The green weenies in Europe are on my shit list. Due to the Euro5 regs Yamaha is looking like they will end production of one of THE most iconic high performance street motorcycles in existence the YZF-R1 and R1-M race replica.

F European politicians.



Link to Visor Down Article.

YAMAHA R1 AND R1 M SET TO BE AXED

Production of Yamaha’s iconic R1 road-going sport bike will be stopped, leaving a gaping hole in the UK market, and possibly racing grids

Visordown has received clarification on rumours that the R1 and R1M road models are set to end. Sadly that means that for road bikes at least, no EU5+ for either of the models will be produced.

The move will mean Yamaha would follow Suzuki into a 1,000cc sport bike-less future since Suzuki discontinued the GSX-R1000R at the end of 2022.

The official comment from Yamaha UK reads:

‘Yamaha Motor Group, have taken the decision not to develop an EU5+ version of the R1 or R1M instead focussing on other mid-term business and product strategies that will provide future opportunities.’

Shocking as the news is, it’s not a huge surprise to hear, and what we could be seeing is manufacturers moving away from premium, high-value but low-volume bikes, and investing in higher volume areas of the market. And while this does sound like the axe is about to fall on the model, it won't be for a little while yet.

For existing models, the cut-off for the sale of non-Euro5+ compliant bikes will be 2025. Euro6, meanwhile, isn't expected to arrive until much later in the decade

What could a future without the Yamaha R1 look like?

There is a lifeline to the R1, but it might not be the one most riders will be looking for. In 2023 Yamaha discontinued the R6 as a road-going bike, and instead sold it only in racing trim and therefore devoid of indicators, a number plate and all the other homologation equipment needed to ride on the road. Repeating this with the R1 would at least mean the model could live on, albeit as a track-only and racing machine - as race bikes are not currently constrained by Euro emissions regulations.

There is another element to this though, and it revolves around the shifting sport bike market segment. People aren’t buying litre sports bikes in the droves they once were, and with lightweight (and more affordable) sub-litre bikes coming to the fore, the Iwata brand could be prepping its long-awaited Yamaha R9 for its big reveal.

Yamaha has already discontinued the R1 in India, although sales of litre sport bikes there are a drop in the ocean compared to small bike sales - and probably even smaller again than in the UK and Europe.

What are the regulations, emissions, speed, engine size?

Since the market is shrinking that's probably driving it as well, insurance rates and cost of the bikes is a big problem for younger buyers, which are the larger group buying sport bikes.

One of the reasons HD/Buell didn't work is higher cost of entry and insurance costs.

You can put a $5000 sport bike on your credit card and in many states not have to buy insurance since you don't have a valid lien on the bike, it's done all the time.

Sad, and we're right behind them here.

It's the "green" thinking of the Euro populous who elect those politicians that are pushing for ever stricter emissions and eventually to do away with ICE.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
What are the regulations, emissions, speed, engine size?

Since the market is shrinking that's probably driving it as well, insurance rates and cost of the bikes is a big problem for younger buyers, which are the larger group buying sport bikes.

One of the reasons HD/Buell didn't work is higher cost of entry and insurance costs.

You can put a $5000 sport bike on your credit card and in many states not have to buy insurance since you don't have a valid lien on the bike, it's done all the time.

The regulations are focused on emissions. Its silly and infuriating when you think about the impact of 1000cc bikes which make up a VERY SMALL percentage of vehicles on the road and then compare it to the emissions of the private jets politicians love to fly around on.

Why aren’t they sacrificing something they love for the environment? FN hypocrites!

In 1998, insurance on my 1998 ZX-9R was going to be $5,000 a year. For fun, I asked what insurance on a Ducati 916 would be and they said $600 a year. If I hadn’t already bought the ZX-9R for $10,000 OTD, I’d have seriously considered the 916. I’ve never had insurance on the ZX-9R in the 26 years I’ve owned it.

1998 is the year the R1 came out. I’ll never forget doing 135 on my lowly SV650 in turn 1 at Brainerd and briefly getting sucked into the draft of three R1s doing 180. Only time my SV650 has bounced of the rev limiter in 6th. All I could think was holy shit those guys are fast.

Trapper,

If you ever find your way to central NC shoot me an email. I have a first gen R1 (1999) and a first gen SV650 along with a SV1000.

We finally got a warm day here so I rolled them out today to stretch their legs after a long winter rest.

Why do Eurotrash hate freedom?

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
Sad, and we're right behind them here.

It's the "green" thinking of the Euro populous who elect those politicians that are pushing for ever stricter emissions and eventually to do away with ICE.

Has there been discussion of that here in the states?

No need to 6 guns. The eurotrash is leading the way and making such legislation here unnecessary.

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:

Has there been discussion of that here in the states?

I believe it's constantly being discussed. The ultimate goal for a quite a number of people in high ranking positions of influence, is to completely do away with carbon emission. Implementing ever stricter emission tiers that manufacturers must comply with are their focus. Each new level or tier that very slightly lower tail pipe emissions, is increasingly expensive, difficult to accomplish, and reduces the desirability of the carbon emitting product to consumers. Pretty soon ICE products will be so undesirable and expensive that consumers will have to change to battery ones, even with their short comings. Nothing is exempt.
Anyone interested in a small tractor probably should buy it sooner rather than later.

"EPA announces new air quality standards for particulate matter, citing health risks.​"
"Tier V emission standards soon for new diesel engine tractors? DPF exemption for <25-horsepower diesel engine tractors to expire?"

quote:

Originally posted by kz1000:
Why do Eurotrash hate freedom?

How many people here applauded the EU when they made everybody in the whole world use USB-C as their cellphone connector, essentially FOREVER!?

That’s the thing about freedom. You have to support it in all cases. Now we have the EU killing off something we like, so suddenly we don’t like it. The power shouldn’t exist to do this effective worldwide ban on these bikes. Existing ones will become very valuable, I would think.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
Trapper,

If you ever find your way to central NC shoot me an email. I have a first gen R1 (1999) and a first gen SV650 along with a SV1000.

We finally got a warm day here so I rolled them out today to stretch their legs after a long winter rest.

I will. I quit riding when my garage was broken into and all of my riding gear was stolen. My now 17yo son wasn’t even a year old and buying all new gear wasn’t a priority. Four more years, the other two will be off to college as well, and I’m going to start riding again. The Tail of the Dragon beckons me. That and riding US41 from Copper Harbor to Miami Beach.

Eu is now banning all chrome.

https://www.webbikeworld.com/e...ing-chrome-for-2024/

What is so infuriating is they are just going to offshore production to China and India so it’s not like Chrome parts will not be manufactured anymore, it just won’t be in their backyard.

Europe is really pissing me off lately.

quote:

Originally posted by rainman64:
Eu is now banning all chrome.

https://www.webbikeworld.com/e...ing-chrome-for-2024/

No they don't.The ruling in EuroLex 1907/2011 REACH is not about Chrome, itś about Chrome-(VI)-oxide, which is not the same. It resticts VOC for free particels if used in products or in application process.

Okay OTD

But Still
Existing machines are safe for the time being, though any change of color to a vehicle must still be reported to the Direccion General de Trafico (DGT) and insurance providers “to comply with regulations and insurance policies.”

the ban, by the way, also floats over newer machines like Triumph’s Chrome Collection, Norton’s V4SS, and a slew of Harleys( including the 2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide® Special).

And this is only the beginning.
Do you think this is where it will end?

quote:

Originally posted by rainman64:
Okay OTD

But Still
Existing machines are safe for the time being, though any change of color to a vehicle must still be reported to the Direccion General de Trafico (DGT) and insurance providers “to comply with regulations and insurance policies.”

And this is only the beginning.
Do you think this is where it will end?

DGT is the Spanish transport authority. They have nothing to do with the EU regulation of chromium (IV) oxide. The same applies to their national road traffic regulations and the Spanish insurance law. It's national law, not an EU regulation. The linked article on EuroWeeklyNews is nonsense when a Spanish legislation on traffic is put in context with a European regulation on hazardous substances.

Ah got ya!
Thats what I get for trusting the source!