THIS HAS just appeared at the old Yamaha 2019 Milan show launch event. It’s the most special R1 ever – and it’s limited to just TWENTY bikes – one for each year of R1 production. Dubbed the GYTR edition, it’s pretty much a straight replica of the Suzuka-winning machine from this year. The spec is incomplete at the moment – but it’s pretty special.
There’s a race harness, ECU and quick-action throttle setup, gigantic race radiator, and those money-can’t-buy nickel-plated GP-spec Brembo calipers. The fairing is all carbon fibre, and the Ohlins suspension is, again, a bit different from the usual yellow-springed toot they put on Panigale Rs and the like (only joking Ducati!!). Proper GP-spec FGRT 219 front forks and a TTX36 *GP* rear shock. Yowzers.
The downside? It’s not road legal, so is track-only – at least, it’s track-only until you register it as a 1996 Thunderace and get it out on the road on a third-party-only insurance policy. G’wan…
‘How much mate’, I hear the Kent scaffolders and Essex screeders out there ask. Well, we don’t know. A lot. It’ll be announced in December. And if you buy one, we think Michael van den Mark comes round your house, drinks cans of Amstel, and revs it off the limiter on the paddock stands for a bit, before taking you to Brands for a hoon and some shit wheelies. Probably.
MORE WHEN WE GET IT! And in the print edition of the magazine!!