Yamaha's R1 family brings genuine racebike fun to the unwashed masses for a price that belies their capabilities. The base-model YZF-R1 and its even more race-tastic “M” variant come with MotoGP-level performance and indeed are actually set up to be quickly converted for track use. A powerful liter-sized mill pushes the R1 family well into the stupid fast category with updated electronic subsystems, and of course, the synergy between the components makes the R1 family much greater than the sum of its parts.

Yamaha YZF-R1

9.00 / 10
Key Features
  • Superbike technology
  • Impressively handling
  • Race-derived engine
Specifications
  • Model: Yamaha YZF-R1
  • Engine: 998 cc, Liquid-cooled inline 4 cylinder
  • Power Output: 200 HP
  • Torque: 82.9 LB-FT
  • Transmission: 6-speed
  • Driveline: Chain Drive
Pros
  • Better low-end torque
  • Comfortable at speed
  • Great handling
Cons
  • Low-speed performance
  • Extra-wide seat
  • Exhaust note isn't the greatest

2022 Yamaha YZF-R1 / R1M Performance and Capability

A blue Yamaha YZF R1M on track
Yamaha

The star of the show is the beating heart of the YZF-R1. Yamaha's Crossplane Crankshaft engine makes all the magic happen. The engine runs in an inline-four configuration with race-proven tech borrowed, from the “Mission One” program.

Super-light titanium conrods have fracture-split big ends to deliver superior fitment, but there's no doubt that the lowered reciprocating mass helps the engine spool up quickly in response to demand at the right grip. Of course, that demand washes through a number of electronic safety systems before it gets to the engine.

The updated Quick Shift System allows for seamless, push-button shifting both up and down the range, as did the Wheel Lift Control so it generates more drive while keeping the front wheel on the ground. Power modes, Launch Control, Traction Control, and Slide Control add to the fandanglery to help you manage all that power.

Most of us will need as much help as we can get since the Yamaha YZF R1's mill churns out a staggering 200 horsepower and 82.9 pound-feet of torque. Yeah, it's like that, and it drives the YZF-R1's top speed of 186 MPH.

The 70 mm bore and 50.9 mm stroke adds up to 998 cc with a 13-to-1 compression ratio that adds up to premium fuel, no way around that, but thems (sic) the breaks if you want to play with the big boys. A slipper clutch adds another layer of traction-patch protection with a six-speed gearbox to crunch the ratios and send power to the rear wheel via O-ring chain drive.

Engine & Drivetrain

Engine:

998 cc, liquid-cooled inline 4 cylinder DOHC; 16 valves

Bore x Stroke:

70.0 mm x 50.9 mm

Compression Ratio:

13.0:1

Fuel Delivery:

Fuel Injection with YCC-T and YCC-I

Ignition:

TCI: Transistor Controlled Ignition

Transmission:

6-speed; multiplate assist and slipper clutch

Final Drive:

Chain

RELATED: 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1 / R1M

Yamaha YZF-R1 / R1M Design

A blue 2022 YZF R1
Yamaha

A windtunnel-tested skin on the YZF-R1 mostly contains all the goodies but leaves a bit more of the engine visible than is typical of supersport-level machines. It's built to offer minimal resistance to penetration, as any good racebike should. The factory takes advantage of the ram-air effect and uses it to deliver a higher volumetric efficiency than is possible with a naturally aspirated engine.

Tiny LED headlights take care of business from their unobtrusive little niches at the top of the cowling scoop, and since the turn signals come integrated with the mirrors, they add no extra drag of their own. Plus, it's really convenient if you want to strip the bike down to its race-weight for a track day.

2022 YZF R1 Dash
Yamaha

A bubble canopy gives the TFT display a measure of protection and creates a minimal, race-style pocket that you really have to tuck into to get any protection. The clip-on bars and jockey-mount pegs encourage that kind of posture anyway.

If you plan on using this as a streetbike/commuter, you should be aware that this isn't like a “standard” model that will let you push off for an almost-upright posture. You're going to be almost locked into Superman mode at all times.

The 4.5-gallon aluminum fuel tank strikes a long flat flyline ahead of the steep tumble to the pilot's seat. It comes with the typical flared shape that leaves a handy knee-hanger to enable your body English. There's a little bit of rise to the tapered tail for that nose-down/tail-up stance that looks so good, but it should come as no surprise that the pillion area isn't quite as robust as the rest of the bike.

The bike comes with a skinny p-pad that may prevent any bruised tailbones or naughty bits, but not much else. Oh well, you can't have everything, and if you plan on having a regular passenger, I'd recommend a different machine, a very different machine. At the terminus, the mudguard mounts the tag and rear turn signals. Like the mirrors and winkers up front, it provides an all-in-one assembly for quick race-day prep.

Yamaha YZF-R1 / R1M Specs

Model:

YZF-R1

YZF-R1M

L x W x H:

80.9 in x 27.2 in x 45.3 in

80.9 in x 27.2 in x 45.3 in

Seat Height:

33.7 in

33.9 in

Wheelbase:

55.3 in

55.3 in

Maximum Ground Clearance:

5.1 in

5.1 in

Fuel Capacity:

4.5 gal

4.5 gal

Fuel Economy:

34 mpg

34 mpg

Wet Weight:

441 lb

443 lb

RELATED: Proof That Modern Isn't Always Better: Tricked Out Old Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R Attempts To Prevail Over A Yamaha YZF-R1

Yamaha YZF-R1 / R1M Chassis

Yamaha YZF R1M Chassis
Yamaha

The R1 and the R1M start to diverge a bit in the support structure. Not in the bones itself -- both run the stressed-engine Deltabox frame derived from the M1 project -- but in the suspension components.

The base R1 runs some nice gear to be sure, with inverted KYB stems floating the front end on 4.7 inches of travel and provide the full spectrum of adjustments. Out back, a KYB monoshock springs off the long, boomerang-shaped swingarm with the same travel figure and adjustments plus a spring-preload feature because, well, because people expect it no matter what kind of bike it is.

The R1M takes it to another level entirely with the Öhlins Electronic Racing Suspension system. The system receives data about vehicle motion and attitude to automatically adjust the dampers for a dynamic riding experience. The factory added two new settings for track tackling performance with a road-friendly response curve and three rider-programmable profiles that allow you to dial it in for yourself.

Stupidfast bikes need crazy-strong brakes, and the factory obliges with dual 320 mm discs up front and a 220 mm disc out back. As with the suspension, the brakes benefit from the 3D, six-axis inertial measurement unit that feeds data to the ABS. It allows for the fact that the braking effort shares the same finite amount of traction and prevents you from pulling a lowsider from overbraking in a curve.

On top of that, Yamaha's own Unified Brake System shares a portion of the pressure from the front brake circuit with the rear caliper to help increase stability under heavy front brake use. That's right, go ahead and trail-brake with abandon, the R1 has your back. Super-light, 17-inch magnesium wheels round out the rolling chassis with even more racing tech, and they're lined with a ZR-rated 120/70 up front and 190/55 out back.

Chassis & Suspension

Model:

YZF-R1

YZF-R1M

Model:

43mm KYB® inverted fork; fully adjustable; 4.7- in travel

43mm Öhlins® electronic suspension w/inverted fork; fully adjustable; 4.7-in travel

YZF-R1

KYB® piggyback shock, 4-way adjustable; 4.7- in travel

Öhlins® electronic suspension w/single shock; fully adjustable; 4.7-in travel

YZF-R1M

24.0°

24.0°

Suspension / Front:

4.0 in

4.0 in

Suspension / Rear:

Dual 320 mm hydraulic disc; Unified Brake System and ABS

Dual 320 mm hydraulic disc; Unified Brake System and ABS

Rake (Caster Angle):

220 mm disc; Unified Brake System and ABS

220 mm disc; Unified Brake System and ABS

Trail:

120/70ZR17

120/70ZR17

Brakes / Front:

190/55ZR17

200/55ZR17

RELATED: 10 Things You Need To Know Before Purchasing A Yamaha R1

2022 Yamaha YZF-R1 / R1M Price

You can get a 2022 YZF-R1 in Performance Black or Team Yamaha Blue for $17,599 MSRP. The R1M is significantly pricier at $26,299 MSRP, but the envy it generates comes standard with the package.

Yamaha YZF-R1 / R1M Price

Model:

YZF-R1

YZF-R1M

Model:

One Year (Limited Factory Warranty)

One Year (Limited Factory Warranty)

YZF-R1

└ 2018:

Raven, Team Yamaha Blue

Carbon Fiber/Liquid Metal

└ 2019:

Team Yamaha Blue, Rapid Red

Carbon Fiber/Liquid Metal

└ 2020, 2021:

Team Yamaha Blue, Raven

Carbon Fiber

└ 2022:

Team Yamaha Blue, Performance Black

Carbon Fiber

YZF-R1M:

└ 2019:

$16,699

$22,999

└ 2020, 2121:

$17,399

$26,099

└ 2022:

$17,599

$26,299

Yamaha YZF-R1 / R1M Competitors

The BMW S 1000 RR is currently one of my favorite Euro-tastic literbikes, and I think it makes a dandy competitor for the R1.

BMW S 1000 RR

White BMW M1000 RR
BMW Motorcycles

Beemer's body panels are equally aerodynamic though they do leave a little more to the imagination as they cover more of the engine. An asymmetrical headlight arrangement gives the BMW a distinctive mug head-on, and the fuel tank hump is bit more dramatic, but bike design at this level performance is a driver and so aesthetics are merely a vanity here.

At the stems, there is little to choose between the two. They both rock automatically adjustable suspension systems with data from an on-board gyroscope that also feeds the ABS for corner-braking protection across the board.

Yamaha alone offers a UBS feature, though I question the necessity. Riders at this level should be able to balance their own brakes by feel and muscle memory. If you can't, you need to get good on something a little tamer.

BMW tops the displacement chart by a single cube for a 999 cc displacement. Inline four-bangers drive both bikes with similar drivetrains and electronic gadgetry, and naturally, come with similar performance profiles.

Beemer claims a total of 199 horsepower and 83 pounds of grunt versus 200/82.9 from the R1. If you're looking for a silver bullet, you won't find it here, and any advantage one may have over the other will evaporate in the face of a superior rider skillset.

It's a game of inches at the checkout with the $17,399 sticker on the stock R1 against the $16,995 tag on the S 1000 RR. You'll have to use another metric to decide who wins in your book, but at the same time, do keep in mind that a new R1 is on the horizon.

He Said

“Ya know, frequently the price tag on these street/race machines acts as a firewall to keep the plebes safe by keeping the bike out of reach. The R1 doesn't enjoy that filter, but I'm tellin' ya now, you'd better know what you're about if you fancy one of the models from this family.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “It's a stupidfast bike, that's for sure. If you've ever had the chance to sit on an R6, sitting on the R1 feels just like that. It's very smooth, very aggressive, and very wide. Unless you're fairly tall, it'll be a challenge to get your feet down so there's more to the seat height here than just a number in the spec list. This bike wants to go fast, and I feel like unless you know what you're doing and have the skillset to handle it, you can really get yourself into trouble in a hurry.”