Although Kawasaki seems to be making all of the headlines with its supercharged H2 and H2R pairing, fellow-Japanese manufacturer Yamaha’s redesigned YZF-R1 is also grabbing plenty of attention at this week’s EICMA show.
It was seventeen years ago that the company unveiled the original R1 in the city of Milan. With the latest 2015 model, Yamaha says everything is new except for the name.
Developed under the brand’s current design philosophy of “Refined Dynamism”, the body of the new R1 has been shaped to emulate that of Yamaha’s winning MotoGP bike.
One of the key styling features is the new face design with a ‘headlight-less’ look. In place of the usual twin headlights, the front cowl is equipped with thin and straight LED position lights, while the new LED headlights are located within the leading edge of the side cowling.
By using aerodynamic analysis to create a more efficient shape, Yamaha’s designers say they have succeeded in producing a cowl and screen that deliver a reduction of 8% in wind resistance. Its central air intake and high windscreen have a strong resemblance to the YZR-M1.
Special attention has also been paid to the design of the rear cowl so that it draws air into the machine, and other features – such as engine covers, footrests and the ABS sensor cover – feature lightweight ribbed designs that further reduce weight.
The side view reveals a relatively compact surface area. A low set fuel tank and a short nosed, low-set front cowling is combined with a large open space under the seat – forming a silhouette that is smaller than the current model. Other design features that accentuate the R1’s compactness are its short 1,405 mm wheelbase, as well as the use of the centrally-located mid-ship muffler.
The new short wheelbase chassis also benefits from weight reducing features such as a magnesium subframe and magnesium wheels in order to achieve a wet weight of 199 kg – with a dry weight of 179 kg.
Other chassis components include fully adjustable front and rear suspension systems that Yamaha says have been developed collaboratively with KYB. And for the first time on any supersport class Yamaha, the new R1 is equipped with ABS and also the company’s Unified Brake System.
The R1 is powered by a newly-designed inline 4-cylinder 4-valve crossplane engine that develops a claimed 197 bhp without the use of ram air induction. To underline just how different the new powerplant is to its predecessor, not only does it have a different bore x stroke, compression ratio, cylinders, cylinder head and fuel injection system – it also utilises a completely new crossplane crankshaft design.
In order to deliver faster acceleration with better response, the inertial moment of the 2015 crankshaft is also set at a level approximately 20% less than the current model.
But it is the increased use of electronics that Yamaha believes underlines the R1’s positioning as its next generation superbike.
The bike gets a 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit – the first ever to be featured on a street-legal machine, according to Yamaha. Other MotoGP-derived electronic control technology includes banking sensitive traction control, as well as slide control, front lift control, quickshifter, and launch control.
Both motorcycles are expected to be readied for European markets by early March 2015.
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