We knew this was coming – however it nonetheless hits onerous. The primary Yamaha R1 appeared simply six years after our sister journal Quick Bikes itself hit the streets – so in some ways, they grew up collectively. It was the unique rulebook-rewriter; the superbike that toppled the mighty Honda FireBlade; the primary of the trendy breed of 999cc superbikes that led to the likes of the Suzuki GSX-R1000, Kawasaki ZX-10R and BMW S1000 RR.
Nothing lasts eternally although, and Yamaha’s thrown within the towel on the superbike class in road-going type, for Europe and the UK no less than. It’s reclassified the R1 as a contest machine solely, because it did with the R6 a few years in the past, so it’s like shopping for a motocross bike. The 2025 R1 Race isn’t homologated for street use, comes with out street gear or quantity plates, and might’t be registered in any respect.
Which is an enormous disgrace, because it’s the best-looking R1 but. The agency’s given it a set of carbon fibre aero wings, in addition to uprated Brembo Stylema brake calipers and grasp cylinder, revised KYB forks and a light-weight magnesium rear wheel (we give it a couple of fortnight earlier than somebody hot-glues all this equipment on to a 2024 street bike…). Weirdly, it appears to be like prefer it retains a road-going exhaust with catalyst, in addition to the ABS arrange, sidestand and ignition lock. Why? Nicely, the R1 will keep as a roadbike on sale within the US, and different markets the place they don’t have to get a Euro 5+ homologation. Click on on the Yamaha Motor USA web site and you’ll see it on sale there, with lights, for simply $19,000…
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Yamaha’s additionally providing a flowery GYTR monitor model of the brand new R1, which comes with extra circuit-focused equipment: no stands, an Akrapovic race pipe, race bodywork, Brembo race brake pads, keyless ignition and extra. It’s FIM Superstock-compliant when it comes to regs and is able to race (although the 100dB Akra would possibly battle on some UK tracks).
Each new bikes are on sale now. Costs are tbc, however the previous street R1 was round £18,500 and the R1 GYTR from 2023 value £26,500, so that can presumably be the ballpark. Extra information: www.yamaha-motor.eu
