1989 YAMAHA OW-01

With the autumn Stafford show nominally concentrating on later classics, it seems only right that Bonhams’ sale reflects the rise in interest in machines of the ’80s and ’90s – and this Yamaha FZR750R OW-01 is a perfect example. Yamaha built the OW-01, a racer on the road rather than just another sports bike, for one reason only – to enable the factory to compete on the World Superbike stage.

Rules stipulated that manufacturers had to have offered 500 of any model used in the series on open sale. The result was the birth of the homologation specials – bikes built to satisfy the letter of the superbike law – and the FZR750R joined Honda’s RC30, Suzuki’s GSX-R750RR and Kawasaki’s ZXR750R on the race tracks and, for a relative handful of lucky owners, the roads.

Far rarer than the RC30 (just 500 were built) and even more expensive when it was new at £12,700 (plus another £2415 for the race kit), the OW-01 is very desirable. This one (part of the Basil Keys collection) is even more so – a UK market model, it has been on the road for just three post-pdi miles since being delivered new to its motorcycle dealer vendor in 1989. The unregistered bike has racked up another three miles from being pushed round showrooms in which it has been displayed. The engine was last run in 2008, so needs recommissioning. Estimate: £25,000-35,000.