Motorcycle.com 2015 Track Test

80shilling said:

They should have just gone to Thunderhill Raceway, only a couple of hours up the coast and FAR more suited to Literbikes than Laguna is, plus no sound restrictions to speak of (I know of only 1 person that has EVER failed sound at Thunderhill), plus a 3/4 mile long front straight and turn 2 that just goes on and on and on and on...

Click to expand...

Good Lord and butter! How do you fail sound at T-Hill?!

Spent the weekend there with Keigwins wringing the R out...and standing under the AC....

in the past ten years, we've had a serious drought in American racers who've made it to the world level. Only two Americans have won races in MotoGP - Hayden and Spies. I'll have to look it up, but I think the only American to win a World Superbike race after Colin Edwards spanked everyone in 2002 was also Ben Spies.

A fully built superbike costs $100-150k to build. Any superstock series is significantly cheaper, so factory backing has less of an effect on outcomes, and in many ways, rider skill comes more into play, and the inherent character of each bike model is more evident.

I believe the R1 was limited in hp by yamaha because the engine is at its limits due to it's design.

Yamaha's cross plane crank motor is made in an effort to reap the benefits a v or an L motor produces = traction. traction at a price
I copied and pasted this explanation: The disadvantage of a crossplane crank is the primary forces the reciprocating components, cause a planar imbalance and thus a rocking moment on the block; one side of the bank has pistons rising, and the other falling.

To compensate for this heavy, additional counterweights need to be fitted to the crankshaft to stop the block from wobbling. This slows down max engine speed and the acceleration at which it can climb revs.

personally I think if Yamaha has limited its power to the US market it is due to a well thought out calculation . Americans are unrestricted in modifications, very few states have inspections. Most new R1's will get an exhaust and PC. that will probably translate into the 5-10 hp the bike is restricted. I Believe Yamaha built a buffer into the bike's Hp output to avoid engine failures.

The ducati on the other hand has the traction of a twin , is thinner , More torque and lighter.
Not to mention it has the best power to weight ration of any of these bikes.

I believe the shootouts prove very little other than the bikes are really close and you should buy the one that trips your trigger. <--- that kind of talk would not sell any magazines .

No way those were unrestricted machines. 160hp out of the Ninja? Haha. Guys all over the nation are seeing 188-192hp at the wheel with nothing but a slip-on pipe and ECU reflash.

The Honda is a dinosaur turd. That one is no surprise.

With testing restricted bikes, and without posting lap times, this test is basically useless. Who cares about the opinion of somebody who is running 10-15 seconds off of anything resembling a competitive race pace?

Also, were they allowed to make suspension adjustments and ride height changes and go back out?
Did each bike get new tires for each rider?
Were they allowed to make ergonomic adjustments for each rider?
Did they change spring rates for each rider?

With the exception of RRW, I find most of these "Shootouts" useless.

I just know if you aint first, you're last.

Chaotic said:

No way those were unrestricted machines. 160hp out of the Ninja? Haha. Guys all over the nation are seeing 188-192hp at the wheel with nothing but a slip-on pipe and ECU reflash.

Click to expand...

...and new R1 is 192+ rwhp

It's unlikely RR World will test derestricted bikes either though

...and new R1M is 167.7 rwhp.

https://youtu.be/pJAQIYzC45c

Again, that's the restricted bike

Eleven 99 said:

So if you are building a custom sportbike and your budget is $16,000, you don't think you'd be able to get more performance out of the bike if your budget was $25,000? Performance and price go hand-in-hand.

Click to expand...

But that's not what the shootout is about. It's about performance measurements as the bikes stands. Price should only be evaluated for buyers guides. It has nothing to do with on track/street performance. But lookin at this "shootout" they had other nonsensical factors like "grin"...

Chaotic said:

Also, were they allowed to make suspension adjustments and ride height changes and go back out?
Did each bike get new tires for each rider?
Were they allowed to make ergonomic adjustments for each rider?
Did they change spring rates for each rider?
With the exception of RRW, I find most of these "Shootouts" useless.

Click to expand...

Yes, they were allowed to make some changes. it states it in the article...No "modifications" though...like springs. The bike wouldn't be stock anymore

fzr100098 said:

Again, that's the restricted bike

Click to expand...

By restricted you mean, OEM...?

fzr100098 said:

Again, that's the restricted bike

Click to expand...

attack performance for example was able to uncork the stock r1 to about 170 and after adding exhaust and other race tune get into the 190 range.

they also say the attack performance dyno is "looser than most"
here:
2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 Tested On The Dyno!

I'm not condoning shootouts I feel they are worthless and dyno to dyno comparo's are worthless as hell .
the point is the yamaha uncorked with aftermarket exhaust and tuned is about the same as the other bikes apples to apples.

Yes - the ZX-10R and R1 are restricted from the factory - because of that and all the various suspension and wheel packages available now, these tests are less useful. All the bikes need to be tested in full power, unrestricted mode or the performance metrics don't mean much.

The 1299 is also subject to the speed sensor issue messing up dyno results, it should be 185 rwhp stock or very close.

In theory, they're all "restricted" from the factory. Whether that be by way of ECU, emissions control, and even not being setup for a rider in terms of suspension and such, they're all things that restrict capability.

JDBeretta said:

In theory, they're all "restricted" from the factory. Whether that be by way of ECU, emissions control, and even not being setup for a rider in terms of suspension and such, they're all things that restrict capability.

Click to expand...

he isn't being theoretical....he is referring to power

I mean throttle position is restricted on the ZX-10 and R1, as far as I know it's not just emissions related, they are literally down 10-15 rwhp, it's a big hit

Tune Boy claims similar restriction on the 1299 is first through third

why in the world would the manufacturers release HP powers and sell the bike with HP Throttle restrictions to never allow to actually produce the claimed power?

The restrictions are in the emissions. Technically, the bike make the claimed power at the crank...just not the versions where the country has emissions standards

It's not just emissions, the BMW can be "unlocked" to full power mode. Apparently there is a "gentleman's agreement" with the Japanese manufacturers to limit peak power and top speed, it's well documented on many forums

2015 R1 ECU Imposed Restrictions - Yamaha R1 Forum: YZF-R1 Forums

speed yes.
Power .... i'm not so sure about.

Throttle position - see bottom of page of that link

ehh lookin at the website. it doesn't give enough details. "throttle restrictions" is very vague.
Being that these bikes are controlled by the ecu instead of cables, removing the restrictions on the throttle could technically mean that they just make the plates move 1:1 with the throttle...
Something ppl have often done with the gxxr's that had two throttle places...One controlled by the ECu (closer to the intake) and one controlled by the rider (closer to the airbox). Which would actually not gain (or recover) any HP.

I think this erases any doubts - pipe and flash tune only on 2015 R1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMOx2_bZuyU&feature=youtu.be