieved a superb average figure of 3.6L/100km. That spells a very healthy safe range of around 325km. 

The verdict 

Beginners intent on living out their MotoGP dreams and R1 aspirations will look the part on the 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7LA, even if the available performance begs to differ. Importantly though, there is enough mumbo here to keep novices entertained but not overwhelmed, in a bike that looks great, handles superbly, and will keep riders interested and engaged throughout their provisional licence period. 

Specs: 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7LA 

ENGINE  
Type: Liquid-cooled, eight-valve, DOHC parallel-twin 
Capacity: 655cc  
Bore x stroke: 78.0mm x 68.6mm  
Compression ratio: 11.5:1  
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection  

PERFORMANCE  
Claimed maximum power: 52.1hp (38.3kW) at 8000rpm 
Claimed maximum torque: 57.5Nm at 4000rpm  

TRANSMISSION  
Type: Six-speed, constant mesh  
Final drive: Chain  
Clutch: Wet, multi-plate  

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR  
Frame type: Steel Deltabox 
Front suspension: 41mm inverted KYB fork, fully adjustable  
Rear suspension: KYB monoshock, adjustable for rebound and preload  
Front brakes: Twin 298mm discs with radial-mount four-piston Brembo calipers, ABS equipped  
Rear brakes: Single 245mm disc with single-piston Nissin caliper, ABS equipped  
Wheels: 10-spoke alloy  
Tyres: Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22; 120/70ZR17 front, 180/55ZR17 rear  

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES  
Rake: 23.4 degrees  
Trail: 90mm  
Claimed wet weight: 188kg  
Seat height: 835mm  
Wheelbase: 1395mm  
Fuel capacity: 12.8 litres  

OTHER STUFF  
Price: $14,049 ride away  
Colours: Icon Blue or Yamaha Black 
Bike supplied by: Yamaha Motor Australia 
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres