Yamaha YZF-R1: Difference between revisions

The Yamaha YZF-R1 motorcycle, first built in 1998, helped initiate the liter class "handling arms race" between the Japanese Big Four motorcycle manufacturers (Honda, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Suzuki and Yamaha Motor Corporation). When it was first introduced it was considered a groundbreaking design; a 1000cc engine in a frame the size of a 600cc bike. It was on par with the power output ratings of its competition but it was unique with its unprecedented agility.

The key in the R1's success was the redesigned Genesis engine. In traditional inline-4 motorcycle engines the crankshaft, gearbox input and output shafts were parallel in a flat plane; in the R1 the shafts formed a triangle. This made the engine very short, allowing the wheel span to be shortened greatly, which in turn led to the exceptional handling.

The R1 was dominant for five years before the competition could catch up to its level. In 2003 the Suzuki GSX-R 1000 and in 2004 the Kawasaki ZX-10R have successfully challenged the R1. Template:Motocycle-stub