Motorcycle.com has unearthed documents from the California Air Resource Board that seem to indicate another version of the Yamaha R1 will be introduced soon.
For 2015, Yamaha has already unveiled a new R1 and R1M. The CARB documents hint that we’ll see another version soon, an R1S. In theory, this will be a budget-priced version of the superbike.
CARB has three different R1 models coming into California in 2016. The existing R1 and R1M are on the books, and there’s also a new model, the R1S, that’s mysteriously listed as a “YZF-R1 Basic Cal Model.” Does that mean the R1S will be California-only? That’s hard to see.
From the look of the CARB document, it appears the R1S will have the same basic anti-pollution equipment as the R1M and R1, meaning the powerplant is likely basically the same. So where would the savings come from? What would make this a “basic model”? Perhaps we can expect cheaper suspension and paint?
As Motorcycle.com points out, Yamaha filed a trademark for the R1S name back in 2014, but of course we haven’t seen it released yet.
[…] Two months ago, government documents indicated Yamaha was planning to introduce a new, more affordable R1. Now, we know what that bike will look like. […]
It would be a naked version of course. Just like all the other manufacturers.
I don’t think so, but that would be bonkers – a non-detuned R1 naked?
A lower-spec R1 would be a nice option because a $19,000 Jap bike is a tough sell