Photo: Yamaha
The house of Iwata is definitely celebrating as their R1M top-spec superbike is enjoying a tremendous success. According to official Yamaha sources in Europe, the YZF-R1M units which were available for purchase on a pre-order basis have been sold already.
When Yamaha announced the R1M prices for the European markets, the news indicated that only 500 units would be made available, with no details on whether this number was a worldwide or European target.
Either way, given the success of this machine, we are most likely going to see Yamaha delivering more R1M machinery, even though this might only happen in 2016 if we are to believe certain rumors in the industry.
Still, it looks like the amount of new, high-tech features Iwata equipped the bike with was one of the strongest selling points and riders have not hesitated in making a deposit for their R1Ms as soon as the dealers announced they were taking pre-orders.
Getting an R1M was possible only using a special section on the Yamaha website, and since the entries were limited, it was the early bird that caught the... bike. Apparently the customers who moved quickly and are now waiting to receive their YZF-R1M machines will also be invited by Yamaha to a special on-track event which will star Colin Edwards, somewhere in July.
As for the rest, it's either getting the standard R1 to which they can also add the optional data acquisition system or simply waiting and hoping to claw an R1M in the second wave.
If Iwata wants to strike a solid blow to the superbike segment, a lower-spec R1S machine could indeed be launched successfully, especially with all the good momentum the R1 and R1M bikes have. Time will tell, so stay tuned.
Either way, given the success of this machine, we are most likely going to see Yamaha delivering more R1M machinery, even though this might only happen in 2016 if we are to believe certain rumors in the industry.
The high price has not impacted sales
In European markets, the Yamaha YZF-R1M arrived with a hefty price tag reading around €23,000 or £18,500 in the UK, compared to the $22,000 price in the US, which isn't exactly cheap, either.Still, it looks like the amount of new, high-tech features Iwata equipped the bike with was one of the strongest selling points and riders have not hesitated in making a deposit for their R1Ms as soon as the dealers announced they were taking pre-orders.
Getting an R1M was possible only using a special section on the Yamaha website, and since the entries were limited, it was the early bird that caught the... bike. Apparently the customers who moved quickly and are now waiting to receive their YZF-R1M machines will also be invited by Yamaha to a special on-track event which will star Colin Edwards, somewhere in July.
As for the rest, it's either getting the standard R1 to which they can also add the optional data acquisition system or simply waiting and hoping to claw an R1M in the second wave.
More rumors on the R1S
Meanwhile, more rumors on the R1S trademark surface, with the S allegedly indicating a lower-specced version instead of another racer. Basically these new rumors consider the R6S moniker and see it possible that Iwata delivers a more tamed superbike, with some of the parts being more on the budget side.If Iwata wants to strike a solid blow to the superbike segment, a lower-spec R1S machine could indeed be launched successfully, especially with all the good momentum the R1 and R1M bikes have. Time will tell, so stay tuned.
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