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Yamaha's third-generation YZF-R1 is a proven race winner, powering Noriyuki Haga to several race wins in the 2005 Superbike World Championship and taking the Yamaha GMT94 team to the 2004 endurance world title. Even in virtually standard form the R1 has proved the bike to beat, dominating the European/FIM superstock championships in both 2004 and 2005.
Big 1224
Giant Screensavers:
Norick Abe R1 2005 World Superbike
Noriyuki Haga R1 2005 World
Superbike
3rd
Generation 2004-2005, 4th Generation 2006-2007
2004-2005 Yamaha R1 Performance Tuning by
Jim Gianatsis
With technology taken from Yamaha's race winning YZR-M1 MotoGP machine,
no-one can doubt the all-new 3rd generation 2004 model YZF-R1's racing
pedigree. Combining a new high performance five-valve fuel-injected
engine with razor sharp handling and low weight. The R1 was expected
to be a favorite among Superstock and Superbike riders throughout the
world. It proved it at the opening race of the 2004 season in America
at Daytona in the 1000cc Superstock class where Aaron Gobert and Graves
Yamaha team mate Jamie Hacking placed 1-2 on their factory supported
R1s just ahead of the equally competitive new Kawasaki ZX-10Rs. Throughout
the race the R1s posted the same lap times and 190mph top speed on the
banking as the fully modified factory Honda CBR1000RR and Suzuki GSXR1000
machines in the Superbike class.
Not too shabby
for "a stock R1" with just a racing exhaust system, a computer
remap, and an Ohlins rear shock. And what it pretty much means is the
new 2004 genertion of 1000cc in-line 4 production superbikes have reached
the limit of performance based on available tire traction and current
race tracks in America.
Many race regulations,
particularly those of the Superstock class, do not allow many of the
main components of the machine to be changed from standard. The 2 most
significant componets you can change, and should change for both the
track and spirited street performance are the rear shock and the exhaust
system.
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Clockwise
from top right:
Noriyuki Haga's factory R1 Superbike gets a lightweight digital
tach with analog and digital display, plus water teemperature
readout. Above it is the shift light.
Quick
ratio push/pull hand throttle comes with the race kit.
The
factory distributor Yamaha World Superikes are all running Akrapovic
Exhaust Systems. Akrapovic systems are the most expensive exhaust
systems on the market, but the best. A Graves Full Racing System
is also very good. A plug-in Dyno Jet Power Commander module is
the easiest and most cost effective way to adjust the fuel mixture
to match the pipe if you are just riding on the street, or production
class racing. If you have the budget, then spring for the factory
Yamaha ignition system and wiring harness.
Ohlins
Racing Piggyback forks cost about $9,000 and are out of a privsateer's
budget. Your most important suspension upgrade should be an Ohlin's
Rear shock for about $1,000. if you need better forks, the normal
production Ohlins forks for about $3,000 are good enough. Exotic
Brembo Racing brakes grabe new wave style floating brake rotors.
Just a change to plain carbon steel rotors with better race pads
will be fine for street and production clas racing. |
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The standard in
racing for the best rear shock to use is an Ohlins, both for its proven
design performance in World Superbike and MotoGP, the fact you can order
it already tested and valved for your bike, and there is usually an
experienced Ohlins shock technician at ever major race to help you fine
tune or rebuild the Ohlins if needed. There are similar other top performance
rear shocks on the market from Fox Racing, Penske and White Power to
name the most well known. But they may not be fully experienced in testing
and racing with your particular bike, and technicalsupport at the race
track may not be as readily available. If you have to diagnois your
own handling problems at the track (most riders get it wrong) and then
send in your shock to the factory for a 2 week revalve, you're pretty
much spinning your wheels....
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When
it comes to choosing a racing exhaust system, once again my rule
of them is to buy what the factory teams run, that way you know
you are getting a system that was dyno built and test for your
particular bike to produce the best possible power and range.
For a Yamaha R1 that means a Graves Motorsports Exhaust System
or an Akrapovic. And you need to get their high-end titanium hi-zoot
system to be assured it is their real race system and not a lower
priced, lower performance version for street posers.
If you are
on a budget and just want to go with slip-on straight-through
race silencers to replace the stock OEM mufflers, then pretty
much any brand of aftermarket silencers that tickles your fancy
for looking cool will do. They'll reduce weight compared with
the stock mufflers, and they should provide a slight power increase,
particular with a performance remapped ignition.
Left: The
Graves Titanium Race Systm for the 2004 R1 is priced around $1400.
Akrapovic uses morea variable diameter tapered front headers with
crossover balance tubes for even better power, but costs even
more. |
Once again, any
modifcation you make to any production bike's exhaust system including
the R1 will save weight to improve handling and performance, and look
cool, but the bike will probably run worse and make less power until
you adjust the fuel metering to match the modifications to the exhaust
system and other engine modifications. Yamaha offeres a revised Engine
Control Unit (ECU) in their Race Engine Kit, and you can buy lower cost
adjustable ECU units from companies like DynoJet. Don't modify your
exhaust system without recalibrating the fuel injection system to compensate
for the higher flowing exhaust.
Normally the Kit
components are not available separately, so if you are just interested
in a 520 Chain Kit or better grip / higher iron content Brake Rotors,
than you should go to aftermarket companies like AFAM or Braking.
The narrower thickness
cylinder base and head gaskets in the Kits allow you to increase engine
compression with the use of higher octane race gas for more power. You
will need to use the narrower gaskets or higher compression pistons
with the optional race cams. The gaskets should be available separately
in the Maintaince Set as they are normal replacement items.
All of the factory
Yamaha Kit Parts for the R1 and R6 listed below can only be ordered
through a European Yamaha Distributor or dealer. They are not available
through Yamaha USA. You can find a detailed listing, pictures and parts
numbers of thes Yamaha Racing parts, along with European Distributor
contact information on the Yamaha-Racing.com website at: http://www.yamaha-racing.com
R1
Optional Chassis Kit
# Chassis protector
# Front fork spring set
# Front disc assembly
# Rear sprocket for 520 size chain
# - For use with standard wheel Trottle set
# - Smaller operation angle than standard Footrest set
# - Changable shift pattern and 3 foot position Front stay set
# - Simplified stay for instruments and screen Front wheel attachment
set
# - For endurance racing Rear arm attachment set
# - To install race wheel in standard rear arm Rear wheel attachment
set |
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R1
Stage 1 Engine Parts
# Cylinder head gasket
- Thickness = 0.35mm
# Cylinder base gasket
- Thickness = 0.15mm
# Clutch boss
# Head and tail light harness set
- For endurance racing
# Sub radiator set
- Increases cooling capacity
# Drive sprocket
- For 520 chain
# Drive sprocket nuts
# Maintenance set
# Variation gears - Not available yet
- Alternative ratios for first, second and third gear
# Pistons
- To be confirmed
# Intake and exhaust valves |
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R1
Stage 2 Engine parts
# Spark plug set
# Cylinder head gasket
- Thickness = 0.30mm
# Cylinder base gasket
- Thickness = 0.10mm
# Inlet & Exhaust camshaft
- Modified duration
# Bellmouth set
# AIS plug set
- To remove AIS
# Wire harness set
- For sprint races
# Clutch spring set
- Increased pressure
# ACM rotor
- Smaller rotor than standard
# Engine Control Unit (ECU)
- Revised fuel injection mapping
# 2004 YZF-R1 Kit manual and CD-Rom - 5 Languages |
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Below:
Yamaha R1 Supersport
Clicker
for a bigger view and Screesaver of this factory 2004-2005 Yamaha
R1 Supersport Class bike.
As you can see this is basicly a stock bike with a full race exhaust system, 520 sprocket and chain kit.
 Click
for a bigeger view and screensaver.
2006-2007 4th Generation Yamaha R1 • Paddock
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