The
Yamaha YZF-R1 is an open class
sport bikeA sport bike, also written as sportbike, is a motorcycle optimized for speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering on paved roads, typically at the expense of comfort and fuel economy in comparison to less specialized motorcycles...
, or superbike,
motorcycleA motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufactured by
Yamaha Motor Company, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
since 1998.
1998–1999
Yamaha launched the YZF-R1 after redesigning the
Genesis engineGenesis is an engine design by the Yamaha Motor Corporation that debuted in the 1984 Yamaha FZ750.The engine employs a DOHC design and uses five valves per cylinder with the cylinder group slant forwards 45 degrees...
to offset the
crankshaftThe crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
, gearbox input, and output shafts. This "compacting" of the engine made the total engine length much shorter. This allowed the wheelbase to be shortened significantly, resulting in much quicker handling and an optimized
center of gravityIn physics, a center of gravity of a material body is a point that may be used for a summary description of gravitational interactions. In a uniform gravitational field, the center of mass serves as the center of gravity...
. The bike had a compression ratio of 11.8:1 with a six-speed transmission and multi-plate clutch.
Early models were subject to a worldwide recall for a clutch problem. Yamaha today describes the launch of the R1 as the true value of "Kando".
The 1999 R1 saw only minor changes, apart from paint and graphics. Notable improvements were a redesigned gear change linkage and the gear change shaft length being increased. Fuel tank reserve capacity was reduced from 5.5 to 4.0 litres (1.2 to 0.9 imp gal or 1.5 to 1.1 US gal), while the total fuel tank capacity was unchanged at 18 l (38 US pt). A second worldwide recall was issued for 1998 and early 1999 models, to change a coolant hose clamp under the fuel tank which could come loose under hard use.
Motorcycle Consumer NewsMotorcycle Consumer News is a monthly periodical offering reviews of motorcycles and other information such as motorcycle safety techniques...
tests of the 1998 model year YZF-R1 yielded a 0 mile per hour time of 2.96 seconds and 0 mile per hour of 5.93 seconds, a
The Yamaha YZF-R1 is an open class sport bikeA sport bike, also written as sportbike, is a motorcycle optimized for speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering on paved roads, typically at the expense of comfort and fuel economy in comparison to less specialized motorcycles...
, or superbike,
motorcycleA motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufactured by
Yamaha Motor Company, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
since 1998.
1998–1999
Yamaha launched the YZF-R1 after redesigning the
Genesis engineGenesis is an engine design by the Yamaha Motor Corporation that debuted in the 1984 Yamaha FZ750.The engine employs a DOHC design and uses five valves per cylinder with the cylinder group slant forwards 45 degrees...
to offset the
crankshaftThe crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
, gearbox input, and output shafts. This "compacting" of the engine made the total engine length much shorter. This allowed the wheelbase to be shortened significantly, resulting in much quicker handling and an optimized
center of gravityIn physics, a center of gravity of a material body is a point that may be used for a summary description of gravitational interactions. In a uniform gravitational field, the center of mass serves as the center of gravity...
. The bike had a compression ratio of 11.8:1 with a six-speed transmission and multi-plate clutch.
Early models were subject to a worldwide recall for a clutch problem. Yamaha today describes the launch of the R1 as the true value of "Kando".{{Clarify|date=July 2009}}
The 1999 R1 saw only minor changes, apart from paint and graphics. Notable improvements were a redesigned gear change linkage and the gear change shaft length being increased. Fuel tank reserve capacity was reduced from 5.5 to 4.0 litres (1.2 to 0.9 imp gal or 1.5 to 1.1 US gal), while the total fuel tank capacity was unchanged at 18 l (38 US pt). A second worldwide recall was issued for 1998 and early 1999 models, to change a coolant hose clamp under the fuel tank which could come loose under hard use.
Motorcycle Consumer NewsMotorcycle Consumer News is a monthly periodical offering reviews of motorcycles and other information such as motorcycle safety techniques...
tests of the 1998 model year YZF-R1 yielded a 0 mile per hour time of 2.96 seconds and 0 mile per hour of 5.93 seconds, a
The Yamaha YZF-R1 is an open class sport bikeA sport bike, also written as sportbike, is a motorcycle optimized for speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering on paved roads, typically at the expense of comfort and fuel economy in comparison to less specialized motorcycles...
, or superbike,
motorcycleA motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufactured by
Yamaha Motor Company, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
since 1998.
1998–1999
Yamaha launched the YZF-R1 after redesigning the
Genesis engineGenesis is an engine design by the Yamaha Motor Corporation that debuted in the 1984 Yamaha FZ750.The engine employs a DOHC design and uses five valves per cylinder with the cylinder group slant forwards 45 degrees...
to offset the
crankshaftThe crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
, gearbox input, and output shafts. This "compacting" of the engine made the total engine length much shorter. This allowed the wheelbase to be shortened significantly, resulting in much quicker handling and an optimized
center of gravityIn physics, a center of gravity of a material body is a point that may be used for a summary description of gravitational interactions. In a uniform gravitational field, the center of mass serves as the center of gravity...
. The bike had a compression ratio of 11.8:1 with a six-speed transmission and multi-plate clutch.
Early models were subject to a worldwide recall for a clutch problem. Yamaha today describes the launch of the R1 as the true value of "Kando".{{Clarify|date=July 2009}}
The 1999 R1 saw only minor changes, apart from paint and graphics. Notable improvements were a redesigned gear change linkage and the gear change shaft length being increased. Fuel tank reserve capacity was reduced from 5.5 to 4.0 litres (1.2 to 0.9 imp gal or 1.5 to 1.1 US gal), while the total fuel tank capacity was unchanged at 18 l (38 US pt). A second worldwide recall was issued for 1998 and early 1999 models, to change a coolant hose clamp under the fuel tank which could come loose under hard use.
Motorcycle Consumer NewsMotorcycle Consumer News is a monthly periodical offering reviews of motorcycles and other information such as motorcycle safety techniques...
tests of the 1998 model year YZF-R1 yielded a 0 mile per hour time of 2.96 seconds and 0 mile per hour of 5.93 seconds, a
{{fracA dragstrip is a facility for conducting automobile and motorcycle acceleration events such as drag racing. Although a quarter mile is the best known measure for a drag track, many tracks are eighth mile tracks...
(400 m) time of 10.19 seconds at 131.4 mph (58.7 m/s), and a top speed of 168 mph (75.1 m/s), with deceleration from 60 mile per hour of 113.9 ft (34.7 m). For the 1999 model year,
Cycle WorldCycle World is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. It was founded in 1962 by Joe Parkhurst, who was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as "the person responsible for bringing a new era of objective journalism" to the U.S. and is now the largest motorcycling magazine in the world...
tests found a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.0 seconds, {{frac|4}}-mile time of 10.31 seconds at 139.55 mph (62.4 m/s), and a top speed of 170 mph (76 m/s).
2000–2001
In 2000, Yamaha introduced a series of changes to improve the bike, and minor changes to the bodywork to allow for better long duration ride handling. Yamaha's main design goal was to sharpen the pre-existing bike and not to redesign it. Even so they instituted over 150 changes in hopes of making an already light, sleek motorcycle even lighter and sleeker. For example, even with the addition of the new air induction system, which weighed four pounds, the overall weight of the bike was down five pounds to 414 lb (187.8 kg) dry.
At 127.8 bhp at the rear wheel, top-end output remained the same, but changes to the engine management system were intended to result in a smoother, broader distribution of power. The bodywork was still unmistakably R1, although a few changes were made resulting in a 3% reduction in the
drag coefficientIn fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment such as air or water. It is used in the drag equation, where a lower drag coefficient indicates the object will have less aerodynamic or...
. The headlight housing's profile was sharpened, the side panels were made more aerodynamic and slippery, and the windscreen was reshaped for better rider protection. These redesigns changed the bodywork to a large enough degree that previous years' bodywork will not fit the 2000 model.
The seating area was also updated. The fuel tank was reshaped, with a more relaxed rear angle and deeper leg recesses to provide for a better rider feel. The seat extended further towards the front of the tank and the new, steeper, seating position put additional weight on the front end. All of this was aimed at improving weight bias and offering sharper cornering and more stability.
Mechanically, the
carburetorA carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
s were re-jetted in an effort to improve throttle response, especially in the low end, all the way up to the bike's 11,750 rpm
redlineRedline refers to the maximum engine speed at which an internal combustion engine or traction motor and its components are designed to operate without causing damage to the components themselves or other parts of the engine...
. The redesigned camshafts were lightened and used internal oil ways to lubricate journals that, when combined with reduced
tappetA tappet is the noise made by a worn cam follower, however the term is widely used to represent the cam follower itself. In mechanical engineering it is a projection which imparts a linear motion to some other component within an assembly...
clearance, provided less friction and created less engine noise. The gearbox received a taller first gear, a hollow chrome-moly shift-shaft with an additional bearing and a completely redesigned shift linkage and foot pedal. These changes were aimed at eliminating problems with the transmission in earlier models, and to help to seamlessly transfer the R1's power to the tarmac.
2002–2003
A new
fuel injectionFuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
system was introduced for the 2002 year, which worked like a carburetor by employing a CV carburetor slide controlled by vacuum created by the engine. With a similar power output to the 2000-2001 bike, the engine was remained largely the same. One notable improvement was the use of new cylinder sleeves of a high silicon content alloy containing magnesium that minimized heat induced distortion, reducing oil consumption. Also in 2002, Yamaha released the newly developed "Deltabox III" frame, which, with its hydro formed construction, dramatically reduced the total number of frame welds. These changes improved the frame's rigidity by 30%. The cooling system was redesigned for better performance and compactness. The exhaust system was changed from a 4-into-1 to a new titanium 4-into-2-into-1 design. The rear end of the motorcycle was updated and streamlined with a
LEDLEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
taillight. This allowed for very clean rear body lines when choosing one of several common after market modifications, such as removal of the turn signal stalks and stock license plate bracket; and replacing them with assorted available replacements that "hug" the body or frame. Also, front end lighting was improved in 2002, between the higher definition headlights and also side "parking" lights within the twin-headlight panel, giving a more angular appearance. This also gave additional after market possibilities, such as to remove the front blinkers and utilize these front lights as directional or hazard markers while stopped. For 2003, the only change was fitted hazard warning lights and dipped headlights, which stay on all the time the engine is running.
In 2002,
Cycle WorldCycle World is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. It was founded in 1962 by Joe Parkhurst, who was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as "the person responsible for bringing a new era of objective journalism" to the U.S. and is now the largest motorcycling magazine in the world...
reported fuel mileage of 38 mpgU.S. (16.2 km/L), a 0 mile per hour time of 2.9 seconds, a {{frac|4}}-mile (400 m) time of 10.32 seconds at 137.6 mph (61.5 m/s), and a top speed of 167 mph (74.7 m/s).
2004–2005
With the competition advancing, Yamaha made some major changes to the model. This included style updates, like an under seat twin exhaust, and performance upgrades including radial brakes, and, for the first time an R1
Ram-air intakeA ram-air intake is any intake design which uses the dynamic air pressure created by vehicle motion to increase the static air pressure inside of the intake manifold on an engine, thus allowing a greater massflow through the engine and hence increasing engine power.The ram air intake works by...
. Furthermore, the tendency for
wheelieIn vehicle acrobatics, a wheelie is a vehicle maneuver in which the front wheel or wheels come off the ground due to extreme torque being applied to the rear wheel or wheels. Wheelies are usually associated with bicycles and motorcycles, but can be done with other vehicles such as cars, especially...
s by earlier productions was reduced by changing the geometry of the frame and weight distribution. The all-new engine was no longer used as a stressed member of the chassis, and featured a separate top
crankcaseIn an internal combustion engine of the reciprocating type, the crankcase is the housing for the crankshaft. The enclosure forms the largest cavity in the engine and is located below the cylinder, which in a multicylinder engine are usually integrated into one or several cylinder blocks...
and
cylinder blockA cylinder block is an integrated structure comprising the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and often some or all of their associated surrounding structures...
.
The 2004 R1 weighs 172 kilograms (379.2 lb) dry. The conventional front brake calipers were replaced by radially-mounted calipers, activated by a radial master cylinder. A factory-installed steering damper was also added this year. Combined with the changes to the frame, this helped to eliminate the tendency of the handlebars to shake violently during rapid acceleration or deceleration on less-than-perfect surfaces (aka "tank slapping").
Motorcycle Consumer News tests of the 2004 model year YZF-R1 yielded a 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) time of 3.04 seconds and 0 to 100 mph (0 to 160 km/h) of 5.42 seconds, a ¼ mile time of 9.90 seconds at 144.98 mph (233.31 km/h).
2006
For 2006, the
swingarmA swingarm, or "swinging arm" is the main component of the rear suspension of most modern motorcycles and ATVs...
was extended by 20 millimetre (0.78740157480315 in) to reduce acceleration instability. In this year, Yamaha also released a limited edition version in original Yamaha racing colors to celebrates its 50th anniversary. The model (LE/SP) featured a Kenny Roberts front and rear custom
ÖhlinsÖhlins or Öhlins Racing AB, is a manufacturer of high-performance suspension systems for automotive, motorcycle, snowmobile, and ATV use. It is based in Upplands Väsby just north of Stockholm, Sweden...
suspension units developed by the same team as the YZR-M1 MotoGP bike. Custom forged aluminum Marchesini wheels specifically designed for the LE shaved nearly a pound off the unsprung weight. A back torque-limiting
slipper clutchA slipper clutch is a specialized clutch developed for performance oriented motorcycles to mitigate the effects of engine braking when riders decelerate as they enter corners....
, and an integrated lap timer rounded out the package, making the LE virtually a production racer. Only 500 units were made for the United States with another 500 units for Europe.{{Clear}}
2007–2008
An all-new YZF-R1 for the 2007 model year was announced on 8 October 2006. Key features included an all-new inline four-cylinder engine, going back to a more conventional four-valves per cylinder, rather than Yamaha's trade mark five-valve Genesis layout. Other new features were the Yamaha Chip Control Intake (YCC-I) electronic variable-length intake funnel system, Yamaha Chip Control Throttle (YCC-T)
fly-by-wireFly-by-wire is a system that replaces the conventional manual flight controls of an aircraft with an electronic interface. The movements of flight controls are converted to electronic signals transmitted by wires , and flight control computers determine how to move the actuators at each control...
throttle system, slipper-type clutch, all-new aluminum Deltabox frame and swingarm, six-piston radial-mount front brake calipers with 310 mm discs, a wider radiator, and M1 styling on the new large ram-air ports in the front fairing. There were no major changes for 2008. Power was 152.9 hp @ 10,160 rpm.
Motorcycle Consumer News tests of the 2007 model year YZF-R1 yielded a 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) time of 2.94 seconds and 0 to 100 mph (0 to 160 km/h) of 5.46 seconds, a ¼ mile time of 9.88 seconds at 145.50 mph (234.16 km/h).
2009–2010
In late 2008, Yamaha announced they would release an all new R1 for 2009. The new R1 takes engine technology from the M1 MotoGP bike with its
cross plane crankshaftThe crossplane or cross-plane is a crankshaft design for V8 engines with a 90° angle between the cylinder banks.The crossplane crankshaft has four crankpins, each offset at 90° from the adjacent crankpins...
, the first ever production motorcycle to do so. Crossplane technology puts each connecting rod 90° from the next, with an uneven firing interval of 270°- 180°- 90°- 180°. The idea of this technology is to reduce variations of internal crankshaft speed, thus giving the new R1 a more linear power delivery. Yamaha claims the bike would give the rider 'two engines in one', the low end torque of a twin and the pace of an inline four. As with previous incarnations of the R1, the 2009 model keeps its YCC-T (Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle).
Another advancement included on the 2009 model was D-Mode Throttle Control Valve Mapping, which allows a rider to choose between three distinct maps depending on the rider’s environment. Each mode of operation controls YCC-T characteristics, changing how the R1 reacts to driver input. The first mode is Standard Mode, which delivers performance for a wide variety of driving conditions. The second mode is "A" mode which will give a rider more available power in the lower to mid RPM range. The third mode is "B" mode, which is a dial back of the previous mode, designed to soften throttle response in inclement weather and heavy traffic. D-Mode throttle control is controlled by the rider through a forward mode button near the throttle. The instrument panel is more comprehensive than previous models, and the 2009/2010 Yamaha YZF-R1 model now features a gear indicator as standard.
Overall handling of the R1 was improved through several changes to frame and suspension. A new sub frame was designed for the 2009 R1, consisting of
magnesiumMagnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole...
cast in a
carbon fiberCarbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
mold. This new subframe offers a superior strength-to-weight ratio, while helping keep mass closer to the center of gravity, and subsequently gives the bike greater handling performance. The rear shock absorber on the 2009 offers variable speed damping, as well as an easy to tweak pre-load via a screw adjustment. The rear shock now connects underneath the swing arm through a different linkage; a change from previous years' models. Front suspension takes its cues from the M1 as the left fork handles compression damping while the right controls the rebound duties. To improve overall handling and safety, this is the first year Yamaha developers included an electronic steering damper on a production R1.
The overall look of the R1 has changed drastically. In a side by side comparison between the 2007 and 2009 models, the 2009 looks much more compact and could be compared to the size of the R6r. The center-up exhaust on the 2009 is significantly larger compared to previous models, due to changes in emissions controls. The front has the same classic R1 shape, though the air intake location and headlamp design have been revamped on the 2009 model; utilizing only projector lamps, and using the new-found design space within the nose cone to reroute ram air tubes next to the lights.
Testing the 2010 model year,
MotorcyclistMotorcyclist is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. The magazine is headquartered in Los Angeles, and is published by Source Interlink Media. The current Editor in Chief, Brian Catterson, was formerly Executive Editor at rival Cycle World....
magazine reported a {{frac|4}}-mile (400 m) time of 10.02 seconds @ 144.23 mph (64.5 m/s), an indicated top speed of 165 mph (73.8 m/s), and fuel consumption of 25 mpgU.S. (10.6 km/L).
External links
- Official sites for Europe and the U.S.
- R1 reviews for all models since 1998 by Motorcycle News
MCN or Motor Cycle News is a weekly motorcycling newspaper published by Bauer Consumer Media, and based in Peterborough, United Kingdom. The title was founded by Cyril Quantrill in 1955 and bought by EMAP, before Bauer bought Emap's consumer media division in 2008...
{{Yamaha motorcycles}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamaha Yzf-R1}}