Yamaha could be planning to discontinue its flagship super sport motorcycle – the Yamaha R1. According to reports, Yamaha could be planning to discontinue both the R1 and R1 M models in the European markets. The brand is likely to discontinue production on the YZF-R1 due to the ever tightening Euro5+ emission norms.
If Yamaha discontinues the YZF-R1, it is possible that the company will continue the legendary bike by retailing it in a race trim. Road-going machines are required to have various type approvals to be road worthy. However, race bikes are not constrained by emission norms, at least for now.
Yamaha has already discontinued the YZF-R1 in the Indian market, where the litre-class sales are quite less. For Europe, even where sales of litre-class bikes are high as compared to India, Yamaha could be planning to focus more on volume making bikes than on value ones. The brand is also likely to be concentrating more on the mid-term business and product strategies for better future opportunities, says reports.
Powering the Yamaha R1 is a 998cc in-line four-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. The DOHC 16-valve engine comes with a Crossplane Crankshaft with an uneven – 270-180-90-180 – degree firing order delivering a linear torque. The race-developed engine features a high-efficiency intake system and finger follower rocker arms for high rpm performance. The Euro5-spec motor produces 200 PS of power and 113.3 Nm of torque and comes with a constant mesh 6-speed gearbox.
Wrapped around the engine is a Aluminium Deltabox chassis. The frame rides on adjustable front forks with 120mm of travel and link type monoshock with 120mm of wheel travel. Stopping power comes from 320mm front twin hydraulic disc brakes and a 220mm rear single disc brake. The Yamaha R1 comes with a 17-litre fuel tank, 855mm of seat height and 130mm of ground clearance. The Yamaha R1 weighs in at 201 kg of wet weight including full oil and fuel tank, making its power to weight ratio close 1:1.
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