Latest in R-Series

About R-Series

The R in Yamaha's YZF-R line stands for racing, and the family has been living up to the letter for more than a quarter-century. The original YZF-R1 of 1998 rewrote the open-class sportbike rulebook with its compact chassis and stacked gearbox, and the R6 that followed became the default weapon for a generation of supersport racers and track-day riders. Later R1s brought the crossplane-crank engine developed from MotoGP. Few model families have spent so much time with their knees on the ground.

The range has broadened enormously since. The R7 uses a parallel-twin engine from the MT-07 for a more usable road and track bike, the R3 serves as an entry-level sportbike in many markets and the R9 brings three-cylinder power to the middleweight class. In India and Southeast Asia, the 155cc R15 has become a cult favorite among young riders, with variable valve timing and real sportbike styling at a commuter-sized price. A new R2 has joined the lineup in India.

Emissions rules ended the R6 as a road bike in several markets, and the R1 has increasingly been offered for track use in Europe, a sign of how tough regulations have become. Rivals include the Kawasaki Ninja range, Honda's CBR line, KTM's RC models and Aprilia's RS bikes. This page gathers R-series launches, price changes, reviews, comparisons, custom builds and racing news. For many young riders in Asia, an R15 poster on the wall is still the first step toward a lifelong habit.