Motorcycles

Yamaha unveils MotoGP-inspired, 200-horsepower R1 and R1M for 2015

Yamaha unveils MotoGP-inspired, 200-horsepower R1 and R1M for 2015
2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
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2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 - red
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2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 - red
2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 - red
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2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 - red
2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 - red
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2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 - red
2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 - red
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2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 - red
Valentino Rossi with the 2015 Yamaha R1
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Valentino Rossi with the 2015 Yamaha R1
Valentino Rossi with the 2015 Yamaha R1
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Valentino Rossi with the 2015 Yamaha R1
2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
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2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
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2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
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2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
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2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
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2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
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2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
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2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
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2015 Yamaha R1 - Blue
2015 Yamaha R1 - engine detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - engine detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - engine detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - engine detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - engine detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - engine detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - headlight detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - headlight detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - rear shock detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - rear shock detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - quickshifter detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - quickshifter detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - side detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - side detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - right grip detail with menu controls
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2015 Yamaha R1 - right grip detail with menu controls
2015 Yamaha R1 - left grip detail with mode controls
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2015 Yamaha R1 - left grip detail with mode controls
2015 Yamaha R1 - adjustable fork detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - adjustable fork detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - M1- inspired dash
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2015 Yamaha R1 - M1- inspired dash
2015 Yamaha R1 - very compact tail should scare off all but the slimmest passengers
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2015 Yamaha R1 - very compact tail should scare off all but the slimmest passengers
2015 Yamaha R1 - tail light detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - tail light detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - tail light detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - tail light detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - M1-inspired tank
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2015 Yamaha R1 - M1-inspired tank
2015 Yamaha R1 - mirror-mounted indicators
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2015 Yamaha R1 - mirror-mounted indicators
2015 Yamaha R1 - 200-section rear tyre
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2015 Yamaha R1 - 200-section rear tyre
2015 Yamaha R1 - TFT dash detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - TFT dash detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - dash detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - dash detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - 200-section rear tyre
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2015 Yamaha R1 - 200-section rear tyre
2015 Yamaha R1 - 4-piston radial brake calipers
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2015 Yamaha R1 - 4-piston radial brake calipers
2015 Yamaha R1 - 4-piston radial brake calipers
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2015 Yamaha R1 - 4-piston radial brake calipers
2015 Yamaha R1 - front detail
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2015 Yamaha R1 - front detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - deltabox frame
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2015 Yamaha R1 - deltabox frame
2015 Yamaha R1 - titanium low-slung exhaust
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2015 Yamaha R1 - titanium low-slung exhaust
2015 Yamaha R1 - variable length intakes
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2015 Yamaha R1 - variable length intakes
2015 Yamaha R1 - engine and slipper clutch
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2015 Yamaha R1 - engine and slipper clutch
2015 Yamaha R1 - crossplane crankshaft and pistons
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2015 Yamaha R1 - crossplane crankshaft and pistons
2015 Yamaha R1 - in action on the racetrack
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2015 Yamaha R1 - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1 - in action on the racetrack
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2015 Yamaha R1 - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1 - in action on the racetrack
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2015 Yamaha R1 - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1 - in action on the racetrack
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2015 Yamaha R1 - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1 - in action on the racetrack
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2015 Yamaha R1 - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1M - front detail
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2015 Yamaha R1M - front detail
2015 Yamaha R1M - side detail
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2015 Yamaha R1M - side detail
2015 Yamaha R1M - side detail
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2015 Yamaha R1M - side detail
2015 Yamaha R1M - rear detail
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2015 Yamaha R1M - rear detail
2015 Yamaha R1M - side detail
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2015 Yamaha R1M - side detail
2015 Yamaha R1M - side detail
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2015 Yamaha R1M - side detail
2015 Yamaha R1M
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2015 Yamaha R1M
2015 Yamaha R1M - electronic active Ohlins suspension
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2015 Yamaha R1M - electronic active Ohlins suspension
2015 Yamaha R1M - rear detail
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2015 Yamaha R1M - rear detail
2015 Yamaha R1M - deltablox frame detail
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2015 Yamaha R1M - deltablox frame detail
2015 Yamaha R1M - radial 4-piston brake calipers
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2015 Yamaha R1M - radial 4-piston brake calipers
2015 Yamaha R1M - front detail
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2015 Yamaha R1M - front detail
2015 Yamaha R1M - top detail
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2015 Yamaha R1M - top detail
2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
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2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
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2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
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2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
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2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
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2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
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2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo pull the covers off the 2015 YZF-R1 and R1M
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Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo pull the covers off the 2015 YZF-R1 and R1M
View gallery - 67 images

Yamaha has fired all cannons in the latest instalment of the World Superbike wars with the release of the new YZF-R1 and R1M. MotoGP gods Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo made an appearance at EICMA Milan to pull the covers off what Yamaha is calling “the most MotoGP-inspired motorcycle ever” – and while we’ll leave it to others to debate whether Ducati’s Desmosedici RR already took that title long ago, the new R1 looks like a very yummy piece of kit.

In recent years it’s been European bikes setting the supersports agenda, with BMW’s S1000RR, MV Agusta’s F4 and Ducati’s Panigale beating each other over the heads with peak power figures around the 200-horsepower mark and the Japanese factories maintaining a dignified separation back around the 180 mark.

2015 seems to be the year Japan decided “enough!” Kawasaki struck first, a month ago, with the frankly silly H2R, packing 1,000 supercharged cubic centimeters of lunacy that’s said to peak out at 300 horsepower and is now available on a track-only basis. A roadgoing H2 is expected to put out around 200 horses, but with a Kawasaki-crazy blown power delivery.

And the new R1 doesn’t disappoint either. Its memorable name is still the one non-motorcycle people associate with really, really fast bikes, and now it’s back in the mix with a claimed 200 crank horsepower and some very nice looking electronics. It’ll launch in February.

Valentino Rossi with the 2015 Yamaha R1
Valentino Rossi with the 2015 Yamaha R1

The 2015 R1 sticks with the inline 4-cylinder, 998cc engine of its predecessors, and likewise uses the crossplane crankshaft from the last generation R1. It’ll put out 200 horses before high-speed ram air is accounted for, as well as 112.4 Nm (82.9 ft-lbs) of torque. The crossplane layout made the previous R1 torquey to the point of excess in the lower rev ranges, so this thing will move.

2015 Yamaha R1 - engine detail
2015 Yamaha R1 - engine detail

Chassis-wise, the wet weight is just under 200kg (443 lbs) and the R1 will ride on KYB fully-adjustable suspension front and rear. Brakes are 320mm discs with 4-piston radial calipers, and while the front tire is a standard 120/70/17, the rear is a touch wider than its predecessor at 200/55/17 to help get the extra power down. The wheelbase is a hair shorter than the 2015 BMW S1000RR at 55.9 inches.

2015 Yamaha R1 - deltabox frame
2015 Yamaha R1 - deltabox frame

The electronics is where the MotoGP inspiration comes in. It’s got the lot, starting with a six-axis “Inertial Measurement Unit” (IMU) that uses gyros and accelerometers to measure pitch, roll, yaw, and acceleration from front to back, left to right and up to down. This unit communicates with the Yamaha Ride Control ECU to provide data for a brim-full goodie bag of rider assist, safety and go-fast features including:

  • Adjustable and user-programmable power delivery modes
  • Lean angle sensitive traction control
  • 4-stage slide control to manage powerslides
  • 4-stage lift control to dial in your maximum wheelie settings
  • Full-throttle launch control (one of the most terrifying experiences you can have on two wheels)
  • Quickshifter for upshifts only
  • Slipper clutch to keep the rear from losing traction on high-rpm downshifts
  • Linked ABS braking designed to help keep the rear down under hard braking
2015 Yamaha R1 - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1 - in action on the racetrack

The new TFT dash looks absolutely fantastic as well, and manages access to all the new features. Design-wise it’s a much more compact looking R1 than the previous generation. The front fairing breaks from sportsbike tradition by refusing to look like a face at all. The front panel is totally flat and anonymous, with twin LED headlights poking out from beneath - an interesting touch that adds to the track-focused feel of the design.

The 2015 YZF-R1 will launch in February and RRP is set at $16,490 in the USA.

2015 Yamaha R1M
2015 Yamaha R1M

2015 Yamaha YZF-R1M

Rather than issuing an SP model as it has in the past, Yamaha has concurrently released an upgraded model with a new “M” designation clearly designed to evoke the YZR-M1 MotoGP bike’s mighty name.The R1M shares most of the R1’s specifications, but replaces some of the bodywork with carbon fiber to effect some 5-odd pounds of weight loss.

2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack
2015 Yamaha R1M - in action on the racetrack

It also features fully electronic, active Ohlins suspension that takes data from the IMU on speed, attitude, lean angle, acceleration and brake pressure in order to constantly update rebound and compression damping for the ideal ride, be it on the street or track. More advanced users can switch to manual mode and adjust everything in fine detail without getting the screwdrivers out at all.

The other key selling point for the R1M is an advanced datalogging GPS system that communicates via WiFi with an iOS or Android app to give riders a huge range of data about the track season they’ve just completed, including the ability to make settings changes to re-upload back to the R1M. Yamaha says this level of data availability “blurs the line between a factory superbike and a MotoGP bike.”

These extra goodies certainly come at a price – the R1M will retail at US$21,990.

We’ve included a giant photo gallery of studio, action and detail shots of both the R1 and R1M – delve in and enjoy!

View gallery - 67 images
3 comments
3 comments
Captain Danger
"Full-throttle launch control (one of the most terrifying experiences you can have on two wheels)"
Sweet
That is something I would defintatley like to try out
King Laugh
YZF-R1M this year is coming with the high prices...
gizmag2015
Japanese factories maintaining a dignified separation back around the 180 mark. What?????????
ZX-10R (2011-present) 200HP and with ram air 210HP.