New 2012 Yamaha YZF-R1 gets traction control

This is the new 2012 Yamaha YZF-R1 which has six-stage traction control and a mid-life redesign. Images have leaked a few hours before Yamaha’s official announcement later today and MCN will bring full details later on this afternoon.

The R1 is still instantly recognisable; Yamaha is holding back on a radical redesign for at least another two years according to company insiders. The biggest change for 2012 is the new six-way adjustable traction control system (TCS) which will come as standard.  Much of the rest of the bike is unchanged – the innovative 998cc crossplane crankshaft inline four-cylinder engine with an uneven firing order and underseat pipes remain.

Other changes to the R1 include:

• Revised front lights and lower fairing
• Remapped ECU for smoother power delivery and a boost to low and mid-range power
• New LED front lights
• Newly shaped exhaust heatshield and end caps
• MotoGP inspired top yoke

The traction control works by using front and rear wheel speed sensors which detect the rear wheel spinning and then adjusts the fuel injection, throttle opening and ignition timing to reduce power. The current three-way Variable Map Function stays.