Should you’re a fan of sure blue supersport machines, you then would possibly need to mark February 21, 2024 in your calendar. Why? As a result of it is a day which will effectively stay in infamy for Yamaha R1 and R1M followers.
There is not any straightforward option to say this, however a number of experiences out of the UK quote an official Yamaha UK spokesperson as uttering the next dreaded phrases:
“Yamaha Motor Group have taken the choice to not develop an EU5+ model of the R1 or R1M as an alternative specializing in different mid-term enterprise and product methods that may present future alternatives.”
Unhappy Information, However Not Totally Sudden
We’ll miss you, Yamaha R1M. And also you too, Yamaha R1.
Rumors have been flying across the moto-Web for months relating to this very risk. Granted, moto-rumors are roughly a dime a dozen, and whereas a few of them do come true, others do not. Clearly, followers of the R1 and R1M had been fervently hoping that the latter scenario was the case.
Will this make room for yet one more long-rumored (and desired) bike within the Yamaha steady, the YZF-R9? The title has been trademarked by Yamaha for a number of years now, with no public-facing bulletins but having been made on the time of writing. As we have identified a number of instances prior to now, although, simply because an OEM logos one thing does not imply they will ever use it.
What Does This Imply For The US?
That is an excellent query, and it is one which we have requested Yamaha US to reply. Emissions laws range from nation to nation, in any case. Even when emissions weren’t concerned, OEMs make selections commonly on which fashions are doing effectively in what geographic area, and shift focus (and gross sales items) accordingly.
A Yamaha Motor US consultant informed us that they can not touch upon future merchandise or course for the agency’s US lineup. Moreover, they added that since Yamaha Motor Europe is a separate market, they do have variations to each their mannequin lineup and their emissions requirements to contemplate. Nonetheless, they can not touch upon both YME developments, nor the way it would possibly have an effect on the worldwide market extra broadly.
What Does This Imply For Racing Collection That Closely Characteristic The R1?
Yamaha R6 Race. Screenshot captured on the Yamaha UK web site on February 21, 2024.
Following on from the above, as only one instance, the R6 was discontinued a couple of years in the past as a roadgoing bike. Nonetheless, it nonetheless stays accessible for buy as a track-only bike within the UK, purely as a result of there may be very a lot nonetheless a marketplace for it amongst racing and observe day fanatics.
Might that even be the way forward for the R1 and R1M? They’re awfully standard in a number of racing collection, akin to WSBK, BSB, and MotoAmerica. Whereas racing collection will solely account for a sure variety of bikes over the course of a given 12 months, it is tough to assume that they’re going to go away altogether.
On the identical time, a few of these racing collection even have road-legal homologation necessities that the bikes competing should meet with the intention to line up on the beginning grid. If the R1 now not meets these requirements, sure modifications may need to be made.
It is a sticky scenario any approach you narrow it, in addition to a growing story. As all the time, RideApart will you should definitely maintain you updated with any and all info because it arises. Keep tuned.
