Yamaha: New & Improved
YAMAHA: NEW & IMPROVED
ROUNDUP
OH, THE GOOD FORTUNE that has been heaped upon Yamaha's YZF-R1. Not only did it garner Best Superbike honors in CW's 1998 Ten Best Bikes voting and an Honorable Mention in '99, but dealers can't seem to keep them in their showrooms. With that in mind, you'd think the manufacturer would leave well enough alone. Why mess with such success? Well spank my ass and call me Charlie, because that's exactly what Yamaha has done. "South Park" banter aside, the already-spirited R1 has been subject to more than 400-yes, 400-changes.
While hundreds of modifications may seem a bit over the top, Yamaha doesn’t see it that way. Explains a spokesman: “Yamaha has used the R1 platform as an image leader, something that shows style, function and form. And we didn’t want
to say, ‘Okay, here’s an R1 and it’s leading the pack right now, so we’re going to leave it alone.’ We wanted to learn from what we did with the R6 and R7, and incorporate that into the R1.”
Most noticeable are the aesthetics. The fairing, fuel tank and mirrors were reshaped for a sharper look and better aerodynamics. Unfortunately for current owners, none of the nasty new bodywork retrofits.
And then there’s what you don’t see: Yamaha shaved weight wherever possible.
In fact, the bike went from a claimed 390 pounds to 385, despite the addition of an EPA-pleasing air-injection
system. Results of the bike’s diet can be found in all sorts of places, such as the front and rear suspension, which use lighter internals. Ditto the triple-disc brakes. And in the
998cc inline-Four, which now employs magnesium crankcase covers and an R6-style camshaft-lubrication system.
Also skinnied-up is the sixspeed gearbox, whose shift shaft and linkage were tweaked for smoother shifting. Not to mention the titanium muffler, which is 2.2 pounds lighter than its aluminum predecessor. But dig this: A year and several hundred mods later, the R1 ’s $ 10,199 price tag remains the same.
Having properly revitalized its top-of-the-line sportbike, Yamaha turned its corporate attention to cruisers. Says the spokesman, “We wanted the largest family of cruisers, starting with the V-Star Custom and
Classic in the 650 category, and going up to the 1100.”
Enter the newest V-Starthe 1100 Classic.
Like the smaller 650 iteration, this one is all about cosmetics.
It may have started life as an original V-Star 1100, but the elegant-looking Classic incorporates floorboards with a heel-toe shifter, roomier rider and passenger accommodations, and restyled front and rear fenders. Sticker price is a low $7999, only $ 100 more than
the standard V-Star 1100.
Sticking with this $ 100-overbase theme, Yamaha pays homage to the millennium with two limited-edition models: the $16,099 Royal Star Venture MM and the $10,599 Road Star MM. Only 1500 of each will be produced, and only for the U.S. market. Incidentally, “MM” is
the Roman numeral for 2000, and doesn’t stand for Millennium Model. Get it right.
Both bikes are surgically enhanced versions of the originals; as such, they’re available in special paint schemes, and come with serial-number plates and oversized, decorated mascot keys. Both are also bejeweled with MM logos and emblems.
Meanwhile, back at the Yamaranch, all existing models return for ’00 except for the long-lived (until now) FZR600. Furthermore, the new lineup sees no price increases. So, we have a revamped superbike, an upgraded cruiser and two limited-edition models, but no extra buckage. There are worse ways to start a millennium...
Wendy F. Black
