Of course as the article is by a UK journalist, he's only interested in the possibilities for sportsbikes. But still, we all know the REAL machine this is intended for, don't we?
YAMAHA has revealed a new three-cylinder engine that it says will “shape†the firms future motorcycle range.
The engine is, quite literally, a cross-plane R1 motor with a cylinder lopped off, creating a cross-plane triple. It's been shown in Cologne in another of the firm's 'sculptures' (just as the Super Tenere was first revealed). All it gives away about the actual bike is a pair of 17-inch wheels with sporty rubber, a set of USD forks and some radial brake calipers – the makings of a sports bike – but allied to high, wide bars.
The motor shares many parts, including the clutch and generator covers, with the existing R1 unit. It's something Yamaha makes no bones about, even showing an R1 engine on the same display, while one of the sample engines even has a four-cylinder R1 exhaust header bolted to it to show how much narrower it is with a cylinder taken off.
Given the recent success of bikes like the Triumph Daytona 675 and Street Triple, as well as the new MV Agusta F3 and Brutale F3, triples are seeing a resurgence. Although Yamaha hasn't confirmed the capacity, 750cc makes sense given how much the motor shares with the R1 unit.
Since the firm claims the motor will shape the future line-up, it's presumably planned to go into several machines. Could the firm be planning a sports bike to sit between the R6 and R1? The name YZF750 has something of a ring to it, doesn't it...
http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-new ... 21523.html?
