Table of Contents
Yamaha has evolved into one of the biggest motorcycle manufacturers in the world, selling all kinds of bikes all over the world. At the top of the performance tree, we have almost always found a race-bred inline-4 engine, able to sing a distinctive song the company’s audio division would be proud of. So much so, aside from one rather curious exception, every single one of its most powerful motorcycles has an inline-4.
It isn’t by accident either. Yamaha has been deeply rooted in racing for decades, and the inline-4 was always the Most Powerful Yamaha Motorcycles Ever. At this point in time (when we see more and more of these engines retired), it is fair to say that Team Blue has perfected the engine configuration. Without further ado, let’s look at some of the brand’s most powerful machines ever.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including official brand websites. The motorcycles on this list are rated according to horsepower,
Most Powerful Yamaha FJ1200
Power: 130 Horsepower
While most of the competition had switched over to liquid cooling, Yamaha chose to rather just increase the displacement from 1100cc to 1200cc and persevere with air/oil cooling. With its fairly rudimentary box-section steel frame design, handling was not necessarily its strength, but that air-cooled engine was a gem. Coupled with relatively comfortable ergos, it made it one of the best sports tourers money could buy right up until production ceased in 1994
Most Powerful Yamaha FZR1000R
Power: 145 Horsepower
As the 80s wore on, it became clear that Yamaha desperately needed a new sports bike. It came in the form of the FZR1000, arguably one of the best motorcycles of the 80s. The frame design was on trend, twin-spar aluminum (or Deltabox in Yamaha speak), but it was the Genesis engine that really stood out. It was the first 20-valve engine to make it into a production motorcycle, and it is an engine that would later find its way into an era-defining motorcycle.
Most Powerful Yamaha YZF1000R Thunderace
Power: 145 Horsepower
By the early 90s, Honda hadn’t just wrestled the top sports bike crown away from the FZR1000R, the FireBlade made it feel fat and lazy by contrast. Yamaha needed an answer quickly. It came in the form of the Thunderace, which was effectively just a hot rod. All Yamaha did was squeeze the formidable Genesis engine from the FZR1000R into a YZF750R frame. While it certainly helped reduce weight, the handling left something to be desired.
Most Powerful Yamaha FJR1300ES
Power: 146 Horsepower
Now, the FJ1200 may have been discontinued, but Yamaha knew what it had with that engine and leaned into its touring potential with the FJR1300. Once again, more displacement was added, but the more significant updates were liquid cooling and a shaft drive. In this configuration, it has since only received minor styling updates, and can still be found on a Yamaha showroom floor near you as a great sports touring option.
Most Powerful Yamaha FZ1 Fazer
Power: 147 Horsepower
This is what you call an R1 for the real world. With practical, comfortable ergos and the same 20-valve engine as its heart, the Fazer 1000 had a lot going for it. Sadly, Yamaha really did just give it better ergos. The racy tune remained and, although fun, it could be a bit of a handful in traffic, so the concept never really caught on at the time. Today, every manufacturer seems to be introducing a touring bike with a sports bike engine. Time for a comeback then, Yamaha?
Most Powerful Yamaha YZF-R7 (OW02)
Power: 160 Horsepower*
So, this was never really a road bike. It was technically sold to the public but in seriously limited numbers. Only around 500 were made to satisfy homologation requirements of the time. It also came with an optional (read necessary) “race kit” which consisted of a few carbon fiber bits, and a map that activated a second bank of otherwise dormant injectors. Power went from a respectable 100 horsepower to a mind-bending 160 horsepower. A 750cc bike with 160 ponies sounds unrealistic today
Most Powerful Yamaha MT-10
Power: 166 Horsepower
After the relative sales failure (at least for Yamaha) of the FZ-1, Team Blue went back to the drawing board. Instead of aiming it at the touring crowd, it targeted the growing hypernaked market. Making use of the previous generation CP4 engine, the MT-10 stands out as one of Yamaha’s best current offerings. With the engine tuned for torque, it simply leans into its best attribute, creating a motorcycle experience only replicated by significantly more expensive motorcycles that focus on boasting a not-so-usable 200