Yamaha unveils the YZF-R1M at the EICMA Show

Earlier this month, Yamaha unveiled the replacement of its six-year old flagship model, the YZF-R1, at the EICMA Show in Milan, Italy. Like Kawasaki, Yamaha has introduced the litre-class superbike in two variants, the YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M. The R1M has been built as a track-focussed, homologation special, and embodies the best that Yamaha has to offer in a production motorcycle. 

The R1M is built around a new aluminium Deltabox frame, though the overall chassis design is similar to the previous generation R1. Weight-saving measures has resulted in the R1M being five kilograms lighter than the previous R1. Unlike what previous reports suggested, Yamaha has stuck to the crossplane crank architecture for the R1 and R1M’s engine. The four-pot 1000cc engine has been revamped and gets a higher compression ratio, which helps its churn out 200bhp at the crank and 112.8Nm of torque.

The R1M shares most of the specifications with the standard R1, though it has been adorned with carbon fibre bodywork, with the aim of keeping the weight at bay. Besides the carbon fibre bodywork, the R1M also gets electronic racing suspension from Öhlins, a communication control unit and stickier Bridgestone tyres. It also gets new cast magnesium wheels, LED lights and a titanium 4 into 2 into 1 exhaust system.

While Kawasaki was really gung-ho about its Ninja H2 hypersport motorcycle and started building the hype around it more than a month before the EICMA Show, Yamaha chose to maintain a considerably low profile for the next-generation YZF-R1. Though the new R1 and the Ninja H2 are evenly matched in terms of performance, the lower power figures and ‘conservative’ styling means that the R1M seems pretty domestic when compared to the Ninja H2R. However, it would be unfair to directly compare the mighty Ninja H2R with the R1M, especially when you consider the sticker price of the two motorcycles. While Kawasaki hasn’t yet revealed the price of the H2R, we are sure that it will be nowhere near the USD 21,990 (Rs 13.53 lakh) price tag that the R1M carries.