The FZ 750 was released in 1985 as Yamaha's flagship sportsbike to be used in Superbike and Endurance racing around the world. It was produced in varying forms until 1991 when its motor found its way, albeit in a modified form, into the YZF750 that started production a few years later. The FZ was and still is a direct competitor for Suzuki's early GSX-R 750 models and Kawasaki's ZXR 750 H range. It also took on the mighty Honda RC30 for a short time until the aluminium framed OWO1 with the FZ engine was released.

The FZ had many features its competitors lacked such as a 20 valve cylinder head, water cooling and handling that still stands it in good stead today. The early models (1985 - 1987) were half faired, and in 1989 the FZ gained 3 - spoke wheels and four pot brakes, but aside from this it remained largely unchanged for its production run. Some early models had bellypans, some had grabrails, but they all look distinctly FZ. The Jap market models had twin headlights behind the glass at the front, others had one large light.

The racing history of the FZ was impressive, if brief, with the likes of Carl Fogarty and Eddie Lawson using the Bike from Suzuka to Brands Hatch.