The Yamaha R1 Is Going Away
Yamaha Racing’s latest statement doesn’t ease any concerns about the R1’s future
The rumor mill has been going crazy lately with word that the Yamaha R1 won’t get Euro5+ homologation, effectively spelling the end of the Tuning Fork’s liter-class superbike. In response, Yamaha has sent out a press release stating the company’s continued commitment to racing the R1 – while simultaneously raising doubt about the road version’s future.
In the press release, which is posted in full below, Yamaha stated it will continue developing the R1, as it understands it is a popular, and relatively affordable, platform to go racing at everything from the amateur level all the way up to World Superbike. It’s important to note, too, that the R1’s homologation eligibility is good up to 2028, so if a replacement model is in the works, don’t expect to see it until around that time – unless an extension is granted.
However, the ominous portion of the statement then goes on to say, “... from 2025, considering the challenge of meeting the Euro5+ homologation requirements, in Europe the R1 will be made available with specifications aimed exclusively at track use, as was done previously with the R6.”
If you remember, Yamaha discontinued the R6 after the 2020 model year, also because of Euro5 emission compliance, choosing instead to make the bike available as a track-only model. While sad, with declining supersport sales, we could see the reason behind axing the R6. Now it seems like the R1 is heading down the same path. At least as far as being able to buy a new one for the roads is concerned. It’s important to note, however, that the R1’s availability as a track-only motorcycle starting in 2025 applies only in the European market. In America, the R1 will continue to be for sale in dealerships, as it always has, in 2025. Beyond that? Who knows.
Like the track-only R6, Yamaha has “invested heavily” in a wide range of GYTR accessories for the R1 to make it competitive in both national and international competitions. Now it seems like Yamaha is trying to get the best of both worlds by alleviating the need to make the bike meet stricter emissions standards while still being able to make somewhat of a profit from the R1 at the same time.
Then again, this statement is far from a definitive path forward for Yamaha’s street-legal sportbikes. It seems unlikely that Yamaha’s pulling out of the sportbike game altogether considering its involvement in World Superbike and MotoGP, so maybe an updated R1 is in the works after all? We’re still waiting on the highly anticipated – though never publicly confirmed – R9 to take the R6’s place. Could a big bore Triple be in the works to replace the R1? It’s all conjecture at this point, but we’ll post updates when we know more.
The full press release is below:
Yamaha R1: Past, Present and Future Race Winning Package
Yamaha remains fully committed to racing the R1 in the premier production race classes worldwide, including the FIM Superbike and Endurance World Championships. This commitment also extends to supporting teams and customers who race Yamaha’s flagship Supersport model or utilise it as the ultimate track tool.
Global production of the R1 will continue in the future, as will the development program that has seen the bike secure world titles in both WorldSBK and EWC. While the requirements of Yamaha’s customers have evolved in recent years, the R1 remains a popular choice for teams looking to secure a competitive and cost-effective race package and for individuals focused on enhancing their track experience. This is why from 2025, considering the challenge of meeting the Euro5+ homologation requirements, in Europe the R1 will be made available with specifications aimed exclusively at track use, as was done previously with the R6.
This is why Yamaha has invested heavily in making available to customers a range of GYTR performance parts for the R1, leveraging the experience of the same engineers responsible for the development of the R1 WorldSBK campaigned this year by six-time Superbike World Champion, Jonathan Rea. This project culminated last year in the launch of the R1 GYTR PRO 25th Anniversary Limited Edition and an extended range of race-developed GYTR PRO performance parts for the R1. In the past three years, additional investment has seen Yamaha establish an extensive network of GYTR PRO Shops across Europe, designed to share the knowledge and experience gained in racing the R1 at the very highest level with customers.
The R1 is a proven race-winning package, and Yamaha is committed to ensuring that it remains so for the foreseeable future, both in national and international competition.
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Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.
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Why dont they just sell it here in the U.S. and not sell it in the Europe? U.S. doesnt comply with Euro 5 anyways. Technically the U.S. can still sell the R6 as a street legal bike if since they dont comply with Euro 5. Is there something I'm not undertanding???
I feel like the entire planet would be much better off without Europe...
Euro 5 trash kills another legend.