Recently, Yamaha confirmed that it was already working on a V4 engine for MotoGP. But that isn’t the only thing the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer has been busy with—over in the US, it also unveiled the new YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M.
Style-wise, there aren’t any major changes across the board, but both models do get significant mechanical tweaks aimed at improved performance.
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Yamaha YZF-R1 2025 specs and features
The new R1 is powered by the same 998cc CP4 crossplane engine mated to a compact, stacked six-speed transmission with advanced assist and slipper clutch. It features a ride-by-wire Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) system and a variable Yamaha Chip COntrolled Intake (YCC-I) system. It comes equipped with a lightweight titanium muffler with a heat shield and 10-spoke cast magnesium wheels shod in Bridgestone RS11 tires underneath.
For 2025, the R1 gets new carbon-fiber aerodynamic winglets for added downforce when cornering or braking, a new fully adjustable 43mm KYB front fork with enhanced response and chassis performance, and a new Brembo braking system. There’s a new Brembo master cylinder and radial-mounted Brembo Stylema monobloc front calipers that promise excellent stopping power and brake feel. Yamaha also fitted the bike with a new rider and passenger seat cover that balances grip and ease of movement for better overall control.
Other standard bits you get in the R1 include lean-sensitive brake control and traction control, a three-level engine brake management system, a four-level power delivery mode, three-level launch control system, a quick-shift system with three settings, and a four-level slide control system.
Yamaha YZF-R1M 2025 specs and features
The R1’s more track-oriented sibling, the R1M, features a distinct colorway with a polished aluminum swingarm and full carbon-fiber bodywork. This one gets the same base mechanical bits as the standard R1, but performance is further improved by the addition of an Ohlins electronic racing suspension (ERS). This uses data from the bike’s inertial measurement unit (IMU) such as speed, lean angle, acceleration, and brake pressure and supplies them to the suspension control unit to adjust front and rear damping in real-time to optimize performance during braking, cornering, or acceleration.
The R1M also now comes with GPS data logging which allows riders to record data with course mapping and automatic lap timing. This is managed by GPS and can be wirelessly downloaded to your Apple or Android phone for analysis. This allows adjustments of system settings that can be uploaded back to the R1M in future track sessions.
So, readers, do you think of these two flagship supersport bikes from Yamaha should make their way to the Philippines?
More photos of the Yamaha YZF-R1 2025 and YZF-R1M 2025:
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