[bluedot]

Sweet Bike ... congrats to Yamaha

I'm sure they'll do well with it.



Really sad to see the end of 2-strokes so close. Not just GP but MotoX as well, I know it's old technology and it's been long time comming, but I really hoped at least the GP bikes would always stay that way. Oh well, at least maybe some of this will filter to the street.

 

[Nish]

Well I guess the next couple years at least will be really interesting with both two and four strokes in the mix. I'd really hate to see the two strokes go away for good.

 

[Haga]

This is a little off topic... but still Yamaha. I've heard that with the pull-out from WSBK that the R7 is slated to be a full production model in the next year or so. Is there any truth to this(or even similar rumor floating around the industry)?

 

[056]

The Two-stroke is dead! Long live the two-stroke!

Look. I Know how much fun two-stroke motors are, I've ridden two-strokes, I race against two-strokes, and I have a lot of respect for them. I know that they make much more power than four-stroke engines of similar displacement.

But let's face it, two-stroke GP bikes bear little relation to our daily rides, and we wouldn't know what to do with them if they were.

This Four-stroke thing is exciting- it will renew interest in GP racing, and the new technology trickling down will benefit all us motorcycle consumers.

I wonder if they will allow 500's to compete in the 250 class? That would also spark some interesting technology, technology far more affordable and relevant to you and me. Imagine a 100 hp, 300 pound 500-4 with a 18,000 rpm redline for under $12 grand.

Now GP tracks will have the shrieking roar of high-rpm 4-stroke engines, instead of the bizzare weed-wacker-on-crack farting sounds that the two-stroke 500 make.

The first 70 years of motorcycle racing were dominated by four-strokes. Now that Soichiro Honda's bad dream is over, we can get back to the development of serious racebikes.

 

[Lincoln]

Gabe

first off gabe, if you never were interested in grand prix bikes before, we don't want you now. if the type of engine was what attracted you - get lost. see, grand prix is all about the fastest racers in the world riding the fastest machines in the world. if that wasn't enough to make you interested, you ain't a true fan, got it? you squids who think you're gonna be a rossi-racer on the street just because your bike shares a softened version of a part on a grand prix bike make me sick. hope i set you straight. now go take up fishing, or raquetball or something

 

[Pacer]

Re: Gabe

I bet you are the type of guy that kicks puppies.

 

[056]

Lincoln, lincoln...

I'm sorry I pissed off an important GP racer like yourself. I'm actually even sorrier I'm arguing with a delusional psychotic- a sure-fire lose-lose proposition.

Where did I say I wasn't interested in GP racing? In fact, I was at the last USGP at Laguna! Were you? I'm guessing not.

Fastest racers on the fastest machines? Well, I think you're probably right, but many track records are held by bikes other than 500 cc GP bikes. Fastest riders? Probably, but they are also the best paid and supported.

These changes won't detract from GP racing- they will add to it. More teams, more riders, more variety- maybe the US will get a round again. What's so horrible about change?

Also, the technical innovations will benefit squids and non-squids alike. Since we are freed from the power limitations of two-smokes, (where power has hovered around the 180 mark for years) now the manufacturers will have to pour money into tire development. That means longer-lasting, stickier tires. Even a grumpy bench-racer like yourself can appreciate that.

As far as me being a "rossi-racer on the street", well, I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about. I ride a clapped-out SV650 and race an even worse EX250- my hopes of getting even the softest GP bike parts are slim indeed. And my squidly days are long behind me.

No fising for me this weekend, I'm going club racing! How about you?

 

[BONGTOKER]

Re: Lincoln, lincoln...

I know what I will be doing this weekend. Just look at my name.

 

[deanmass]

From that photo the designer 'knealing proudly', it appears to me that perhaps the asian facial expression for 'proudly' equates also to "sadly", "happily", "constipated", "having an orgasm", "having surgery", "being eaten alive by cannibalistic monkeys", etc. How bout a smile for cripes sakes! Seriously, I hope they keep the Matte Black paint if they produce it. I think that looks very cool.

 

[one2gofst]

I seriously dobt that. They have charged an arm and a leg for the R7's they already produced. They couldn't sell them mass produced for any reasonable price due to the technology used on it.

 

[BammBamm]

Re: Gabe

Yeah all you wannabe's... How dare you elevate yourselves to the level of the great, all knowing Lincoln, fastest of the fast, and the most interested motorcycle racing fan in the world. Oh, dear Lord if only someday I can be one tenth of the greatest Lincoln, and he would look down on me with forgivness and grace, for I am just a fan of motorsports...

 

[BammBamm]

He looks sad, because this is the only way he can get his knee down. I wonder if Yamaha have figured out how to design a clutch that will last more than two starts yet.



I heard the design is heavily based on the Virago series, so where is the sissy bar?

 

[Gixxerboy]

I think this is great! I know everyone has their opinions as to what is better - 2 vs. 4 stroke but, imagine seeing both types of engines with about 3 different types of 4 stroke layout all racing on the same track... all factory supported. The best of the best of the best.

Whatever you ride, what ever your bias, the next couple years will be extremely exciting for GP racing.



Go Yamaha...hey Suzuki... where's my GSX-RGP???!



my uninformed two bits ;-)

 

[Azrifel]

Probably more likely that a R1-Evo engine will be put in a R7 chassis with less expensive suspension.



The R7 is so expensive if you want to have full power and then it will be very close to the R1 and on the street very closely followed by the R6, so what's the point of producing it.

 

[NickdaBrick]

Yamaha is doing this whole 4-stroke thing right: start with a winning chassis and make the engine fit. Honda's v-5 sound like technology for its own sake and is probably just too weird to win, and the others -- e.g. Sauber with their triple -- are probably out of their league. Go Yamaha!

 

[8609]

Good lord! am I the only one who thinks a solid black bike is beautiful? If they actually made a production bike with this color scheme I would put in my order today.



To bad it would be covered in stripes long before it got anywhere near a showroom floor.

 

[056]

Yeah, well...

Ducati makes 3 models in flat black- the 750 Monster dark, the 900 ditto, and the 750 Super Sport.

Or, you can just go to your local hardware store and buy two cans of hi-temp barbecue paint. It'll run you about $4 a bike.

 

[01_zx9r]

So when can I get one?

 

[blavenia]

This is probably the best thing for street motorcycling I've seen in years. One week I see a post about Governmental Regulations controlling HP and it makes me sick, and the next I find info (finally) about an inline-4 (Sorry Ducatisti, but TWINS are for Harleys!)from Yamaha. I'm not afraid to say it, DOWN W/ the TWO STROKES in GP, Long live the 4-Stroke (useable) GP Racer!!!



The incredible things this will do for Current sportybike technology over the next 3 years is unimaginable. Hopefully Honda's V5 turns out as impressive as most of Honda's technical specimens, and REVVVVS to the MOON!



Seriously, UP w/ the RPM's, DOWN w/ the Weight!!! The excitement of Four Strokes can last forever, w/out the polluting effects and WITH the Performance!!!



Now I'll watch GP, instead of living for WSC and AMA Superbike.



By the way, I love my 2001 R1, and I don't even have to put down anyone else's bike to love my own!!!

 

[ffwd]

It looks great and sounds great - but why does it have a trunk?