The new Yamaha YZF-R1 for the year 2012 is obviously at the 2011 EICMA too, showing a bunch of electronic and aerodynamic upgrades inspired by their MotoGP experience. The model is powered by a 998 cc in-line 4-cylinder engine using an innovative crossplane crankshaft and irregular firing intervals, confirming R1’s status as one of the hottest sportsbikes around.

The new design of the front-end emphasizes R1’s racing attitude, and the advanced TCS (Traction Control System) helps the rider to build up his confidence, regardless of weather and road surface conditions. ECU mappings have been revised too in an attempt to improve cornering and overall performance at low and mid revs, while the MotoGP-inspired re-designed yoke and footpegs also add up to the rider’s confidence.

Yamaha YZF-R1 WGP 50th Anniversary uses the captivating white-red-black livery adopted on several occasions this year by the official MotoGP team, but will also be available with Matt Gray, Yamaha Blue and Competition White color schemes.

View the full Yamaha R1 EICMA2011 photo gallery

....

0 comments

Marco Melandri is now officially an ex-MotoGP rider and couldn’t get away fast enough from the paddock that left him, can we say bitter?

The Italian is debuting at the Valencia race track (where his former team was yesterday with Simoncelli and Aoyama) testing the Yamaha YZF- R1 superbike for the first time in this one day test organized by the team.

Melandri has used Cal Crutchlow’s 2010 bike and the new 2011 updated version and has reported so far: “I immediately found a good feeling with the bike, which is very powerful but also easy to handle, it gives me the impression of being an easy bike to ‘interpret’, even though it’s still too early to give a definitive opinion. I’m here just to get an early contact with it.”

Melandri has brought one of his long standing mechanic’s with him and met up with fomer Hayate manager Andrea Dosoli, who has been nominated as Yamaha’s new team manager, and will help #33 through the teething pains.

Melandri and Laverty will get further testing time at Phillip Island at the end of the month.

Source | wsbk.com

....

0 comments

We last saw Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha YZF-R1 that he rode a parade lap during the 2009 Isle of Man TT in front of Highbarn Motorcycles that owner Steve Shaw tracked down to let his grandmother Hilda Wright sit on for her 102nd birthday.

Now Highbarn Motorcycles is selling this one off R1, with special Valentino Rossi livery and signed by the man himself and you can find it on ebay.

The R1 is being sold at the pricely sum of £ 25,000 (around 29,100 euros or $ 35,500) and has only 291 km (181miles) on it. The price is pretty steep, but this bike along with the Riders for Health R1 will both become collector’s item next year when Rossi moves to Ducati.

Video of Rossi in action at the 2009 TT after the jump.

Continue reading: Valentino Rossi's TT Yamaha R1 on eBay

....

0 comments

Presented at the Magic International Trade Show in Las Vegas, this customized Yamaha YZF-R1 is a collaboration between American rapper T.I. AKOO’s clothing brand and custom sportbike designer and builder Rob Uecker of Voodoo Industries.

Dubbed the AKOO YZF-R1, the bike sports a wooden veneer paint job mixed with what looks like Alcantara or suede on the side and bikini fairings and saddle and mounts a massive Avon 300mm custom rear tire, a unique single swingarm built by C&S Customs and RC Components Czar Eclipse custom wheels.

“What makes this Yamaha R1 so unique is the unusual mixture of textures and materials,” stated Uecker. “When I look at the AKOO brand I see classic, rugged American styling. But I know T.I. is a serious rider, so it was important to me to accentuate the R1’s aggressive street stature. I worked closely with the AKOO design team to translate those aesthetics onto the Yamaha canvas, and the result is the best sportbike I have ever built.”

Video of the unveiling after the jump.

Continue reading: Custom AKOO Yamaha R1

....

2 comments

Yamaha France will be releasing two special editions of the YZF-R1, the SP and the SPR Factory Edition to celebrate the Yamaha YART team who won the 2009 World Endurance Championship.

The SP version boasts an Akrapovic titanium and carbon exhaust, a racing saddle, crankcase with Polytron and the special YART paint job and will be sold at 16,999 euros, while the SP-R special edition has all the previous add ons, but also mounts top class TTX36 Ohlins. This version will be selling for 19,999 euros.

Unfortunately this offer is available only in France and valid till September 30th.

Source | motosblog.fr

....

0 comments

It wasn’t all media gossip that Valentino Rossi would try to ride a streetbike at Misano to check out his physical conditions since his accident during free practice for the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, because Yamaha Racing has released the following statement:

Valentino Rossi will ride a Yamaha YZF-R1 at a private test in Misano, Italy this afternoon. The Italian has made an excellent recovery so far since breaking his leg at Mugello on 5th June and he has decided to proceed with the test ride today in order to better understand his current physical condition. Riding a racing motorcycle will help Valentino and his doctors to plan the next stage of his rehabilitation programme in order that he may return to racing as soon as he feels confident to do so.

The test will take place using a YZF-R1 WSB machine provided by the Yamaha World Superbike Team to the Fiat Yamaha Team. Yamaha will inform the media later today of the results of the test and of Valentino’s condition.

Rossi previously targeted the Czech Grand Prix in August for his return, but should the test go favourably he could be back next week for the Sachsenring round and making Dorna’s Carmelo Ezpeleta very happy considering the big drop in TV viewing audiences since Rossi’s accident.

....

0 comments

In a gallery of pics of the 2010 Yamaha YZF-R1, we get a closer look at this lovely bike for 2010, with some new colours. If that’s not special enough for you, check out the Yamaha R1 Fiat Team Replica kit, also available for the Yamaha YZF-R6. Pics from Sportrider.com.

Wallpaper Yamaha YZF-R1

Continue reading: Yamaha YZF-R1 on track wallpaper

....

0 comments

Remember the Yamaha Triple Champ Competition? Well, Yamaha has decided to have MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi announce the winners via another very cute little video.

You had the chance to win a Rossi Fiat Yamaha YZF-R1 replica, a Ben Spies Sterilgarda replica YZF-R1 or a Cal Crutchlow replica YZF-R6, so check it out and see if you were one of those lucky guys.

Source | yamahamotorcorp

....

0 comments

Yamaha has dominated the world racing scene in 2009 and to celebrate their World Titles in MotoGP with Valentino Rossi, Superbike with Ben Spies and Supersport with Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Motor Europe is running an international competition where you could be lucky winner of one of these bikes:

A Valentino Rossi replica YZF-R1, Yamaha Factory Racing prepared with: Termignoni exhaust, Öhlins TTX rear shock, seat cover, double bubble sport screen, carbon rear fender, carbon clutch cover protector.

A Ben Spies replica YZF-R1, Yamaha Factory Racing prepared with: Akrapovic exhaust, Öhlins TTX rear shock, seat cover, double bubble sport screen, carbon rear fender, carbon clutch cover protector.

A Cal Crutchlow replica YZF-R6, Yamaha Factory Racing prepared with: Akrapovic exhaust, Öhlins TTX rear shock, seat cover, double bubble sport screen, carbon rear fender, several carbon protection covers.

Extra prizes include: 2500 specially designed Yamaha World Champion T-shirts (100 per country) designed by Aldo Drudi.

For information and how to enter the competion just race over to the Yamaha Racing website and see if your country is on the list.

....

1 comment

This commercial by Yamaha destined for the European market to promote their 2009 R1 is so classy and what better endorsement can you get that than from World Champion Valentino Rossi.

....

0 comments