2 0 2 0 YA M A H A Y Z F - R 1 M
R I D E R E V I E W
P64
T
he sound of a Yamaha YZF-
R1M on the pipe is now as
recognizable as a rumbling
V-twin bearing the Bar & Shield's
logo. With that crossplane crank-
shaft, the flat drone emitted from
the exhaust is unlike anything else
on the road.
Whereas a Kawasaki ZX-10RR,
Suzuki GSX-R1000R, BMW S 1000
RR, and Honda CBR1000RR-R
SP all run a screamer firing order,
the Yamaha fires its pistons at
270°/180°/90°/180°, making for
one of the most unique sounds you
can purchase, and that's before
you get into the nuances of what
the bike is like to actually ride.
I wasn't at the R1M launch
in Jerez last year, having been
called away to Japan for an Arai
gig (back when you could, you
know, travel), but the lady we
sent, MotoAmerica racer Shelina
Moreda, assured me this new
iteration is a step forward in every
direction when used in anger.
That may be so, but what about
when you're riding an R1M to pick
up some last-minute Covid-19
TP? Or when you're escaping
the screaming mess of Covid-19
family life for some much-needed
throttle therapy?
Sport bikes these days are not
designed to do anything other
than go fast. The modern motor-
cycle market has evolved to such
a degree that there's a bike for
every application, one designed
for a specific purpose of which it
should generally be very good at,
LIVING WITH YAMAHA'S
HEAVYWEIGHT
FIGHTER
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT PALMER
We loved it on track at Jerez, but what's it like
to live with the Yamaha YZF-R1M? We stole the
key for a month to find out.
