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2009 Yamaha/Star Motorcycles |
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Posted by Kenn Stamp
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Wednesday, 05 November 2008 |
2009 YZF-R1
For 2009 Yamaha treated the R1 to entire makeover. Not content to simply evolve the design they threw the old bike away and started fresh. The biggest news for 09 is that the R1 is the first ever production motorcycle with a crossplane crankshaft.
Crossplane technology, first pioneered in MotoGP racing with the M1,
puts each connecting rod 90° from the next, with an uneven firing
interval of 270°- 180°- 90°- 180°. This all but eliminates undesirable
inertial crankshaft torque, which allows the engine’s compression
torque to build smoothly and provide a very linear power delivery out
of the corners. It’s a feeling that’s simply unmatched, like having two
engines in one: the low-rpm torquey feel of a twin with the raw,
high-rpm power of an inline 4. Does this actually work as advertised? We'll let you know once we get ours hands on one and have a chance to really ring it out.
With an entirely new frame, magnesium rear frame, selectable drive options (different power characteristics), fly-by-wire throttle, adjustable footrests, plus a whole lot more, it seems Yamaha is serious about dominating the liter bike class.
MSRP starts at $12,390 for the blue and white and will be available starting January 2009.
2009 FZ6R
Another market Yamaha may dominate is the "entry level sporty-bike" market; if they don't dominate in performance they certainly will in the looks department. I mean the FZ6R is one good looking motorcycle; actually better looking (I think) than its stablemate, the FZ6. The motor is a previous generation R6 motor retuned for better real world street riding. The FZ6R rides on a 120/70 front tire mated with a 160/60 rear along with dual 298mm front discs and a 245mm rear disc. Oh and the rider's seat is height adjustable! The MSRP for the FZ6R starts at $6990 (Raven) and will be available starting January 2009.
2009 VMAX
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Like the old saying goes; "If you're gonna go, go big". You can apply that maxim to the VMAX's horsepower figures and still have enough ponies left over to pull a covered wagon cross country. While Yamaha hasn't released any hard numbers themselves we've seen other reliable sources put the horsepower at the 200 mark. 200hp! Oh the trouble one could get into. Luckily Yamaha equipped the VMAX with a 200/50 rear tire to help put that pony-power to the ground. Not forgetting that you may actually need to stop at some point Yamaha put 2 massive 320mm wave type brake rotors up front along with another massive 298mm wave type brake rotor on the rear. Both rotors are squeezed by Brembo brakes. Both tires are mounted on 18 inch wheels. Just like its predecessor the VMAX (yep no more hyphen) is a shaft-driven bike.
The VMAX is a special order bike only so don't expect to go running to your dealer in January to buy one (although I'm sure there will be some at dealerships waiting to be bought....just like the FJR1300 was when it was introduced). For those that ordered one the MSRP is $17,990 and much like the Model T, you can get any color you want as long as it is black (or "Intense Black" as Yamaha calls it).
2009 V-Star 950 and 950 Tour
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Let's see, V Stars come in a 250, 650, 1100, 1300, and now 950cc sizes. That's not counting all the different models in each displacement category either! You can quite literally start on the 250 and move progressively up the food chain as your skills progress and never be forced to ride a different manufacturer's cruiser because Star didn't make an engine size that appealed to you.The V Star 950 comes in regular and Tourer versions and fits nicely between the 650 and the 1100. The motor is an all new design that incorporates both the old (air-cooling) with the new (4 valve heads). With a low 26.5 inch seat height the 950cc V Star should appeal, and be accessible, to a wide range of riders either looking to move up in size or move down in size from one of the behemoth cruisers.
MSRP starts at $7,890 for the V Star 950 in Raven and $8,990 for the Tourer in either Candy Red or Raven. Best news? Both of them are available starting in November 2008 at your local Yamaha dealer.
Check out the entire line-up of Yamaha and Star motorcycles at http://www.yamaha-motor.com/
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