MCN
Reviews For sale News Insurance

In detail: Yamaha's 2021 range revealed

Published: 17 November 2020 Updated: 09 August 2022
  • The Yamaha R6 Race will not be homologated for road use
    The Yamaha R6 Race will not be homologated for road use
  • The 2021 Yamaha YZF-R125 is Euro5 compliant
    The 2021 Yamaha YZF-R125 is Euro5 compliant
1 of 2

Having announced of a flurry of new Tracer touring models earlier today, Yamaha have this evening confirmed a series of smaller updates to the likes of their sportiest MT and R125s, plus the end of the supersport R6 as a road-going model. 

Following major updates for 2019 and 2020 respectively to feature the same new chassis and VVT engine, plus more modern looks, Yamaha’s A1 licence-friendly YZF-R125 and MT-125 have now had their internals tickled to ensure Euro5-compliance, too. Like it’s larger MT stablemates, the naked 125 will also be available in a ‘Storm Fluo’ colour scheme (grey and red to you and me.)

The 2021 Yamaha MT-125 becomes Euro 5 compliant

Like the litre-capacity R1 before it, the L-plate friendly R125 is the latest Yamaha sportsbike to achieve Euro5. Yamaha say the rest of the supersport range will follow suit by the end of 2021, however we will lose an iconic name from their road legal line-up in that time, suggesting only the R3 is yet to be updated. 

That’s right – after 21 years in production, the R6 will go to track-only for the European market from next year. With no Euro5 option for Blighty and dwindling sales in the class outside of trackdays and racing, it will now be known as the £12,099 ‘R6 Race’ and will not be road registerable from the start of January. 

A side view of the Yamaha R6 Race

It will also come in exactly the same spec as the existing machine because – much like Honda’s CBR600RR and Suzuki’s GSX-R600 before it – it will continue to be produced as a road bike for other markets. 

To give your R6 Race some World Super Sport-level track kudos, Yamaha dealers will also sell you a GYTR Stage 1 kit, allowing you to unlock performance and enhance the racing look of your machine. Featuring everything from an advanced electronics package with lightweight wire harness and programable ECU, to external mods like a full Akrapovič race system, this can be taken even further with more advanced GYTR and Öhlins goodies.

Another bike being dropped from Yamaha’s line-up for 2021 is the FJR1300, which has been a part of their fleet since 2001 and sold over 120,000 units. If you want one, it’s available as a black and gold Ultimate Edition while stocks last. Also going is the XT1200Z Super Ténéré, which is being retired after 10 years. Whether a new large-capacity model will be introduced to take on the likes of the BMW R1250GS and new Ducati Multistrada V4 remains to be seen. 

Away from forgotten 600s and aging tourers, Yamaha have also confirmed Euro5 compliance for the retro XSR700 and Ténéré 700, which is no surprise given the fact they have already recently revealed a revised MT-07, which has always shared the same basic parallel-twin engine as these machines.

Find Yamaha R6 bikes for sale here. 

By Dan Sutherland

News Editor, sportsbike nut, and racing fan.