The eagle eyes at the Australian Motorcycle News bring us our first look at the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1, as Iwata’s superbike was caught testing at the Eastern Creek International Speedway.
With the picture, comes the first rumored details of the new R1, with the biggest news being that Yamaha will bring two versions of the machine to market: one street version, and one for race homologation.
From the photo above, both models will heavily take their styling cues from the current YZF-R6, and will also continue to use a four-cylinder crossplane engine configuration — this revelation squashes any notion of a three-cylinder superbike from Iwata.
Keeping up with the development of its rivals, Yamaha is expected to unveil a revised traction control package, and also offer electronic suspension.
The cheaper street-bike offering will be available with a dual-clutch transmission, which we have already seen in Yamaha’s patent filings. No word on performance specs or pricing, but we do know that the higher-spec racing version is said to have ~230hp.
While that figure is hard to swallow, we should remember that Yamaha plans to re-enter World Superbike racing, and that the EVO regulations, which will be compulsory next year, and will require manufacturers to homologate higher performing machines to the public, as engine modifications for racing will be severally limited.
The higher-spec R1 is expected to compete with the Ducati 1199 Panigale S, BMW HP4, and the next iteration of the Aprilia RSV4. Thus, we would expect to see the usual suspects for top-shelf components being used, and racing-derived electronic packages being employed.
Yamaha is expected to reveal the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 at either the INTERMOT or EICMA shows later this year, so we’ll see how much of these rumors are true in only a few months’ time.
Source: Australian MCN & Moto Revue
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