Tax Evader: 1987 Yamaha FZ700

The late ’80s dawned with a series of ominous signs: The economy turned south, Full House debuted, I was born and the tariff on Japanese bikes over 750 cc shipped to the U.S. was in its full, dreadful swing. That meant that some of the decade’s meanest street/track machines were prohibitively expensive to buyers on…

One Year Wonder – 1987 Yamaha FZ700

1987 brought a trade tariff for motorcycles over 700cc, and Yamaha’s response was to de-stroke their recently designed FZ750 to 697cc’s. Though it had the Genesis 5-valve head, some sporting aspirations were value-engineered out. Still, it was an able street performer and is now very rare. 1987 Yamaha FZ700 for sale on eBay Carrying some…