2006 Yamaha R1: First Look

Motoring Channel Staff - 21/11/2005

Yamaha has released its 4th generation Supersport flagship motorcycle, the YZF-R1, or simply the R1 to those in the know.

Point-to-point, the R1 has been one of the quickest sports bikes on the market, often bestowed with a power-to-weight ratio that would scare off a lot of riders

And for 2006, the new model gets even more power from it's 5-valve-per-cylinder 998cc petrol engine and an even better handling chassis for 2006.

Yamaha is confident that these changes, along with some body styling revisions, will make sure that its legendary machine maintains it's position as the most exciting and desirable 1000cc supersport machine on the market.

The 2006 model R1 is also available in a special colour to celebrate Yamaha's 50th Anniversary. Yamaha explains that the 'Extreme Yellow' machine was inspired by the livery of the legendary World Championship winning bikes that dominated the 500cc Road Racing Championships back in 1978, 1979 and 1980.

For 2006 Yamaha says that it has focussed R1 development on increased engine and cornering performance and to achieve this goal, Yamaha’s engineers have boosted power by maximising intake and exhaust efficiency and optimised the frame balance by altering the main frame and lengthening the swingarm (connects the rear wheel to the frame).

The new R1 maintains the same liquid-cooled 4-stroke, dual overhead camshaft, 40-degree forward-inclined, 4-cylinder and 5-valve fuel injected engine format.

But taking last years engine as a base, the company has designed a new combustion chamber, installed new high-lift cams while a 12.4:1 compression ratio has increased intake/exhaust efficiency for a significant boost in power output.

A smoother intake port shape has also increased intake air volume. Max power has been raised by 3hp to 175hp at the same rpm level of 12,500rpm (or 183hp with ram air effect).

This equates to about 130kW - or 136kW with ram air effect, which is significant when you consider the bike weighs just 173kg dry (dry = no fluids, such as oil, petrol, brake fluid etc). Yamaha hasn't released any specific 0-100km/h times, but the 2006 R1 is expected to reach 100km/h from standstill in about 2.8 seconds.

In addition to the wild 1.0-litre engine, another of the R1's entrenched components return: the Deltabox V frame.

For the 4th generation R1, explains Yamaha, the frame has been further revised to achieve optimum rigidity balance for improved handling, developed using structural analysis and repeated testing based on the same concept as the MotoGP competition model YZR-M1.

Yamaha has revealed that the upper portion of the main frame, the engine mount bracket and rear arm bracket specs have been changed to optimise connection rigidity, while the rigidity and shape of the under-bracket for the front fork and the rigidity balance of the fork's outer tube have also been revised.

The combined effect of these changes is to provide the ideal balance for improved cornering performance. These updates also contribute to gentler acceleration/deceleration characteristics for excellent secondary steering qualities.

The upside down aluminium swingarm maintains the same controlled fill structure but is 16mm longer than the previous R1 generation. Yamaha explains that the resulting increase in distance between the pivot and the rear axle contributes to reduced interference to the chassis resulting from chain tension during cornering while also providing a good rigidity balance for increased traction. The longer rear arm also increases the chain adjustment range and the selection of tyre specs that can be used.

For the more experienced and discerning customers Yamaha has a real Supersport treat in the shape of the YZF-R1SP.

The Japanese motorcycle maker made it clear that this high specification "SP" version of the YZF-R1 is available in a limited run of only 500 units worldwide, with Australian getting about 30 of them - all of which are spoken for.

Fetching about $30,000 (Australian currency) the R1SP is closer in price to a swanky Italian sports bike, such as a Ducati 999 or Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory, and comes with a range of high quality exclusive racing components that have been developed and tested specially for this machine made in close association with Ohlins and Marchesini. As the company assert, this is not your average R1.

And to support this exclusivity further the YZF-R1SP has a very special high quality colour scheme featuring a golden tuning fork. The R1SP is lighter, quicker and handles better at the limit thanks to a number of tweaks, including new Marchesini wheels which reduce unsprung weight and aid cornering and rapid changes of direction. Ohlins suspension components also contribute to the R1SP's abilities, ensuring on-the-limit stability and plenty of feedback.

2006 YZF-R1 Features: