If we were in a famous movie, someone would say “there will only be one left” commenting on the news of the next departure of the road version of one of the most iconic and striking sport bikes of the last 25 years: just like what happened in 2020 with the R6, the Yamaha YZF-R1 will be available from 2025 only for track use and no version that can exceed the Euro 5+ homologation standards will be developed or commercialized. The press release does not explicitly mention it, but we obviously believe that it refers to both the R1 and the R1M, the even more refined and competition-equipped configuration with electronically controlled suspension.
In a press release, Yamaha Racing emphasizes that the production of the motorcycle globally will not stop: a road version for Europe simply will not be produced, considering the fact that the tastes and choices of drivers are oriented towards other segments. However, the R1 continues to be developed in everything related to its suitability for track use, including the commercialization of GYTR and GYTR PRO parts, of which the wonderful R1 GYTR Pro 25th anniversary produced in a limited series is one of the highest, most refined and effective manifestations.
The R1 will remain on the market where regulations allow it, as has already happened with the other great absent in Europe, the Suzuki GSX-R 1000, with the United States leading the way, which continues to be a kind of refuge for sport bikes and where we also find many GSX-R 600 and even GSX-R 750 for sale.
The disappearance of the R1 from Yamaha’s list of European road motorcycles is – we imagine – the result of several circumstances: on one hand, the volumes of the hypersport market are increasingly limited and motorcyclists prefer Crossovers or, at most, a Hypernaked bike to have fun on curves or on the circuit, bikes that now have a performance that is not to be envied in terms of usability compared to the 1000/1100 cc sports bikes which, on the contrary, have become increasingly difficult to ride on the road where they cannot express their qualities. An important update, the Euro 5+, is therefore little justified from the point of view of the investment required to achieve it and, therefore, to the great disappointment of the fans, the R1 remains from 2025 confined to the race tracks, even those of the World Superbike Championship where the R1 won the title in 2021.
