The 2009 R1 was introduced this year with much fanfare as it brings technology from our World Championship MotoGP machines straight to you. From the unique exhaust note and power character of the cross plane crankshaft engine to the new front and rear suspension the R1 is a completely new kind of Sportbike.

Motorcyclist Magazine’s Motorcycle of the year Award is the one of the most prestigious awards in the business and we are pleased that they have chosen the new R1 as their 2009 MOTY.

Here is what they had to say………..

“The crossplane engine feels, sounds and accelerates so different than any other inline-four that you can scarcely believe it isn’t some cutting-edge innovation. If the crossplane crank works this well, why wasn’t it adopted years ago? Who would have guessed the simple act of shifting two crankpins 90 degrees would have such a dramatic effect on engine performance and character? The reconfigured crankshaft and irregular,“long-bang” firing order fractures massive power pulses into smaller chunks that arrive less violently at the rear contact patch. The benefit is felt immediately at the twistgrip, letting you get into the throttle earlier and harder….. controlling a liter-bike’s overwhelming output has never been easier than on the new R1.

Improved traction management isn’t the only upside to the crossplane design. Reduced crank shake and a counter-rotating balance shaft make this the smoothest ride…… and the syncopated exhaust note rivals any Latin twin. The chassis is likewise inspired by Rossi’s M1, incorporating a MotoGP-derived bottom-link suspension capable of channeling all that added available traction. Painted, polished and pieced together like a high-end luxury car, the R1 is one of the most finely finished motorcycles of any category this year. Modern sportbikes are engineered so close to the edge of the performance envelope that we’re conditioned to expect incremental changes: a shaved pound here, an added pony there. It’s almost unimaginable that any sportbike could surprise us with a novel riding experience that realigns our understanding of what a liter-class sportbike is, and what one can do. The 2009 Yamaha YZF-R1 is exactly that sort of bike—which is why it’s our Motorcycle of the Year.

Thanks Motorcyclist……..we certainly agree!!