New colours for 2012 Yamaha R1...
...but no technical updates
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54 years 9 months
YAMAHA'S 2012 R1 has emerged from the firm's Brazilian website revealing new colour options but no technical changes to the bike.
The official page shows a selection of updated colours for the Brazilian market, which may or may not be offered elsewhere. The blue version is very similar to the current European offering, but with a black bellypan rather than white and black wheels instead of gold. The red machine, with some dubious flame-and-skull graphics, is already offered in America, and the all-black model is the most stealthy R1 yet seen; black body, black wheels, black forks. Only the tuning fork logo and embossed “R1” logo provide a dash of colour. To quote Spinal Tap: “How much more black could it be? The answer is none. None more black...”
On the technical front, the bike remains unchanged. While the cross-plane crankshaft and 'long-bang' firing order still give it a unique selling point, the lack of high-tech electronics in an era when its rivals are increasingly featuring traction control, adjustable ABS and endless other widgets mean its days are surely numbered.
