Yamaha confirms 2015 YZF-R1 in latest teaser

Yamaha has released the second instalment of its teaser series, which officially confirms that the next-generation YZF-R1 will be unveiled at the next month’s EICMA Show in Milan, Italy. The video, titled ‘Nothing stays the same’ hints at a radically different motorcycle, which would take the battle of superbikes to a whole new level. 

The video shows a few track riding shots of the motorcycle, with Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Josh Hayes vouching for the motorcycle’s capability. The video also previews the new colour digital instrument panel with acronyms for traction control, stability control and launch control. 

While earlier speculations suggested that the new R1 will be powered by an updated version of the four-cylinder crossplane crank engine from the current R1, the audio in the new teaser hints that Yamaha might have chosen a conventional engine construction. 

Like Kawasaki, Yamaha will launch the new R1 in two versions - a standard road-going version and a full-blown track machine. The latter of the two is expected to produce more than 230bhp and sport electronic suspension and track-specified traction control. 

By revealing details through teasers, Yamaha seems to have taken a leaf out of Kawasaki’s books which is also planning to unveil a new road-going version of the Ninja H2, next month. At the 2014 EICMA Show, both the Japanese manufacturers will try to woo the crowds with their hypersport motorcycles, though it seems like the Ninja H2, with its supercharged engine, will have an easy win in the horsepower race.