4:26 AM   Articles , Motorcycles

2012 Yamaha R1

    W ith sales figures plunging down for Yamaha’s flagship model, the company has finally given it a makeover and added few feature...

    With sales figures plunging down for Yamaha’s flagship model, the company has finally given it a makeover and added few features to lure in the customers. Yamaha has also launched limited edition WGP 50^th Anniversary model sporting some exclusive features over the standard model. The upgrades are not dynamic but petty but countable as Yamaha has declared that the bike would more or less remain the same for two more years after which eventually going for a major upgrade.

   The 2012 model has donned new graphics which looks stunning. The belly-pan has seen a makeover and gels well with overall styling. The front cowl has been redesigned for improved aerodynamics with a slightly higher nose than the current model on sale. The normal top yoke has been replaced with a Moto GP inspired, trendy looking one on the WGP anniversary edition and a hazard switch has also been included in the dash. The WGP 50^th anniversary R1 owners will be presented with an exclusive Ownership Certificate to authenticate their bike’s pedigree and they will also be added to the mailing list for the Yamaha ‘insider’ magazine containing the very latest factory news, racing information and interviews. The new 2012 Yamaha R1 definitely looks tastier than the current model on sale.

  We know that you are already excited about all these new upgrades and have started planning on buying it but what if we say that these above features are not the show stealer. Shocked? Or surprised?? Either way, the main highlight of this upgrade is the addition of a Six Mode Traction Control System(TCS). The 6-mode TCS boosts your confidence during mid-corner wheel spin by instantaneously adjusting the throttle opening, fuel ignition volume and ignition timing when rear wheel spin occurs, thereby reinforcing you trust on the R1’s cornering ability as well as allolws the rider to extract optimum levels of traction and control in different surface and weather conditions.

   As one of the crucial reason for the decrease in sales of the current model was very poor low and mid range torque as all the torque was concentrated in the top end resulting in poor roll-ons and more gearing by the rider thus taking out most of the fun. But Yamaha has given another pleasant upgrade to the riders by remapping the ECU for better power delivery and low and mid range torque boost thus giving the bike a new character. Even one of the first owners of the 2012 model claims that now it pulls from almost anywhere in its rev range. So riders, Rejoice!!!

  The rest of the bike remains unchanged, the engine remains untouched and the bike still easily recognizable. Yamaha has given the limited edition WGP 50^th Anniversary treatment to the R6, FZ8, R125 and the Aerox.

  The new 2012 R1 definitely looks GORGEOUS infact the word gorgeous doesn’t even begin to describe it. If you are planning to buy this beauty, get read for some serious attention.

                               -Ride Safe

Story by Ankit Williams