From the moment the R1 was unleashed upon the unsuspecting sport bike world, it’s been painfully obvious … to the competition, that is … that no other open-class machine holds a candle to this incredible combination of liter-bike power, 600cc-spec handling and drop-dead gorgeous styling.

The bike that started the four-stroke revolution keeps moving forward with chassis and engine refinements that ensure the five-titanium-valved YZ450F remains at the head of the open-class pack.