We couldn’t get enough of the new-look R1M.
R1s have always done it for me, so I was really excited to have a blast on this, the updated-for-2020 R1M. Now Euro5 compliant, the big Yam has had a smattering of subtle changes that alone wouldn’t get anyone’s juices flowing, but together ought to help make what is already a top superbike even better.
A new cylinder head with top firing, 10-hole Bosch injectors, newly designed cams and finger followers all help the R1M maintain a sensible claimed power figure of 197bhp despite the four catalytic converters that have been shoehorned into the exhaust pipe. The new bike is also 5% more aerodynamically efficient and they’ve updated the electronics to give you even more control over the engine braking, traction control and ABS systems.