The Texas Twister, Yamaha MotoGP rider Colin Edwards, got to twist the throttle on the R1 LE through the twisties at Barber Motorsports Park. As Napoleon Dynamite would say, 'Sweet bike. Lucky!' image by Yamaha

Today, Yamaha is unveiling its 2006 Sportbikes and Sport Touring models, and in keeping with its ongoing 50th Anniversary, the yellow-and-black livery that debuted on the company's racebikes at Laguna Seca has also made its way onto the bodywork of some very interesting street-legal race replicas--most notably a very special YZF-R1 and a brand-new YZF-R6.

Performance Has A Name, And It's "Ellie"

This year, there are two distinct YZF-R1 models in the lineup--an improved "standard" R1 and a significantly uprated YZF-R1 LE. Yamaha believes that there's a lot more to building a race replica than paint and a few stickers. The limited-edition R1 LE features a back-torque-limiting slipper clutch; a modified frame; a starter button that doubles as a nifty lap timer control; honest-to-goodness gold-colored, forged-aluminum Marchesini wheels; an adjustable rear suspension link; and Ohlins suspension on both the front and rear. There will only be 500 YZF-R1 LEs available for sale in the U.S., and every one of them will feature Yamaha's 50th Anniversary Yellow-and-Black "Kenny Roberts" paint scheme, along with special limited-edition anniversary badging, gold-colored exhaust covers, and a gold chain.

The Ohlins suspension (it's pronounced "oh-lean" kids, not "oh-linns"—don't make me tell you again) on the R1 LE includes 43mm custom-valved, fully adjustable inverted forks with two-way compression damping adjustment, plus a custom-valved fully adjustable rear shock with hydraulic preload adjuster and two-way compression damping adjustment.

Yamaha pioneered the use of a longer swingarm on the original R1 in order to improve stability and keep the front wheel on the tarmac under hard acceleration. Remarkably, the new R1 LE features an even-longer swingarm than the one on the original R1. The fact that the 2006 R1 engine is even more powerful—putting out three more horsepower compared to the 2005 model—could be one of the reasons for the even-longer swingarm.

Since Noriyuki Haga has had a fair bit of success racing an R1 on the Pirelli tires required in World Superbike, Yamaha apparently felt it was appropriate to spoon a set of Pirelli Diablo Corsa tires on the 2006 YZF-R1 LE's sweet Marchesini hoops, too. Just remember, you're not Noriyuki Haga.

The Other R1

Because the YZF-R1 LE is a limited edition model, not everyone who wants to own such a rare beast will be able to get his or her hands on one. But, have no fear, faithful reader, because the "standard" R1 is no slouch.

It, too, benefits from a modified frame, longer swingarm, and revised front forks to sharpen handling, traction, and responsiveness. And, the same revised cylinder head unleashes the same additional three horsepower. There's also a 43mm fully adjustable inverted fork and fully adjustable, linkage-mounted rear shock--although this R1's suspenders do not say "Ohlins" on them.

The YZF-R1 will also be available in the same 50th Anniversary Yellow-and-Black livery as the R1 LE, but with the non-LE R1, you also have a choice of Team Yamaha Blue/White or last year's very popular and super-stealthy Raven.

With A 17,500-rpm Redline, It Should've Been Called "R-r-r-r-6"

The all-new 2006 YZF-R6 is full of Yamaha-exclusive innovations and new technologies that make it arguably the most advanced production motorcycle ever built. The new R6 features an all-new four-cylinder engine that puts out horsepower belying its 600cc displacement. A MotoGP-derived "straight frame" chassis houses the new engine, and a titanium MotoGP-style exhaust complete with EXUP valve helps keep things on the pipe all the way up to the stratospheric 17,500-rpm redline. A new Controlled-Fill cast aluminum "gull-wing" swingarm enables the cute little exhaust canister to be tucked in tightly for improved ground clearance. Heck, there's even an aluminum sidestand on this bike because, it's lighter and, well, British people like to say "aluminium."

The innovative bodywork takes a few styling and aerodynamic cues from Formula 1 design philosophies with air-management channels built into the fairing, while a center-mounted running light illuminates the tuning-fork logo like a Yamaha bat-signal that strikes fear in the hearts of non-Yamaha sportbikers everywhere. The new R6's tail section features a taillight/signal light/license plate bracket assembly that is suspended by an oh-so-minimalist aluminum support that is just begging to be unbolted and tossed on a shelf to collect dust or sell on eBay.

The new R6 is available in 50th Anniversary Yellow-and-Black, Team Yamaha Blue/White, and again, that ultra-sleek Raven color (well, technically, black is the absence of color if you're an art school geek).

Maybe The "S" Stands For Savings

OK, are you paying attention? Remember last year's YZF-R6? Well, it's b-a-a-ack. Only this year, since there's a brand-new R6 in Yamaha's stable, the "other" R6 that you've come to know and love is now called the YZF-R6S.

The R6S offers the same combination of cutting-edge sporting prowess and real-world rideability as the 2005 R6, but for '06, Yamaha changed the name and, perhaps best of all, lowered the price.

The R6S will be offered in both Team Yamaha Blue/White and Edgar Allen Poe's favorite hue, Raven.

But Wait, There's More

So, let's count. For 2006, Yamaha has the YZF600R that was already introduced a couple of months ago, and now, they also have two YZF-R6s--the high-zoot 17,500-rpm R6 and the still-formidable but slightly renamed R6S. That's a total of three 600cc sportbikes to choose from. Wanna go for four?

Remember the FZ6? That middleweight Swiss Army knife of a bike? Well, it, too, returns to the Yamaha lineup to give you four distinctive choices for 600-class Yamaha riding. The 2006 FZ6 features a blacked-out frame and engine, and the bike can be had in your choice of Blue or Shift Red.

Eff Zee One, Anyone?

The FZ6's big papa is the FZ1, and the 2006 model ups the real-world, high-performance ante in a big, big way. For '06, Yamaha's popular open-class streetfighter is all-new. A current-generation fuel-injected R1 engine tuned for midrange grunt sits low and forward in an all-new, aluminum frame, and there's also a longer, Controlled-Fill cast aluminum swingarm. The new FZ1 offers an aggressive, yet comfortable, upright riding position, and completely redesigned bodywork provides a balanced amount of form and function. For 2006, the FZ1 is available in Shift Red and Silver.

Lucky 13 Is Now Even Luckier

Yamaha has spent a lot of time listening to FJR1300 owners. They're a passionate lot, and for 2006, their passion is being rewarded with a whole host of refinements for both rider and passenger alike. New airflow management works to keep both the rider and the bike cooler and more comfortable, while an adjustable seat, handlebars, windscreen and middle fairing make it easy to find the perfect riding position. There's new bodywork, lights, mirrors, and instrumentation (including a gear indicator), plus a new fuel injection system and unified braking system with standard ABS.

The FJR's signature electrically adjustable windscreen now has a greater range of adjustment for 2006, and it's been redesigned for improved wind protection. The 2006 FJR1300 is available in Cobalt Blue.