The Yamaha YFZ-R1 is a somewhat distant cousin of Yamaha's MotoGP race bike, but it is a hot, exhilarating rush not to be missed.
Even before throwing a leg over the "Yamaha YFZ-R1" sleek narrow frame, I was anticipating the rush. The graphics on the Valentino Rossi / Fiat Yamaha replica immediately set the tone. Rossi's race sponsors are splashed across the fairing, a "46" adorns the fairing's nose (and tail piece) and his John Hancock tags the tank.
There's no blending into the weekend canyon-riding crowd on this bike--there's a responsibility to ride hard and fast and uphold The Doctor's good name.
Track ergonomics aren't ideal for the street, as they are two distinct riding disciplines. Crack the throttle and the Yamaha YFZ-R1 comes alive, announcing its presence both in sound and action. A loud, throaty race bark turns heads, demands attention and ramps up my pulse. The transmission is flawless as I run through the six-speed transmission.
My first squeeze on the Yamaha YFZ-R1 front brakes was a bit too hard and spiked my already elevated adrenaline. On a favorite circuit of roads where I know every turn, I pushed harder and found the bike became more and more comfortable as speeds increased. Fortunately, straight-line stability is confidence inspiring when speeds climb on open road sections.
Certainly, fantasy is a huge component of the 2010 Yamaha YFZ-R1 LE--why else would you want to ride a bike that looks like Valentino Rossi's MotoGP championship winner and is mechanically based on Ben Spies' World Superbike championship-winning machine?
In the flat-plane crankshaft, the connecting rod journals are spaced 90 degrees apart from each other instead of 180 degrees in a flat-plane. The Yamaha YZF-R1 engine comes with new forged aluminum pistons and titanium intake valves. The Yamaha YZF-R1 also comes with the Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I), basically a variable air intake system that delivers optimum air/fuel ratio for maximum power and smooth throttle response. The Mikuni fuel-injection system is now equipped with new 12-hole injectors for greater fuel atomization, enhancing the combustion process.
The right fork handles rebound damping and the left handles compression damping. The adjustable SOQI rear shock offers high and low compression damping. The Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1crankshaft design probably is the greatest advancement to date in the motorcycle world.