Sad news for Yamaha fans, following a very painful decision by the top brass. Here are the details.
The Yamaha is one of the mainstays of the two-wheel world, both for the successes achieved in motorsport and for the quality of the models it produces. Nowadays, the motorcycle sector is adapting to increasingly strict rules regarding emissions, with the aim of making the planet a less polluted place. But all this comes with a very high price to pay for the most powerful and iconic motorcycles.
In recent months, we have had to say goodbye to many jewels that we thought were immortal, or even to entire ranges, with the KTM which has decided to discontinue the production of 2-stroke enduros from next year onwards. Yamaha has instead chosen to stop the production of one of the most loved sports cars forevera true feat of engineering. Here’s the bike we’ll have to do without.
Yamaha, goodbye to the historic YZF-R1
After many rumors, Yamaha has confirmed that it will no longer produce the stunning YZF-R1, the sports car that will remain available only in the non-homologated version, i.e. the one suitable only for the track. The 1,000 cc super sports bikes, once the queens of the market, are gradually disappearing, following the new and strict laws on limiting emissions. The R1 has a very long history, which began in 1997, when it was presented at EICMA, on 15 September 27 years ago, leaving fans and professionals stunned by the beauty of the project.
The Iwata company put it into production in 1998, and it was powered by a compact 4-cylinder 20-valve engine, with a maximum power of 150 horsepower at 10,000 rpmwith a peak torque of 110 Nm at 8,500 rpm. Thanks to the particular arrangement of the gearbox shafts, a very compact engine size was obtained, which eliminated bulk and made it very slim.
In 2002, injection and a new chassis made their debut on the Yamaha R1, while in 2004 the engine reached 172 horsepower. 2007 was the year of the transition to 4 valves, but the final series, born in 2015, it represented the definitive step. Power reached the fateful figure of 200 horsepower at 13,000 rpm, and the R1 was equipped with all the latest electronic features. Certainly, saying goodbye to her is a great pain for all great fans.
