2018 YAMAHA YZF -R1 AND YZF -R1M
FULL TEST
P108
In all, we got two sessions on
the R1 and two on the R1M, with
another few sessions on the Ya-
maha YZF-R6—itself an absolute
scalpel of motorcycle.
Under the skin of the R1 and
R1M, there's little to separate the
two aside from the Ohlins. The
R1 runs Yamaha's KYB conven-
tionally operated suspension and
there are some new colors for
2018 in the base bike—but that's
pretty much it.
The R1 still gets 10-spoke
magnesium wheels, an alumi-
num gas tank and all the Bosch
IMU goodies, plus those three
electronic improvements in
the new up/down quickshifter,
wheelie control map and launch
control.
It'd been two years since I'd
ridden the latest generation big
bang R1, and it's still as raucous
as I remember it. The 999cc
crossplane crank inline four-
cylinder motor has a stupendous
amount of horsepower on tap,
with the whole show metered
beautifully through the Bosch-
based electronic package.
The R1 did its best
to blend in with
the background
but fortunately it's
better as a track
bike than playing
hide and seek.
The real trick stuff: Ohlins Smart EC
2.0 electronic suspension.
