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New Yamaha models 1998

Weight watcher

Strong, fast and light as a feather, Yamaha’s new YZF 1000 should make life difficult for the Honda CBR 900 RR. As a swipe at Suzuki’s Bandit, the XJR 600 in a subtle Streetfighter design is pushed in.

The announcement isn’t new, but it’s always exciting. After Suzuki and Triumph, Yamaha now wants to push Honda’s long-running CBR 900 RR from the throne. When it comes to maximum performance, this is not an insurmountable obstacle: the Suzuki technicians already breathed at least the same performance into their GSX-R 750 with the same weight. But to outdo the Fireblade, it takes more than sheer strength. Impeccable handling, powerful draft, impressive all-round properties and high-quality workmanship are in demand.
Yamaha already had a suitable answer to this with the YZF 1000 in 1996. Powerful, fast and with no faults on the chassis and handling, the five-valve engine also impressed the MOTORRAD test team. The 1000 chunk of 233 kilograms was just too fat. At least from a sporting perspective. Now the Yamaha designers promise less weight than the 207 kilograms of the Honda Fireblade and around 20 hp more power.
The modified chassis of the YZF 750, in which the 1000 engine with EXUP exhaust control and new six-speed gearbox is implanted, serves as the starting point. Some dedicated Yamaha dealers had already implemented this idea for years, but most of them missed the sensational weight they were aiming for by a few kilograms. If the fasting cure for large-scale production is successful, the super-sporty YZF 1000 should actually set new standards in the big bike class. But let’s wait until the 1998 Yamaha is actually on the MOTORCYCLE scales, because on it many a euphorically announced lightweight turned out to be corpulent.
The Yamaha marketing strategists are silent on the delivery date and price, as well as on the question of whether the new YZF 1000 will replace the old model or whether it will only be used as a super planer. The latter makes more sense, especially since Yamaha will remove the sporty, but aged YZF 750 R from the program.
In the case of the new 600, let’s just call it the XJR, on the other hand it is clear that, in addition to the previous bestseller XJ 600 S, it serves as a strategic reinforcement against Suzuki’s GSF 600 Bandit. It will appear as a completely redesigned middle class, to which the engine interior of the YZF 600 R will be bequeathed, but the layout has been completely turned inside out. The ribbed, water-cooled cylinder with the horizontal carburetor battery is almost vertical behind the water cooler. A maximum output of 98 hp is targeted, without reducing the pleasantly rich pulling power of the YZF 600 unit.
D.Tea tubular steel frame will also be a style element here and determines the lines of the tank and bench. In order to be able to enter at the lowest possible price, which no one in charge of Yamaha wanted to mention, the new XJR 600 is equipped with conventional and proven technology. Somewhat sportier in character, equipped with the well-known effective braking system of the YZF 600 and a central spring strut with deflection system, the new one will clearly distance itself from the tourist-oriented XJ 600 S..
“No experiments” is the motto when it comes to design, and so the shyly hinted at Streetfighter outfit is visibly restrained by the rectangular headlights in the standard half-shell fairing. Such a slightly dark expression is allowed, but you don’t want to be frightened by an exaggeratedly martial appearance.

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