The New R1 is all that and then some!

Yamaha has released their new R1 to the public and it is being met with open arms.

The credicts have hailed this bike to be everything the R1 world has asked for and then some. It\'s new GP trickled down tech has pushed the new R1 to the top of everyone\'s wish list. MSN reportely pitted it against last years "Bike of the Year" and it beat it down, hands down.

The really good news: We have one :).

You might not yet know what a cross-plane crankshaft is, but you will. It’s a link to Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP bike, and it’s the biggest advancement in literbike engine design in years.

This new crankshaft arrangement is part of Yamaha’s latest YZF-R1, a literbike we tested last week at the Eastern Creek circuit in Australia, and it’s a design not seen in any previous production motorcycle.

The 998cc engine’s distinct sound is the obvious clue that it’s something special - it’s akin to a V-Four with a deep, purposeful note that seems a little bit angry. But it’s in the way the motor generates power that sets it apart from its competition. Gone is the peaky powerband of the previous motor, and in its place is the most tractable four-cylinder literbike yet built.

Yamaha’s 2009 R1 is ready to do battle against any of its literbike rivals.

The newly enhanced midrange is welcome, but more than that is the feel of a direct connection between the throttle and rear tire. In most literbikes, a rider is acutely aware of the possibility of being high-sided to the moon if the throttle is applied injudiciously. With the R1, even a moderately skilled rider can safely drift the rear tire on corner exits.