R1 going away
- Thread starter bigpoppa
- Start date
Sad to see it go but not at all surprised.
With the power manufacturers are now getting out of ~700cc engines, I expect most manufacturers will reduce product line to 300/500/700 to minimize certification costs. Obviously for manufacturers with cruisers, they will need at least one more high displacement (and sadly low power) option as well.
TK4
Well-known member
Hot Gossip: Yamaha R9 Sportbike Incoming | Canada Moto Guide
Looking for a sensible-for-the-real-world sportbike? The rumoured release of a new Yamaha YZF-R9 might be exactly what you want.
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Yeah, the rumoured R9 appears poised to take the place in the lineup, even though it isn't exactly an equal substitute. It should still make a fantastic sportbike. The existing 900cc 3-cyl in the MT09 is very well regarded.
Cost reduction is The Big Deal. Yamaha already did this with the R7 taking the place of the R6 with the R7 being considerably less expensive, and re-using the same engine in multiple bikes saves on R&D, tooling, and emissions certification (which is a significant cost).
Current standard R1 is $24k and the R1M is $32k.
Cost reduction is The Big Deal. Yamaha already did this with the R7 taking the place of the R6 with the R7 being considerably less expensive, and re-using the same engine in multiple bikes saves on R&D, tooling, and emissions certification (which is a significant cost).
Current standard R1 is $24k and the R1M is $32k.
Did some digging. Euro 5+ apparently has the same emission limits as Euro 5, but adds more self-diagnosis and system durability requirements. You know how your car has oxygen sensors both before and after the catalyst? That's what they'll have to do. (Plus all the underlying software changes to implement the self-testing, plus the wiring harness and ECU I/O for the extra sensor.) Up until now, the catalyst-monitoring requirements that cars have had for a long time, haven't been required, so there has only been an oxygen sensor before the catalyst and the system had no knowledge of whether the catalyst was working (or existed at all). Means anything Euro 5+ should have a post-catalyst sensor in addition to the normal one before the catalyst.
It's supposed to take effect in 2024 (i.e. already in effect) for models new to the market, and models currently in production can remain in production as-is until 1 Jan 2025.
Means 2024 will be the last model year for the R1, and probably quite a few other models, in the EU market. Some other manufacturers (notably Suzuki) have kept selling bikes in North America after discontinuing them in Europe, because North American motorcycle emission standards are antiquated.
It's supposed to take effect in 2024 (i.e. already in effect) for models new to the market, and models currently in production can remain in production as-is until 1 Jan 2025.
Means 2024 will be the last model year for the R1, and probably quite a few other models, in the EU market. Some other manufacturers (notably Suzuki) have kept selling bikes in North America after discontinuing them in Europe, because North American motorcycle emission standards are antiquated.
bigpoppa
Well-known member
God bless those freedom lovin americans
So what will this mean for WSBK?
Nothing in the short-term. The current iteration of the R1 is homologated till 2028, unless they make significant changes to it.
The question is whether enough non-Euro5+ R1s can be sold anywhere else in the world?
WSBK homologation rules state that 2000 units must be produced.
If they can make and sell more than 2000 R1s in markets where Euro 5+ compliance isn't enforced, will that satisfy the rules?
When Yamaha discontinued the R6, they released a track-only version R6 RACE which kept the model in contention for WSS.
Longer term, motorsports in general has some soul-searching to do. It will affect production-based classes first, but it will affect prototype classes eventually.
Supersport has been evolving to allow more engine and bike configurations. The R6 loses its homologation next year.
Supersport has been evolving to allow more engine and bike configurations. The R6 loses its homologation next year.
Statement from Yamaha. Yamaha R1: Past, Present and Future Race Winning Package | Yamaha Racing
TK4
Well-known member
Until the rules are changed.
Long term, the rules are going to have to change. Supersport is in the midst of this.
