2007 Yamaha YZF-R1

2007 Yamaha YZF-R1

The Yamaha YZF-R1 has been carving its way into motorcycle history since 1998, and in 2007 the scalpel has been sharpened to the point of being dangerous... at least to the competition.In the beginning the R1 set new standards for performance in the literbike class with a combination of a sick motor and track-inspired good looks. It enjoyed a long successful run for the next half decade before raising the visual standards to another level in '04. Although that design was a huge sales success and became a favorite among the custom bike builders, the lower-rpm response from its engine wasn't up to the literbike class standards.The five-valve head has been the heart of the R1 since its inception, so the fact that Yamaha has decided to replace it with a four-valve unit speaks volumes. But don't mourn the loss of those poor little intake valves - this R1 returns to its roots as a good-looking no-nonsense literbike hell bent on causing a ruckus on both the street and track. The new motor is the snarling beast we had anticipated after crunching the numbers for our 2007 Yamaha R1 First Look article.This new R1 is catering to its specific demographic with an emphasis on satisfying the owners who demonstrate serious pride of ownership and like to spend considerable time at the track as well as on the street. Everyone likes a winner, especially the marketing department, and even though the R1 has the '06 AMA Superstock title to its credit, it has come up short in its bid for an elusive Superbike championship. That's where the new bike comes into play, a natural evolution of the R1 that reveals Yamaha's emphasis on improving track prowess and blazing straight-line performance.

Be prepared to hang on when twisting the throttle because the R1 now accelerates with authority, and not just at the upper end of it range. The new four-valve combustion chamber design uses a higher compression ratio (12.7:1 vs. 12.4:1), higher lift cam profiles (7.6mm to 9.2 mm intake and 7.5mm to 8.3mm exhaust) and a faster version of the R6's ride-by-wire throttle system called YCC-T. The new intake valves also help shed some weight by being fabricated out of titanium.But the big news in the intake tract are the variable-height velocity stacks of the YCC-I system. The Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake optimizes performance by utilizing a long 140mm velocity stack that enhances torque at lower revs. Then, once past 10,400 rpm, the trumpets squeeze up next to the throttle bodies to produce a short 65mm length for accentuated top-end pull.Ripping up Laguna's front straight tucked in behind the windscreen and rowing through the gears, which retain the same ratios from last year, is truly great fun. The new engine (but with the same bore and stroke) is significantly stronger in the mid-range, which was a bone of contention we had with the 2004-2006 R1. A lack of snort is no longer the case. It pulls like a good 1000 should clear past 10 grand, pulling even harder through to the 13,750-rpm limiter. Brake markers come at you in unrelenting fashion, and power wheelies are merely a side effect of shifting. We look forward to getting this baby on the dyno.Having that ripper of a motor makes charging from corner to corner a real blast, but at some point you have to slow down. That's where the slipper clutch and new 6-piston brakes come in handy. Thanks to the addition of the slipper clutch, previously found only on the '06 YZF-R1 LE, downshifting is done in carefree fashion, since it keeps the bike much more stable during deceleration. One of the many notable improvements not inside the engine compartment is the all-new braking system. The combination of radial-mount six-piston Sumitomo calipers, 310mm rotors, (reduced in size by 10mm versus '06), is a very competent package. Initial bite from the radial-pump lever is not too abrupt, but the binders are very powerful for standard units and offer up a lot of useful feel at the lever - one of our few gripes with the previous brakes. A single-piston pin-slide caliper and single disc on the back was only used to help keep the front tire on the track under acceleration.

The question everyone is probably asking is whether or not this is the Yamaha that will return the company to the elite status of the original R1. My initial impression is definitely positive, and the 2007 Yamaha YZF-R1 is undoubtedly a legitimate contender. It has all the necessary components to be a winner, but things always seem better in the vacuum of a single-bike press launch. The issues of the past have been addressed, starting with a major change in Yamaha's approach to engine design. Add into the equation that this bike feels lighter and is just as at home dragging pegs across an apex as it is doing second-gear roll-on wheelies, (it would easily pull third gear heading up the hill to the Corkscrew) all while providing a more comfortable riding position and rider-friendly chassis means it will have no excuses this time out.According to the literature that we received at the intro, Yamaha's goal was simple: "Build on the R1's heritage of sexy style while transforming it into the ultimate cornering machine with the best 1000cc engine performance." Since the bike handles fantastic and has the motor to get it to the next turn in a hurry, there's no reason to doubt the R1 has a shot at living up to the hype once it arrives in showrooms this December at a base price of $11,599.There is no doubt this bike is going to be a success in the showrooms. Racetrack victories also are promising. Yamaha has taken lessons learned from some of the best racers in the world and incorporated that into this design. It will continue to be a force in World Superbike with Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser at the controls, and the arrival of this all-new R1 coincides with Yamaha's return to the premier class in the AMA Superbike series. Eric Bostrom and Jason DiSalvo will fight the good fight in Superbike, while Ben Bostrom attempts to bring Yamaha a second consecutive Superstock championship.This all sets the stage for what is, in our opinion, the most important measuring stick of all - the chance to win MotorcycleUSA's 2007 Superbike Smackdown. The R1 is one of two all-new open-class machines unleashed in 2007 (including the all new Suzuki GSX-R1000), and with the other two contenders having been refined last year, it means the battle should be closer than ever be. The 2007 Yamaha YZF-R1 has arrived and it is screaming for vengeance

Courtsey From: http://www.biketestusa.com