Motorcycle specifications YamahaYZF-R1 1000 Factory SUPERBIKE 2009 The technological armada

everyone watched the new R1 very closely during the 2009 season. On the one hand, because it was ridden by a young rookie (Ben Spies) who pulverized everything, and on the other, because it inaugurated the famous crossplane crankshaft timing. With a characteristic noise, close to that of the MotoGP M1, and an extraordinary handlebar stroke, the R1-Spies pairing was the talk of the championship from start to finish. But victories and podiums don't stop there. Before becoming the superb tool that Tom Sykes and Ben Spies had in their hands, the R1 underwent quite a few modifications. From the sports bike available from your dealer to the Factory version, the difference is considerable. And even though the regulations stipulate that Superbike machines must come from the series, the 2009 missiles have never come so close to being protos. Let's take a look:

let's start with what's most obvious - the R1's fairing is entirelycarbon, as are the mudguards, air intake tubes, casing protectors, self-supporting seat and airbox. The airbox has not only been modified in terms of material, but also in terms of volume. Larger, it allows the 4-cylinder to breathe more easily. The fuel tank above the airbox is really just a cover; the real one has been moved under the seat to optimize weight distribution. As permitted by regulations, it holds more fuel than the original model, 23 liters (the FIM allows up to 24 liters). Yamaha Racing took advantage of the space freed up to fit the additional electronics on this Factory model. You can't imagine the host of instructions that flow from the multitude of sensors and the ECU control unit. Fork depression, rear shock absorber work, tire temperature, exhaust gas richness, wheel rotation for traction control, intake air quantity, clutch position, etc...
On the left-hand commodo, the classic turn signal and headlight call controls have been replaced by a panoply of control buttons. These are used to engage launch control, the pit lane speed limiter, and to modify traction control and fuel injection mapping to suit the circuit, the weather, the tires and their wear. The system goes so far that parameters can be modified by the rider, or by a GPS signal depending on the machine's position on the circuit. The era of electronics has well and truly taken hold of the racetrack.

is adding endless horsepower out of fashion? Not really. But engine management and efficiency are assets that no team can afford to ignore. It's no longer just up to the drivers to harness the fire of their engines, even if they still need a very big pair of .... to set the fastest lap times. The blast from the Akrapovic titanium/carbon exhausts leaves no doubt as to the vitality of the Yam block From 182 in the standard version, the R1 increases to 215 hp at 14,000 rpm. Maximum revs are raised to 15,000 rpm. Magnetti Marelli fuel injection and extensive work on camshafts, combustion chambers and intake ducts enable the YZF Factory to announce this very big powerplant, which is nonetheless inferior to the surprising RSV4 or the discreet (this year) CBR 1000. The extra 30 or so (official) horsepower required the addition of a high-capacity radiator, the price of which alone would buy you a used 600.

the chassis retains only the original frame, the only element that cannot be modified. The swingarm is a 15% stiffer model. The all-Ohlins damping comes from the best school of all: MotoGP. Both forks and shock absorbers come from Doctor Rossi's 2008 M1. The Brembo monoblocs are of course radial-mounted, anchored to solid mounts. Staübli-type quick-release couplings allow them to be replaced in seconds. Finally, 16?" magnesium rims (which can be lifted with a fingertip) transform the R1 into a Superbike champion weighing in at just 162 kg. The hunt for weight in SBK is merciless; but despite this, and thanks to its super-light weight, the Yam allows itself to be the only machine on the grid to be equipped with... a starter, just like any other bike on the planet.

M.B - Photo credits: Yamaha Motor Europe