Back in September, Yamaha revealed a special “Race Blu” livery for a the YZF-R1, YZF-R6 and the YZF-R125 for the European market. Yamaha promoted the new color scheme with Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies sporting the colors on their leathers and M1 race bikes at the Misano and Aragon MotoGP rounds.

North American consumers were left out, however, getting a Team Yamaha Blue and White version instead for the R1 and R6 (the R125 isn’t offered here either). Not that there’s anything wrong with the Team Yamaha versions. They do however lack the Race Blu’s darker blue hue and the matching wheels. Yamaha later added a Race Blu option for the XJ6, XJ6 Diversion, FZ8 and Fazer8 for Europe.

Of those models, only the FZ8 is offered in the U.S., but only in black, meaning the Race Blu color is still not offered for the American market. That isn’t the case north of the border. Continue Reading »

Along with the announcement of the updated 2013 FJR1300A, Yamaha also announced that its naked middleweight roadster, the FZ8, has received a handful of updates for 2013.

Key among the modest improvements is revised EFI programming for smoother, snappier throttle response, and front suspension is now full adjustability.

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When Yamaha unveiled its 50th anniversary edition red and white livery for its M1 MotoGP machines in May, one question came immediately to mind: when can we get the special edition R1?

The red and white design was created to celebrate Yamaha‘s 50th year in Grand Prix racing. Yamaha factory racers Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies debuted the livery at the Assen round in June, which saw the American Spies nab his first a career MotoGP win.

According to the Britain’s MCN, Yamaha is set to reveal special editions of an updated-for-2012 Yamaha YZF-R1, a cosmetically updated YZF-R6, as well as an  FZ8 and a YZF-R125 for the U.K. market. MCN is basing this news on new (but empty) folders found on Yamaha’s press site.

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