Cool video explaining the cross plain crankshaft in the new R1.
 

Fucking sweet. Maybe I'll be able to afford an R6 by the time this filters down.

That's what I'm saying.

Because of this major redesign, I'd be a lot more skeptical to by the intro year's model. I wonder how much of a difference it makes though. I wonder who's gonna give us the first review. There goes Yamaha, breaking the barriers again.

Seems like such a simple solution but it's genius. Rossi pioneered it in his first few years on the M1. Slightly less total engine performance but the feel and grip is hugely improved.
It's factory so it will be used in factory racing series next year, might be a real advantage.
link.

This bike just got a lot more appealing. Any ideas when its hitting dealers yet?

official launch video with Colin Edwards commentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj8pwSE77CM

I came.

January '09. It does sound very appealing. Watch how many copy 'em now.

if it eats every bike up, i see honda 1st, then kawi and suz, since they usually make more power anyway, so they mite hold off just a bit longer
every1 copys evry1 tho. yammi has suzis adjustable map switch now

I shut this vid down about 45 seconds in. I was bored with it.

It states that the new R1 is better than any Buell with ever be.


Got 'em!

It's awseome technology. But is the "average" street rider even going to notice or be able to take advantage of it? I would say 85% of the riders out there on any liter bike don't use the bike to near it's full potential.

Shit for a company that made a bike like this it's no surprise.

Supposedly there has always been an issue with the R1's midrange. Maybe it'll be a noticeable difference.

WTF...Hahahahahaha.

Possible. With the regular R1 though, the midrange issue is easy enough to work around. Add a good air filter, power commander, and velocity stacks, and that helps quite abit with the midrange.

Shit, you guys are funny motherfuckers.

I've had that pic for a while, just waiting for a chance to bust it out. :lol:

Or redesign the crank, haha.

couldnt do stacks after lik 05 cause of the ycc-i system. Id also like to point out that this isint the first big bang bike to market as the rsv mille has had that distinction for a while. Anyway it'll be interesting to see what zuk does now. If its a gsv-r 1000 i might consider switching to the darkside lol

Also, with all the big bang talk going on i suppose its worth mentioning that kawi is leaning towards a return to even firing orders testing their zx-rr with a ''screamer'' engine sacrificing some tractability for all out power could be advantage with the 800cc restriction

HP and torque has never been a problem for Kawi, it's being able to use it.

Buick had an odd-fire V6 in 1975.

The early R1's, with the long-stroke engine, had no problem with low and mid-range torque. Not until the Gixxer 1000 came out in 2001 did anyone beat it. Even in 2002, it beat the Honda, Kawi, and Suzuki liter bikes up to 5K, where the GSXR1000 surged ahead. I would buy a 1998 R1 (if I could find one in good condition) and mod the suspension and handlebar, before I'd buy a new R1. Plus, the 98 looks way nicer.

If money wasn't an option, you'd still buy the '98? You're fucking crazy.

a better explanation is that the big bang motor pairs firing pulses so the rear tire gets a teeny tiny break while a standard screamer hammers it constantly.

I wonder why Yamaha didn't put that in their release then? "Basically, it gives the rear tire a teeny, tiny break."

they also could have said "hey its half a v8 now!"

point is, a tire can only give 100% of traction at a time. be it in accel, side, or braking. a reduction in the affect of acceleration on traction would make for a slight advantage and explaining it like that would be admiting its not gonna do much for us everyday joes except cut some potential top end :dthumb: kinda smart move on their part saying it like this.

im rather curious how they got past the requirement for heavy balancing inherent in the crossplane design and also if it will rev at a similar speed to its screamer rivals