Cameron Beaubier led a parade of Yamaha YZF-R6 racebikes to win the 72nd running of the famed Daytona 200. The Yamaha Extended Service Graves Yamaha rider started from pole position and led for 50 of 57 laps before winning by a 22.254-second margin.

Behind Beaubier were four other R6 riders including his teammate Garret Gerloff who finished second. The Y.E.S. riders were followed by Bobby Fong of Triple Crown /RMR, and the RoadRace Factory team’s Jake Gagne and JD Beach. The five Yamaha riders were also the only five to finish on the lead lap.

The race was clean of the red flags that were common in recent runnings of the Daytona 200, but it also lacked the dramatic 0.048-second victory by Joey Pascarella in last year’s race. The 2013 race did produce some noteworthy results however. Continue Reading »

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 »

We reported earlier today Yamaha Motor USA unveiled new colors and graphics for its 2013 YZF-R1 and YZF-R6. Mechanically unchanged from last year’s models, Yamaha‘s two sportbikes each get three color options including a “Team Yamaha” blue and white model.

What Yamaha isn’t offering to its U.S. customers is a new “Race-Blu” livery, introduced today at Misano for the upcoming MotoGP round. Yamaha factory racers Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies will race this weekend wearing the Race-Blu livery on their leathers and on their YZR-M1 racebikes.

The Aldo Drudi-designed two-tone blue and matte gray color will also be offered on European versions of the R1, the R6 and the entry-level YZF-R125. These three models are just the beginning however. Yamaha says the Race-Blu series will be an integral part of Yamaha’s lineup for future model years as well. Continue Reading »

Those of you hoping for an updated Yamaha YZF-R6 will have to wait for at least another year, as Yamaha announced the 599cc sportbike is returning for 2013 unchanged except for new colors and graphics.

Yamaha last updated the R6 in 2008, equipping it with the company’s Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-T) variable-length intake system. The lack of any significant updates to the 2013 R6 must be disappointing to Yamaha fans, especially as the color updates were announced the same day Kawasaki is expected to reveal a new 636cc ZX-6R.

The 2013 color options are Matte Gray and Rapid Red with Pearl White, both for $10,990, as well as a Team Yamaha Blue and White version for $11,190. Expect the 2013 Yamaha R6 to arrive in dealerships in October. Check after the jump for a full gallery of images. Continue Reading »

Motorcycle racers recognize they compete in a dangerous sport, risking serious harm in a crash. Of course, all riders know about the risks, whether they’re on a race track or on the street. Still it seems odd to hear Daytona Sportbike racer Cameron Beaubier broke his knee cap and injured his wrist crashing a 50cc scooter on the street.

Beaubier may ride a Yamaha YZF-R6 on the track but the accident occurred when the Graves Yamaha racer clipped an unseen hazard on the road while riding his Yamaha Zuma 50 scooter.Doctors inserted screws and wires into Beaubier’s knee to hold the broken patella in place. Beaubier’s wrist was injured but did not require surgery. Continue Reading »

Chaz Davies has captured the 2011 Supersport World Championship, completing a triumphant return to the series for Yamaha.

Davies, the 2008 Daytona 200 winner, finished the Magny-Cours round in sixth place, giving him an insurmountable 35-point lead over Hannspree Ten Kate Honda‘s Fabien Foret with one race remaining.

The championship comes in Yamaha‘s return from a one-year absence from the series. Yamaha withdrew from World Supersport competition after winning the 2009 title but returned this year. The one-year hiatus did not appear to be a problem for Yamaha or the YZF-R6.

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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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Alright, maybe this isn’t for everyone, but I thought it was obscure enough to warrant some interest to any motorcyclist.

TEZZMIN, a senior member over at the R6MessageNet forums, has posted a nice How-To on removing an ’03-’04 Yamaha R6 ‘s Air Induction System.

What does the AIS do?

“AIS takes clean air from the air box where it is distributed and pulled (under vacuum) past the reed valves and in to the exhaust port where it mixes with
the unburned fuel and ignites @ 1200 degrees it in the exhaust header. ” (quote by 04UpInFlames). Well said.

If you get allot of deceleration popping with a slip on or full system this removed will help reduce it. The AIS helps the bike put out “cleaner” emissions. That’s why a “racer” would have no need for it and if you get a after market pipe some choose to remove it.

Did you get all that?

Even if you don’t own a 2003-2004 Yamaha R6, it’s interesting to see how it’s done.  hit the jump for more pics.  Head to the thread to see the details and see the 11 pages of posts that followed.

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