2009 Yamaha R1 on the way

This is shaping up to be a big year for Yamaha, not only is Valentino Rossi back on form, but they’re launching the new V-Max—at 210bhp the most powerful series production motorcycle ever—next week, which should soon be followed by the all-new 2009 R1.

A perrenial also-ran since the stunning 2002 version (itself not the year’s best performer), the R1 has evolved from a hardcore, high-performance, experts only superbike into a friendly almost-sports-tourer, at least in comparison to other bikes in the liter class.
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