Yamaha r1 2009 White

Of all the motorcycles in this comparison perhaps the most anticipated was the new Yamaha YZF-R1. MCUSA Executive Editor, Steve Atlas, couldn’t stop blabbing about how cool it sounds and the direct connection that it fostered between rider and rear tire during his 2009 Yamaha R1 First Ride feature.

Looks wise, on paper and on the computer screen, I honestly wasn’t fond of the R1’s updated styling initially. Before having seen it in person I would have preferred if Yamaha had abandoned classic styling cues, like its under-seat exhaust and V-shaped front end, and gone with something fresh instead. But as soon as I laid eyes on our test unit up close in its Pearl White/Rapid Red colors it became obvious how wrong I was. The new R1 is truly the evolution of contemporary sportbike design. If you don’t think so right now, just wait until you see one in person.

From its tiny projector headlights to its flat side body panels and even its jumbo-stylized, twin undertail exhaust pipes, this motorcycle screams 21st-century style. Still, we would have preferred to see the front turn signals integrated into the rear view mirrors, for aesthetic reasons and because they’re more easily seen there.