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.
