Yamaha YZF-R1

STOP RUBBING YOUR eyes. No, it’s not a racer, and yes, it has headlights. This is Yamaha’s new YZF-R1, and it has buggerall to do with the previous bike.

Let’s start with the engine. The 998cc inline four keeps a crossplane crank, with pistons at uneven firing intervals to reduce ‘dirty’ torque and ‘create a stronger low to midrange pulse’. Tasty burbling exhaust note too. Yamaha call it CP4 (crossplane 4-cylinder), to go with the CP3 and CP2 motors in the MT-09 and MT-07. The crank’s inertial moment reduces by 20%, so it spins up quicker, with a light primary balancer.

Bore and stroke are now 79 x 50.9mm, making the R1 more oversquare and happier to rev than the 78 x 52.2mm it was. Fracture-split titanium conrods are 40% lighter than steel and their more accurate manufacture ensures consistent high-rev performance, and hence reliability. Compression ratio is a sky-high 13:1 with forged pistons running in desaxe cylinders (centreline not inline with crank, for less piston thrust and friction). There’s a new rocker arm valve set-up with DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating, bigger valves, revised cylinder head, larger airbox, redesigned exhaust... The result is a claimed 200 PS (197bhp), or 210 PS with ram-air.

This forceful four is in a new asymmetric frame, welded up from cast elements. Forks and shock are by Kayaba, and the new subframe and wheels are lightweight magnesium. An alloy 17-litre tank replaces the old steel one too. The radial calipers are new, and a Unified Brake System means applying the front also activates the rear. All-up fully-fuelled weight is 199kg.

There’s an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), like Ducati’s 1299, but the R1’s is six-axis. It looks at lean angle, pitch, slide and so on, then informs the traction control, slide control, quickshifter, front lift control and launch control. There are four power modes too, and ABS, plus a digi dash with street and track modes.

Want more? The limited YZF-R1M has Öhlins Electronic Racing Suspension (ERS), carbon bodywork, and a Communication Control Unit (CCU) GPS-equipped datalogging with a wireless connection to your phone or tablet. Model-specific Bridgsetone track tyres, too.