Tech3 MotoGP rider Colin Edwards in press photo

Yamaha introduced an all-new YZF-R1 today in Las Vegas. This is an entirely new motorcycle, including new engine, new chassis and suspension. Yamaha claims it has "shifted the paradigm" for production sport bikes with the new R1's "crossplane crankshaft".

Do you think Valentino Rossi rides a "big bang" engine? He does not. The Yamaha M1 MotoGP bike has a crank that places each connecting rod 90 degrees from the next (firing at 270°, 180°, 90° and 180°). This virtually eliminates inertial crankshaft torque, which aides both power delivery and traction. Yamaha claims the new R1 combines "the low-rpm torquey feel of a twin with the raw, high-rpm power of an inline 4."

Much of the other engine technology is carried over from the last R1, including fly-by-wire throttle and the variable intake system that changes trumpet length at 9,400 rpm in order to broaden the spread of power. The new R1 also takes a cue from Suzuki and features rider-selectable throttle control maps (three in all), including a rain-appropriate low power mode.



The new aluminum frame and swingarm offer refined rigidity tuning. The rear sub-frame is now magnesium, and the new SOQI forks split compression and rebound damping duties, with the left fork handling compression and the right fork rebound. The new R1 also gets an electronic steering damper.

You can judge the new look of the R1 for yourself, but of note are the two projector-type headlight bulbs, which are closely integrated with the ram air intakes. The footpegs are adjustable to two positions (low and forward or high and back).

The new R1 will be available in January of 2009. For further details and specifications, visit Yamaha's R1 micro site or Yamaha's 2009 model site.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/msite/micro_v1.aspx

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modeloverview/cat/2009/58/model_overview.aspx

ooo sexii cool new feat elec steer damper.. tiite

Making a bike of that nature was a risk to Yamaha, since they mainly specialize in sports bikes. Its a good thing that they pulled it off.

i like my bike better. but this R1 looks mad sick

damn
the new r1 looks awesome
and i thought the new honda cbr was good but i never did like the fairing of the cbr and always prefered the gixxer and the r1's and damn does the new one look sexy or what

I was hoping Yamaha was going to do away with the undertail and do conventional yet small exhaust similar to the R6 and CBR1000RR. Also I was hoping it would look closer to the YZR-M1 GP bike. It still looks good.

Yamaha never fails in my book ... they one of my favorite brand name companies !

Yamaha Engine Tech Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_e_gC99Ql0

Yamaha motorbikes are pretty sporty looking.

Ben Spies and Tom Sykes testing the new R1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n5mDDAUj5c
Bike sounds so much like the M1.