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Yamaha R1 Motorcycles
Published: March 30th, 2023
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Once the pinnacle of production motorcycle performance, the Yamaha FZR1000 was languishing in literbike land, playing second fiddle to Honda’s CBR900RR. That changed with the introduction of the Yamaha YZF-R1. Like the CBR900RR and the GSX-R750 before it, the Yamaha R1 was lighter, stronger, faster and better handling than anything on the market.
Introduced in 1998, the Yamaha R1 set in motion sportbike styling trends still visible in today’s performance bikes. The Yamaha R1’s pointed front end and minimalist tail section gave the bike a very lithe profile — befitting for a literbike with a dry weight of only 375 lbs.
Key to the Yamaha R1’s performance was its “stacked” transmission, offsetting the gearbox’s input and output shafts, thus creating a compact engine design and allowing for more centralized engine mounting and shortening of the bike’s wheelbase. Initial tests saw the 132-hp R1 accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds, from 0 to 100 mph in under six seconds, and top out at a maximum speed of 165 mph.
Largely unchanged except for semi-annual minor performance upgrades to the engine, suspension and bodywork, the 2002 Yamaha R1 received a new fuel-injection system and the new Deltabox III frame was now manufactured with hyrdo-form technology that decreased the amount of welds and increased the frame’s rigidity.
Introduced in 1998, the Yamaha R1 set in motion sportbike styling trends still visible in today’s performance bikes. The Yamaha R1’s pointed front end and minimalist tail section gave the bike a very lithe profile — befitting for a literbike with a dry weight of only 375 lbs.
Key to the Yamaha R1’s performance was its “stacked” transmission, offsetting the gearbox’s input and output shafts, thus creating a compact engine design and allowing for more centralized engine mounting and shortening of the bike’s wheelbase. Initial tests saw the 132-hp R1 accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds, from 0 to 100 mph in under six seconds, and top out at a maximum speed of 165 mph.
Largely unchanged except for semi-annual minor performance upgrades to the engine, suspension and bodywork, the 2002 Yamaha R1 received a new fuel-injection system and the new Deltabox III frame was now manufactured with hyrdo-form technology that decreased the amount of welds and increased the frame’s rigidity.
The next generation Yamaha R1 in 2004 maintained the distinctive profile of the R1 while also modernizing it for the new millennium. Twin under-seat mufflers graced the rear of the new Yamaha R1,while ram-air intakes were added to the front fairing. Also at the front were new radially mounted brake calipers. A steering damper now came stock to quell headshake problems.
Published March 30th, 2023 7:34 AM
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