The link between Science Of Being Seen and the new Biker Down ‘Thinking Biker’ video
If you’re a regular, you're probably aware I created the 'Science Of Being Seen' presentation as a module for Biker Down. SOBS was used by many UK fire services until 2020, and I continue to research the topic and deliver presentations online and in person to motorcycle groups. Some Biker Down groups now use a video produced in Canada called ‘Thinking Biker’. Having seen it, I can say that it covers much the same topics as SOBS, albeit in far less depth. And I’ve seen it suggested that I had no input into its production. Here’s what really happened…
Time runs out for the R1
[This item featured on last Sunday's 'Elevenses' webcast - make a date at 11am Wednesdays & Sundays for the latest news, views & riding tips - LIVE]
Bad news for R1 fans. Following the demise of the Suzuki GSX-R1000, Yamaha have just announced that their own litre superbike will not be updated to meet the forthcoming Euro5+ regulation
Their official statement reads:
“Yamaha Motor Group have taken the decision not to develop an EU5+ version of the R1 or R1M instead focussing on other mid-term business and product strategies that will provide future opportunities”.
That 'mid-term strategy' statement is interesting - it implies that there are no long range plans, nothing in the pipeline to replace the bike either. Expect the current twins and triples to be further developed and for an R9 to make its appearance.
It fits with rumours of the final demise of the R6 track-only supersport. That bike wasn’t updated to meet the Euro5 in 2021, but can still be purchased new for off-road use as a track bike for £13,000. Having said that, it looks like the R6 is seeing its final season as a WSS machine for the 2024 season, with the rumours being that the 900cc triple motor will appear in full sports clothing later this year ready to race in 2025.
But back to the R1.
First launched back in 1998, and I still think it's one of the loveliest looking machines ever built, and I do sometimes regret that I never owned one - they've become more and more collectable in the last few years.
The machine was totally redesigned in 2015, and personally I don't think the looks improved.
The last update in 2020 was to make the machines Euro5 compliant.
So why kill the bike off now, just four years later?
It's a bit of a puzzler because Euro5+ isn't any tougher in terms of emissions, which is what finished off many of the previous generation of machines. so I would have thought that most of the hard work to keep the bike compliant had already been put in by Yamaha.
If I had to guess, it would be the fact that the update brings in a requirement for longer-term effectiveness of the catalytic converter. It seems the Euro5 allowed for a simple mathematical estimate of the durability of the cat, but Euro 5+ seems to require an actual degradation test to see if it remains efficient in use by hooking it up to a real engine and running it long term.
I am wondering if it's possible that the tiny cats fitted to motorcycles simply don't last very long.
Euro5+ does bring in new reduced noise limits which I believe have not yet been finalised, so another possibility is that Yamaha don't believe the bike is capable of meeting them. It's not just exhaust noise that's a problem with a modern motorcycle, the internal clatter of engine parts and the thrashing of the drive chain have all produced issues. Engines aren't simply watercooled for more power - the water jacket helps keep the noise down. And chains run on rubber bushes to ease them onto the front sprocket.
However, here in the UK and EU the R1 will remain on sale for a while yet as for the time being, Yamaha will be able to continue to sell the bike under derogation - that allows for existing stocks of a non-compliant machine can be sold for up to a year after the new legislation comes into force.
Beyond that, the machine will be phased out in the UK and Europe, though it will almost certainly remain on sale in other parts of the world such as the US.
It looks likely the UK / EU R1 will be a track-only machine, just like the current R6 supersport.
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In Monday’s show: Hairy Biker Dave Myers dies... CHiPs officer who killed pedestrian should not have been riding... pair jailed for death of rider hit by their van's trailer... National Accident Helpline spokesperson misuses RAC stats... Yamaha breaks up the conventional production line to achieve small volume production... in-depth today - BikeSafe stats say 81% of bikers rate themselves competent or advanced but 96% 'need further development; what might that be telling us?
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