The Yamaha YZF-R1 turns 25 – Part 3
Yamaha YZF-R1s through the years
1998/99
The first iteration of the Yamaha R1 featured a revolutionary ‘stacked gearbox’ design, which allowed for the 998 cc inline-four motor to be more compact than ever before. And the shorter engine within the ‘Delta box’ (twin-spar) frame aided the R1’s handling and helped lower the bikes centre of gravity.
The powerplant was fed by four 40 mm Keihin carbs and it claimed a 148 hp figure, making the bike capable of 270 km/h. The even spread of this power was assured thanks to the EXUP (Exhaust Ultimate Powervalve), exhaust designed to improve intake efficiency, boost power output and improve fuel economy.
Pricing in Australia in 1998 started at $17,090 plus on-road costs, although unfortunately we don’t have sales figures going back this far.
2000/2001
Yamaha took note of the improvements that were needed on the previous model and got to work fixing them. The 2000 model R1 wasn’t a redesign, but more of a tweak on the previous.
The most drastic changes came to the engine internals, which housed lighter cams, an upgraded transmission (with a taller first gear) and an upgraded engine management system with power now 149 hp and torque 108 Nm. The carbs where also re-jetted for better initial throttle response.
Aesthetically the fairings remained similar, but the front became slightly sharper and more slippery, with a three percent reduction in the bikes drag coefficient. Also, the tank and seat were reshaped and rider ergonomics adjusted to place more of the rider’s weight over the front end.
Overall, the bike was around five pounds lighter, and thanks to the repositioned rider position was a sharper and more responsive motorcycle.
2002/03
Along with all-around sharper bodywork, this was the first model R1 to be fuel injected. Well, kinda. It used a CV carb slide-controlled by the vacuum created by the engine, but fuelling is ultimately dictated by the engine management system.
New cylinder sleeves with high silicon and magnesium content were added to help reduce oil consumption and heat distortion, with the cooling system being modified to aid this effect.
And the exhaust ports housed a new four-into-two-into-one manifold design (instead of four-into-one on the previous model). Power was bumped to 152 hp but there was a slight reduction in torque at 105 Nm.
The biggest change to this model came in the form of a new hydroformed ‘Delta Box III’ frame, which helped to increase the bikes rigidity by 30 percent.
The rear tail light was swapped out for a LED unit and the large rectangular indicators were replaced with blade style blinkers.
By 2002 Australian pricing had risen to $18,699 plus on-road costs, with recorded Australian sales figures for 2003 being 472 YZF-R1 models. 2003 is the first year we have records for the Australian sales figures for the model.
2004/05
For 2004/2005 major changes to the model included a completely new ‘Delta box V’ frame and fresh bodywork, which at the rear, hosted an under seat twin exhaust.
The ‘Ram-air’ assisted engine was redesigned with new crankcases and a sleeveless cylinder block, which combined with other modifications made it the most powerful R1 to date, with a claimed 171 hp and 107 Nm on tap.
Internally, the clutch basket swapped out old school diaphragm springs for coil springs, and the basket was modified to reduce weight by five percent.
The model was equipped with a factory-fitted steering damper to help reduce head wobble. And the brakes were improved to a pair of radial-mounted calipers deployed with a radial master cylinder.
2004 also saw a slight price jump, the YZF-R1 now demanding $18,899 plus on-road costs, with sales in Australia reaching 871 for 2004, and 923 in 2005, a figure that would only be surpassed in two other years…
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