Supersport motorcycles are a crucial bridge between entry-level motorcycles (250-300cc) and full-blown rocket ships (1000cc superbikes). However, this segment has changed significantly in the recent past with manufacturers bringing out motorcycles like the Yamaha R7 and discontinuing the YZF-R6.

While the idea of a more versatile motorcycle is quite appreciable, what gets left out in the process is the balance of performance, and this top speed video of the YZF-R7 shows exactly that.

Yamaha R7 Top Speed

To give you a brief about the R7, it is Yamaha’s latest mid-capacity sportbike and aims to be a stepping stone for YZF-R3 owners before getting the YZF-R1. Powering the motorcycle is an MT-07-derived 689cc, twin-cylinder pumping out 73.4PS (72.3 horsepower) and 67Nm. As you’d expect, there are no electronics at play, only an optional quickshifter. Now, check out the video:

Top Speed Says

The Yamaha R7 maxes out at 231kmph, which is a tad faster than its arch-rival, the Kawasaki Ninja 650. What’s unimpressive here, though, is the fact that the motorcycle creeps ahead after 210kmph and the digits change even slowly after 220kmph.

Why is this unimpressive, you ask? Because, even though Yamaha says the R7 isn’t the R6’s replacement, this is exactly where it slots in the lineup, and its top speed video proves it’s a lot slower than the R6.

So instead of being a middle-ground between the R3 and R1, the R7’s performance is closer to the R3 and miles below the 200 horsepower R1, and it can’t prepare you for the R1’s grunt. Maybe this is Yamaha’s plan to make the market for an MT-09-derived YZF-R9, but only time will tell that.