Performance Bikes Magazine – April 1989 – Yamaha FZR1000 EXUP, Suzuki GSXR1100K, Kawasaki KR-1 & Eddie Lawson

Original Vintage Motorcycle Magazine | 1980s Superbikes | Japanese Sports Bikes | Classic Motorcycle Collectable

An original April 1989 issue of Performance Bikes Magazine, featuring an eye-catching Yamaha FZR1000 EXUP cover photograph and articles exploring some of the most exciting performance motorcycles of the late 1980s.

Published during an important era for Japanese superbike development, this issue features Yamaha's EXUP technology, a Suzuki GSXR1100K comparison, the Kawasaki KR-1 and Suzuki RGV, alongside an Eddie Lawson feature.

The magazine captures a period when motorcycle manufacturers were competing to produce increasingly sophisticated sports machines, with lightweight construction, race-influenced aerodynamics, powerful engines and innovative engineering.

A desirable period publication for classic motorcycle collectors, Yamaha FZR enthusiasts, Suzuki GSX-R owners and fans of 1980s performance motorcycling.

Front Cover – Yamaha FZR1000 EXUP

The main cover photograph features a striking Yamaha FZR1000 EXUP, shown in side profile with its distinctive late-1980s sports motorcycle styling.

The motorcycle is finished in a dramatic combination of white, red and blue, with prominently displayed Yamaha branding and racing-inspired graphics.

Visible details include:

• Yamaha FZR1000 EXUP bodywork, featuring the characteristic aerodynamic fairing of the period.

• Prominent YAMAHA lettering on the fuel tank and lower fairing.

• Large EXUP branding on the rear section.

• DELTABOX frame identification on the aluminium beam frame.

• GENESIS lettering along the lower fairing.

• Bright red/orange alloy wheels.

• Large drilled front brake discs.

• A tinted windscreen and aerodynamic front fairing.

• A visible upswept exhaust system and distinctive sports-bike riding layout.

The motorcycle is photographed against a dark background, allowing its colourful bodywork and mechanical details to stand out.

The cover's main headline reads:

"OW01 – Scientifically Proven To Be Very Expensive"

This is a notable feature relating to Yamaha's exclusive OW01 homologation superbike, separate from the prominently photographed FZR1000 EXUP.

The OW01 was developed around Yamaha's racing ambitions and remains an important machine in late-1980s superbike history.

The combination of an FZR1000 EXUP cover photograph and OW01 feature makes this particularly interesting for Yamaha enthusiasts.

Main Cover Stories and Features

Yamaha OW01 – Scientifically Proven To Be Very Expensive

The main cover story focuses on Yamaha's OW01, the limited-production racing homologation motorcycle also known as the FZR750R.

This was one of Yamaha's most ambitious sporting motorcycles of the era, developed to meet racing requirements and compete at the highest levels of production-based motorcycle racing.

Its distinctive engineering and exclusivity made the OW01 a highly desirable machine.

The cover's humorous headline highlights the motorcycle's substantial cost.

This original 1989 issue provides valuable contemporary context for collectors interested in the introduction and early reception of the OW01.

Suzuki GSXR1100K vs Cosworth Sierra

Another prominent cover feature reads:

"GSXR1100K v COSWORTH SIERRA – Bags I Drive The Car"

The feature advertises a comparison between the Suzuki GSX-R1100K superbike and the Ford Sierra Cosworth performance car.

This is an unusual and entertaining combination of two iconic late-1980s performance machines.

The Suzuki GSX-R1100K represents the powerful, race-inspired motorcycle engineering of the period, while the Ford Sierra Cosworth was one of the era's best-known high-performance cars.

An appealing feature for enthusiasts interested in both classic superbikes and fast Ford vehicles.

Kawasaki KR-1 vs Suzuki RGV

The cover advertises:

"KR-1 v RGV – The Smallest Fish Have The Sharpest Teeth"

This feature compares two significant lightweight Japanese sports motorcycles:

Kawasaki KR-1 – A lively two-stroke sports motorcycle developed during the intense competition between Japanese manufacturers in the lightweight performance category.

Suzuki RGV250 – A highly regarded two-stroke motorcycle known for its aggressive racing-inspired styling and sporty performance.

Both motorcycles are strongly associated with the late-1980s Japanese two-stroke sports-bike scene.

This comparison should be of particular interest to enthusiasts who remember the fierce rivalry between Kawasaki and Suzuki during this period.

Eddie Lawson Speaks

A further prominent headline reads:

"Lawson Speaks"

With the accompanying quotation:

"There's A Lot Of Fruitcakes Out There"

This feature refers to Eddie Lawson, one of the most successful Grand Prix motorcycle racers of the 1980s.

Lawson was renowned for his precision, consistency and professional approach to motorcycle racing.

An original feature from 1989 is especially interesting because it comes from the period of Lawson's Grand Prix racing career.

Additional Cover Feature – New Motorcycle Photography Series

The upper-right corner of the magazin