Among competitors like the Fireblade and the Ninja, the Yamaha YZF-R1 stood out on its own with its unique sound and incredible performance around the track.
In the ’90s, Japan’s « big four » (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha) clashed for superbike supremacy, making some of the fastest and wildest superbikes the world had ever seen. Launched in 1998, the Yamaha YZF-R1 was Yamaha’s answer to the 1-liter supersports category, and successor to the FZR-1000. Yamaha’s bike competed against heavyweights like the Kawasaki ZX-9R, Suzuki GSX-750R, and the segment leader of the track, the Honda CB900RR Fireblade.
Over its 27-year production run, the Yamaha YZF-R1 has seen several major updates. In 2003 (RN09), it gained fuel injection and revised EXUP for smoother power delivery. A year later, the 2004 R1 (RN12) was fully redesigned with a new frame, upgraded brakes, and a chip-controlled throttle pushing output to 172 horsepower. In 2009, the R1 (RN22) adopted MotoGP tech with a 270-degree crossplane crankshaft engine, giving it a distinctive sound and improved delivery. By 2015, the R1 (RN32) pushed the MotoGP link further with a 200 horsepower engine and a full electronic suite including slide, launch, and slip control, plus a 6-axis IMU.
