Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128123
., IAbove) The '02 R1 has LED taillights, following the trend set last year by Yamaha and their own 2001 R8. IBelowl The dash has been completely redesigned, and now features a shift light. STORY AND PHOTOS BY BLAKE CONNER ne of the hottest rumors of the year has been that of an all-new 2002 Yamaha YZF-Rl. So for all of you rabid R1 fans, your wishes have been answered: Yamaha has redesigned the R 1 for the coming year, and there are significant changes - but are they enough to put the bike on par with the GSX-RIOOO? We won't know until we are able to test the bikes back to back, but here is all of the information that we have available at this point. From a conceptual standpoint, Yamaha attacked the redesign of the R1 with the exact same philosophies that created the original R1 in 1998. The goal now, like then, was to create an ultracompact, ultraresponsive bike with class-leading performance. The R1 was designed to be the best overall canyon-carving tool available, and few would argue that it rules the roost in that environment. Yamaha set out to refine the R1 even more; they weren't out to make revolutionary changes, they already did that with the original bike. In the engine department, the biggest change has been the addition of fuel injection. Yamaha hasn't released the size of the throttle bodies yet, but our guess would be that they are probably 40mm units. To work in conjunction with the new injection system is an all-new air box, sans ram-air. The exhaust system has been redesigned and now O 22 SEPTEMBER 26, 2001 • features a new titanium header mated to a stainless midpipe and onto a titanium canister. Of course, the bike still retains an EXUP system, but it has also been redesigned for '02. The only other motor-related change of which we are aware at this point is that the motor has been moved up in the chassis to create better balance via improved mass centralization. The transmission features the same internal ratios but has been modified to improve shift action. Will the bike make more power? We're told that the actual power output is about 2 horsepower more than the previous model, which means that it will still be playing catch-up to the class-leading Suzuki GSX-RIOOO. The chassis has also received a number of changes for 2002, although the tried-and-true wheelbase length and swingarm length have been left alone. However, the swingarm pivot point has been changed in an effort to improve handling. The frame is called the Deltabox III, as it's the third generation of the frame concept, and is now stiffer than the previous generations. The aluminum subframe is now removable, as it wasn't on the previous model. The entire package is said to be around three pounds lighter, dry. The wheels have been redesigned for '02 and are now lighter that before. The brakes feature the same aluminum monoblock calipers as cue ... n III _ S The entire tailsection has been redesigned, and now has sharp, crisp lines that end at the new LED taillights. These are the big news on the new R1 - the throttle bodies for the new-for-2002 fuelinjection system. before but now feature aluminum pistons instead of the steel pistons on last year's bike. The Rl's styling has been com- taillights. Other elements that have been changed are the headlights, fuel tank, pillion perch, and an all-new dash that has a shiftlight. pletely updated, as you can see in the The R1 will be available in three photos. It is still distinctively R1, but it has a fresh face with many more color combinations: red/white, Yama- sharp, angular lines, and a really cool ha blue, and a new silver/black that looks really cool. We don't have an taillight assembly that features LED MSRP yet, so stay tuned. ClII