2025 Yamaha YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M – First Look
The R1 is still alive, and now with winglets
Earlier this year, Yamaha made the disappointing but not entirely surprising decision to stop offering the YZF-R1 as a street legal model in Europe, and only making it available as a track-only model. Other markets like the U.S. would continue to get the R1, but questions remained about how much effort Yamaha would put into its superbike, despite promising that development would continue.
We now have some clarity on that, as Yamaha has announced updates for the 2025 YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M, including street legal versions for the U.S. and track-only R1 RACE for Europe.
Overall, the changes aren’t very dramatic, but rather just small refinements on the previous model. The most notable change is the addition of carbon fiber aerodynamic winglets for both the R1 and R1M.
Developed with feedback from Yamaha’s MotoGP program, the winglets are designed to support the anti-wheelie electronics while improving front-end feel and feedback when cornering or braking.
If you were hoping for more substantial changes for the 2025 R1 models, then you need to temper your expectations. At least Yamaha is offering both an R1 and R1M for the U.S. In Europe, Yamaha is offering only an R1 RACE model, which is based on the non-M model.
Alternatively, you may want to consider one of the other R-Series sportbikes, which Yamaha says will be announced in the coming weeks.
2025 Yamaha YZF-R1
In addition to the winglets, the regular R1 is getting an updated fully-adjustable 43mm KYB inverted forks. The new fork features individual adjusters on the tubes: rebound damping on the right and high- and low-speed compression on the left. The new fork also has a base valve on each leg to optimize pressure in the cylinder. Visually, the forks also receive a new Kashima coating, giving it a gold/bronze color. According to Yamaha, the new design improves damping response, stability and feel.
Yamaha also updated the brakes, equipping the R1 with Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers and a new Brembo radial master cylinder.
Finally, Yamaha updated the seat material on both the rider and passenger seats, with a new texture for improved grip and ease of movement.
The 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1 will arrive in dealerships in November in Team Yamaha Blue or Matte Raven Black. Pricing starts at $18,999.
2025 Yamaha YZF-R1M
The R1M’s updates are minimal, as it already had superior equipment to the base model, such as an Öhlins gas-charged NPX fork and IMU-based Electronic Racing Suspension. For 2025, it gets the updated seat texture and aerodynamic winglets like the regular R1, but is otherwise unchanged from the 2024 model.
The 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1M will be available in a Carbon Fiber color scheme, landing in dealerships in March for $27,699.
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Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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Motorcycles are the best thing that is ever invented ever since they were invented.
Yamaha is switching to a V4 for MotoGP, I wonder if the R1 will follow.