2009 Yamaha R1 Preview

[SpidermanSS]

From Motorcycle.com - By Kevin Duke and Tor Sagen, May. 28, 2008

While Yamaha is naturally tight-lipped about its upcoming new bikes, we're confident we'll be seeing the debut of an all-new R1 flagship this fall. Not surprisingly, Yamaha wants to keep this news confidential, so we don't yet have official pictures of such a machine, but we've come up with some images that suggest what the ground-up redo of the new R1 might look like.

In 2008, Yamaha's YZF-R1 reached the 10-year anniversary of its introduction. In 1998 the 150-horsepower R1 was nothing less than revolution. While being more vicious than the rest, it left the 143-horsepower 1998 Kawasaki ZX-9R for dead. Honda and Suzuki were nowhere near and got caught with their pants down. It took three full years for the others to catch up, and only Suzuki managed to take away the literbike crown with the all-new GSX-R1000 in 2001.

Product cycles for Japanese sportbikes usually follow a two-year pattern. The -98 R1 was followed with a revised version in 2000, then with another revamp in -02. An all-new R1 debuted in 2004, boasting a more oversquare (77.0 x 53.6mm bore/stroke) engine architecture and sexy new styling. It was such a successful design that Yamaha kept with the same platform until its update in 2007 that saw the introduction of a slipper clutch, variable-length intakes and a new four-valve cylinder head.


This meant that the 2008 R1 was basically a five-year-old design, so it shouldn?t be much of a shocker that the R1 finished in last place in our recent Literbike Shootout, in which we predicted Yamaha might have an answer in a new offering we should see this September.

To counter the current R1's relative dearth of midrange and top-end power, Yamaha may reduce the bore of its new engine to somewhere close to its CBR and ZX-10R rivals? 76.0mm, or perhaps even smaller to something approaching the Gixxer Thou's 73.4mm bore. It will surely have the YCC-I variable intakes and YCC-T ride-by-wire throttle. We expect a claim of something near 190 crankshaft horsepower, which would put it above 160 ponies at the rear wheel.

The current R1's undertail exhaust looked trick in 2004, but the tides are changing with regard to optimal exhaust designs. We predict Yamaha will fit an under-engine exhaust like the 2008 R6 and CBR1000RR, which places a heavy muffler and its required catalysts in a low location that has minimal negative effect on handling. Radial-mount brake calipers and master cylinder are a given, as is a refined version of its slipper clutch.

In addition to this new R1, Yamaha is expected to debut its long-awaited redesign of the iconic VMax. We showed you a concept of such a bike at our IMS event report, and we?re expecting to see a production version in the flesh sometime soon. It will continue with a V-4 engine, but we're expecting a big boost in power to rival Suzuki's Hayabusa-engined B-King.

Stay tuned! The tuning-fork company is going to be one to watch in ?09!

Motorcycle.com Article Link : http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...iew-80181.html

[R1nStang]

i so wish they werent getting rid of the undertail exhaust. id like to get an 09 if i ever get another bike but im just not a fan of the side exhaust on sportsbikes

[leda]

Originally Posted by R1nStang

i so wish they werent getting rid of the undertail exhaust. id like to get an 09 if i ever get another bike but im just not a fan of the side exhaust on sportsbikes

To me, the only thing better than undertail exhaust would be underbody exhaust. One that exited out just in front of the rear tire.

[AndyC]

Wouldn't you think they'd hold off for the 2010 year for the new design. THat would be my bet.

[LethalJin]

i hope they make it exactly as the pic shown...
looks almost like Rossi's M1...street legal tho...
execption to the exhaust... undertail is better looking IMO.

[KolbE]

that would be sweet as hell. I might be upgrading to an 09' if it looks like that. thanks shane for the info.

[Outofgas]

I just bought a new '08, and I absolutely love the design and the undertail exhaust.

I know there are sound practical reasoning for a low side-mounted pipe and muffler, but the sharp symmetrical look of the undertail bike was what ultimately won me over from buying any of the competition.

I love my sexy and sharp looking three-weeks old graphite R1, and to Yamaha's design team or execs reading this thread...

KEEP THE UNDERTAIL EXHAUST!!!

And I promise to upgrade to a new '09 next spring!

But I want an hydraulic clutch, adjustable engine-settings like the gixxers have, and a smoother response to low-rpm throttle roll-ons. It could do with an electrically adjustable steering damper too... And PLEASE!!! get rid of the eyesore brake-fluid containers... F-ugly!

And make all color-schemes available worldwide - I love my graphite-grey bike, but would rather have the US Raven black version...

And lastly; I have no need for more top-end power, but would very much appreciate a stronger midrange and a slightly shorter 1'st gear.

Make it so!

[R1houston]

I love the look of that concept bike, cant wait to see the real thing in a few more month.

[Racer Dude]

We won't know till September.

[JDollaz]

Looks a little Beefy or Fat for my taste...
Hope they continue to work on it!

[pjb84]

I like it. It sure is different but a new design is supposed to be. Damn how the times fly. I remember what everyone on here was saying about the 07 when it was released. No one liked it at first. I think this one will be a hit.

[Klo1320]

if that black one came on the showroom floors, it would certainly sell like hotcakes.

[Jerzyboy973]

absolutely hideous. not to mention it takes too many cues from the R6, very unlikely, if they do redesign the R1 it'll be a little more original than that and hopefully a lot better looking. if not, they'll be going the route of the shamefully ugly 2008 1000RR.

ps R1's never ever ever have a center grill on the nose, that's stricly an R6 feature.

[ImNotAsCoolAsU]

Ban the squid for posting this! We'll see in September, nobody knows what they look like in advance

[W8nonu]

mmmmm

[Datsun280]

i know nobody knows what it will look like for sure, but this is my favorite "preview" so far

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by ImNotAsCoolAsU

Ban the squid for posting this! We'll see in September, nobody knows what they look like in advance

[ImNotAsCoolAsU]

Originally Posted by Bogie

Dear ImNotAsCoolAsU,

You have received an infraction at R1-Forum.Com.

Reason: Insulted Other Member(s)
-------
I am forced to punish you for calling my love a Squid!!


-------

This infraction is worth 1 point(s) and may result in restricted access until it expires. Serious infractions will never expire.

Original Post:
http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3470617
Quote:
Ban the squid for posting this! We'll see in September, nobody knows what they look like in advance
All the best,
R1-Forum.Com

[pjb84]

Originally Posted by ImNotAsCoolAsU

Dear ImNotAsCoolAsU,

You have received an infraction at R1-Forum.Com.

Reason: Insulted Other Member(s)
-------
I am forced to punish you for calling my love a Squid!!


-------

This infraction is worth 1 point(s) and may result in restricted access until it expires. Serious infractions will never expire.

Original Post:
http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3470617
Quote:
Ban the squid for posting this! We'll see in September, nobody knows what they look like in advance
All the best,
R1-Forum.Com

LMFAO I wish I could give infractions

[W8nonu]

Originally Posted by pjb84

LMFAO I wish I could give infractions

lol