In 2008 the R1 turns 10 years! In 1998 the 150 horsepower R1 was nothing less than revolution. Whilst being more vicious than the rest, it left the 143 horsepower 1998 Kawasaki ZX-9R for dead. Honda and Suzuki were nowhere near and got caught with their pants down. It took 3 full years for the others to catch up and only Suzuki managed to keep up with the all new GSX-R1000 in 2001. Without the R1 we wouldn't have had the big Gixxer so soon. So Yamaha upped the ante and the others followed as the Japanese always do. Therefore, we believe that Yamaha will launch an all new blazing R1 in 2008. Then most likely the biggest R6 update since 2006 in 2009 when the R6 turns 10. Good times for Yamaha right now, Vmax, R-series 10 years, Rossi is winning again and the Tenere have been relaunched. Still, nothing will grab peoples imagination as much as the prospect of an all new R1. We believe that Yamaha will go for the big power again with all the technology available. The 2009 R1 should boast of at least 190hp with an improved ram-air intake and larger air box. Being Yamaha, we can expect a higher rev ceiling and to keep noise levels down and improve mass centralisation a new exhaust should be in place. We have gone for a little bit of R6, a little bit of R1 and a little bit of F1 in our 2009 R1 styling concept. More than 2 years ago we also tempted you with the prospect of a Vmax V4 sports bike concept that we called the VMR. This could be Yamaha's M1 for the street competing with Ducati's Desmosedici for people's imaginations. A flagship race bike for the roads. We shall soon see what Yamaha are up to when this autumns bike shows kick off in September... A nice 2008 Yamaha R6 film below. By Tor Sagen/CG: Luc1
2008 Yamaha R6 first roadtest vid, Yamaha celebrates R-series in 2008
This year it's 10 years since Yamaha launched the 98 R1. The first light supersport with 150 horsepower. To help Yamaha a little with the celebrations, we are currently road testing the 2008 R6. The video below shows a detailed walk around and a short onboard teaser. Enjoy! TS
2008 Yamaha XT660Z Tenere, worlds first test from Morocco!
April 8th, Tiznit - Morocco. Yamaha unleashes its comeback into the premium adventure segment with a brand new XT660Z Tenere. I was one of the very first journalists in the world to ride the new XT660Z Tenere in the Southern Atlas mountains. The new Tenere have a lot going for it and it's not just a touring prepared offroad bike. The 2008 Tenere is a true adventure motorcycle and feels just as much at home in the dunes of North Africa as on roads in the Alps. Before I reveal it all in the full test I can certify first hand that the new Tenere is fantastic offroad. Watch our first film from the world launch below. It's a walk around, but we have got plenty of onboard too both off and on road. Tor Sagen
R&R Classic: 2006 Yamaha R6 and 2008 roadtest coming...
Thousands upon thousands of you have already read the first part of the 2006 Yamaha R6 review since first published in 2006. During those two years we have "forgotten" to add the full review. Until today where the full review and the original video have been added. Now is the right time as the 2008 model is out and we shall soon commence on our roadtest of that latest incarnation of the high tech Yamaha R6. 2008 will also be a good time to pick up a bargain 2006-2007 Yamaha R6. The updated version might not justify getting a new one as the old one is still pretty much cutting edge for less money than the 08. Whilst waiting for the 2008 road test please enjoy the full 2006 review right here. TS
After speaking to various people within the Yamaha organisation we know a little bit more about what we can expect of the mighty Vmax.
Words: Tor Sagen
Good news is that Yamaha's questionnaire shows that there is no doubt what the public wants. Anything below 200 horsepower will not cut it with buyers. France was one of the great markets for the original Vmax and it was a commercial success. The new Vmax is most likely to become a 2009 model now. In France everyone still have to settle for a pitiful 100 horsepower version. Can you imagine this? Yamaha will launch its most powerful production model ever, and the French motorcyclists have to settle with less than half of that power. Read the rest here.
Scooter Porn! How to add stereo on your scooter, onboard and much more!
Oh yes, our 07 Yamaha X-Max 250ijust became that much more practical with our improvised stereo! Check it out in the first vid below. In the second vid you can see the X-Max 250i filtering onboard, burnout and more. Pure scoot porn, or Scootertastic! On Friday we swap the 250 scooter for a 1340 brutal naked so enjoy this until then... Check out the 2007 Honda SH300i as well if you are into scooters. TS
129BHP @ 14.500rpms, more Y's and C's than in kids sweets and a slipper clutch. Screw all that, we like it for its good looks alone!
2008 Yamaha YZF R125
Yeah baby, this is the R6 for 16 year olds! Looks like fun for grown ups too!
2008 Yamaha XT 660 Z Tenere-Touring
The new Tenere along with the new 250's are our favourites in the Yamaha 08 line-up! Looks like something out of Transformers, but Dakar kudos is never wrong!
2008 Yamaha WR250R
We love the fact that Yamaha had enough guts to launch two new road-250's!
2008 Yamaha WR250X Supermoto
We love the fact that Yamaha had enough guts to launch two new road-250's!
Reliable sources tell us that the Vmax now have changed fairly considerably since we first saw the concept bike in Tokyo 2005. There has been several changes and Yamaha/Star have decided to develop it further for another year, hence a 2009 model. Yamaha will still continue to show us the old 2005 concept even in Europe this year. We follow Vmax, in boost we trust!
2008 Yamaha YBR125 Custom
2008 Yamaha news-T-minus 4 days!
Here at Raptors & Rockets you will get the worlds first glimpses of the 2008 Yamaha motorcycle line-up on the 10th of September. Even more specific than that, at 15:00 GMT we will unleash what looks to be a very exciting Yamaha year..." With our strong model line-up in 2008, we fully expect to capitalise on this success, bringing the Yamaha brand values of quality, performance and innovation to a greater number of motorcycle riders." Simon Belton at Yamaha UK said. On September 28th we will see all the new models in the flesh for the first time and photograph them in Paris. As usual, you can expect Raptors & Rockets to be first to publish quality shots. All Yamaha 2008 news will be published here.
New: Yamaha video player, all our Yamaha videos!
K6 & K7 Suzuki GSX-R1000 with 2007 Yamaha R1!
We test new bikes all the time and always try to do some video at the same time. In our latest video just uploaded to Youtube we have mixed film of both the K6 and K7 Suzuki GSX-R1000 with the 2007 Yamaha R1. There are a lot of people that wants to know how different the exhaust note is etc. We have done this for you in this video. We have started out with the K7 GSX-R1000, then K6 and then the 07 R1 in cycles throughout the 4 minute film. The K6 Suzuki GSX-R1000 might just have a slightly deeper growl than the K7, but there's not much in it. If you fancy discussing this or add a comment on which bike sounds best to you then visit this link. TS
Yamaha was in so much trouble just after the world launch of the new FZ1 and FZ1 Fazer in South Africa last year. The fuel injection was criticised and one Italian journalist got killed doing a wheelie on the wrong side of the road. The launch was aborted after that tragic event. This is our take on the Yamaha FZ1 Fazer, but in full sports touring trim. Read the test here. Next: 2007 Suzuki Bandit 1250S test.
Motorcycle Olympics!
You can hitch a ride in a bob sled doing 120km/h and 5G's. Or you can ride a motorcycle doing 100km/h up and downhill. That's what Gjermund Frostad and I did anyway. We are pretty sure that we would beat even the Olympic champions uphill, but downhill we didn't stand a chance! We were surrounded by 2 metre tall walls of ice and a very narrow corridor of ice to ride through. Check out the picture gallery from this crazy event here. By: Tor Sagen Pix: D M Warmedal/DMW FotoCommentsMotorcycle v Car v Aeroplane!
2008 Yamaha Vmax confirmed for production and launch!
Yamaha have now confirmed that the Vmax will become reality shortly. The new Max will be a 2008 model and the launch will take place this Autumn. The Vmax will be offered to US and European riders first and the production will be split 50/50 from what we have been told. In the US the bike will be named Star Vmax and in Europe Yamaha Vmax. Apparently the final specs will not disappoint anyone... Read more and see more pictures of the Vmax here.
Yamaha Vmax ready for a new era-Vmaximus or Mighty Max
Since Yamaha launched the new Vmax concept in Tokyo in 2005 they have kept everyone waiting in excitement. Rarely do we see a concept model that gets us as excited as the new Vmax.
Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Yamaha, David, Luc1 & Tor Sagen
It did not help that Yamaha asked in their online survey whether we would prefer a big displacement, big horsepower muscle bike. One of the questions was whether we would want it to be 200hp+. Yes we do! The displacement is not ready yet either, but as we know that this bike will not be purely about horsepower, we expect a bigger than usual displacement too. The current engine in the concept looks like a big boy already, but there has been speculation from 1400cc to 1800cc in the new V4. Read much more with a lot of images here.
