We knew this was coming – but it still hits hard. The first Yamaha R1 appeared just six years after our sister magazine Fast Bikes itself hit the streets – so in many ways, they grew up together. It was the original rulebook-rewriter; the superbike that toppled the mighty Honda FireBlade; the first of the modern breed of 999cc superbikes that led to the likes of the Suzuki GSX-R1000, Kawasaki ZX-10R and BMW S1000 RR.
Nothing lasts forever though, and Yamaha’s thrown in the towel on the superbike class in road-going form, for Europe and the UK at least. It’s reclassified the R1 as a competition machine only, as it did with the R6 a couple of years ago, so it’s like buying a motocross bike. The 2025 R1 Race isn’t homologated for road use, comes without road gear or number plates, and can’t be registered at all.
Which is a massive shame, since it’s the best-looking R1 yet. The firm’s given it a set of carbon fibre aero wings, as well as uprated Brembo Stylema brake calipers and master cylinder, revised KYB forks and a light magnesium rear wheel (we give it about a fortnight before someone hot-glues all this kit on to a 2024 road bike…). Weirdly, it looks like it keeps a road-going exhaust with catalyst, as well as the ABS set up, sidestand and ignition lock. Why? Well, the R1 will stay as a roadbike on sale in the US, and other markets where they don’t need to get a Euro 5+ homologation. Click on the Yamaha Motor USA website and you can see it on sale there, with lights, for just $19,000…
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Yamaha’s also offering a fancy GYTR track version of the new R1, which comes with more circuit-focused kit: no stands, an Akrapovic race pipe, race bodywork, Brembo race brake pads, keyless ignition and more. It’s FIM Superstock-compliant in terms of regs and is ready to race (though the 100dB Akra might struggle on some UK tracks).
Both new bikes are on sale now. Prices are tbc, but the old road R1 was around £18,500 and the R1 GYTR from 2023 cost £26,500, so that will presumably be the ballpark. More info: www.yamaha-motor.eu
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