VOL. 52 ISSUE 41 OCTOBER 13, 2015 P49
2016 Yamaha YZF-R1S
Y
amaha has confirmed the
long suspected rumors
of a third edition of the
all-conquering YZF-R1, that
was heavily revised last year,
with the addition of the YZF-
R1S to the line-up, available
next February for an MSRP of
$14,990.
The new machine is
aimed mainly at the budget-
conscious street rider who
doesn't need the exotic
race-spec materials that
adorn the R1 and top-of-the-
line R1M, but still wants a
slice of the crossplane crank
cake.
R1S riders will get the Six-
Axis Inertial Measurement
Unit (IMU) of its two siblings
and have the option of fitting
the Quick Shift system, but
miss out on a few crucial
items. Essentially, Yamaha
has replaced items like the
titanium connecting rods,
exhaust headers and valve
springs with steel items (you
still get the titanium muffler),
lowering the peak power
and rpm of a machine that,
in R1 and R1M spec at least,
is capable of around 165
horsepower at the wheel in
stock trim (Yamaha hasn't
specified the overall power
and torque of the R1S).
In keeping with the
reduced cost aspect of the
R1S, the new machine loses
the magnesium oil pan,
right side engine cover and
wheels of the R1 and R1M,
gaining aluminum items
instead. Those aluminum
wheels are now wrapped in
Bridgestone Hypersport S20
rubber, designed for longer
road miles rather than overall
grip.
Overall the new R1S is
claimed to tip the scales at
448 pounds, which is five
pounds more than the R1M
and nine pounds more than
the standard R1.
PEOPLE
