yamaha goes triple
 

http://blog.motorcycle.com/2012/10/0...88381481237582

Intermot 2012: Yamaha Unveils Crossplane Triple Concept

http://blog.motorcycle.com/wp-conten...-concept-4.jpg

Yamaha announced it is developing a new three-cylinder engine using a crossplane crankshaft inherited from the company’s YZR-M1 MotoGP bike and its YZF-R1 sportbike. Yamaha says the new Triple will play an important role in the company’s future.

The Japanese manufacturer unveiled a concept sculpture with the new three-cylinder engine at the 2012 Intermot show in Cologne, Germany. The sculpture is abstract, showing little beyond the engine, wheels and front fork, but the tires and wheels would suggest the first model to use the new engine will be a streetbike.

Yamaha trumpets the benefits of its crossplane crankshaft which has been used in bikes that have won championships in MotoGP, World Superbike and AMA Superbike. Yamaha claims the engine offers linear driving power and more efficient torque output. Yamaha hopes the crossplane crankshaft can work additional wonders as a platform for a new generation of models.

Possibly a competitor to the 650 twins?

Sadly it wont cut cost. Less equals more these days.

i want to see a picture of the crank pin alignment. Im thinking they are overusing the name. Also could this be the heart of the ten years late new R6?

Triple engines and yarn frames... sign me up.

Probably more like the Triumph 675. There are a couple other brands who were going that direction too.

And if I was getting a new liter bike it'd be the R1 all the way, just for its sound.

What's old is re-new again?

Weight savings FTW

Maybe Yamaha still has the tooling from the XS750 and 850 triples:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_XS750

R1 and R6 triple

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-...les/21621.html

Nice.

Yahama is the best of the big 4, IMO. Best fit & finish, best plastics quality, best paint, and best-shifting trans. And I dunno about the 06+ R6, but the 03-05 had the smoothest engine of all the 600's. Never should have sold mine.