2025 Yamaha R1 Race and GYTR track-only models released
It’s nearly four years now since Yamaha ended production of its sweet R6 supersports bike for the road, selling it as a non-homologated track-only machine. And now the Yamaha R1 has sadly gone the same way, with the 999cc superbike restricted to a competition or trackday purchase.
2025 Yamaha R1
In the same way as a full-on motocross bike, the 2025 R1 isn’t road legal, and comes without any road parts at all: no headlights, turn signals or pillion pegs. Perhaps weirdly though, it retains the ABS system, and what looks like a road-going exhaust, with underslung silencer box and catalysts.
2025 Yamaha R1
Ironically, the bike also features a sweet new spec, with carbon fibre aerodynamic winglets for the first time, upgraded Brembo Stylema brake calipers with Brembo master cylinder, a new redesigned KYB front fork, and a light magnesium rear wheel.
If it was in homologated roadbike form, it would be the sweetest R1 ever – and it’s surely only a matter of time before someone bolts on all this new kit onto a 2024 road-legal bike.
2025 Yamaha R1
Yamaha’s also released a higher-spec GYTR version of the R1 Race, loaded with more track-ready kit, including an Akrapovic race exhaust, race bodywork, clip-ons and rearsets, Brembo Z04 race brake pads, ABS eliminator, keyless ignition switch and a 520 racing chain and sprockets.
It’s built to FIM Superstock regs, so is basically ready to race, with a <100dB silencer that will help on some trackdays (it will not help at all on a lot of them though – don’t expect to get out on a quiet day on one of these!)
2025 Yamaha R1
Both bikes will be on sale in November 2024, prices are tbc, but the old road R1 was around £18,500 and the R1 GYTR from 2023 cost £26,500, so that will presumably be the ballpark. More info: www.yamaha-motor.eu
