Which motorcycle did Yamaha introduce in 1998 as its flagship superbike?

Yamaha introduced the YZF-R1 in 1998 as its new flagship superbike.

The first-generation R1 used a 998 cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine and was designed to combine liter-bike power with unusually compact dimensions. Its closely stacked gearbox helped shorten the engine, contributing to the model’s compact chassis and sharp handling.

The R1 quickly became one of the defining Japanese superbikes of the late 1990s. It joined Yamaha’s sport-bike range above the smaller YZF-R6, which arrived in 1999 as a middleweight supersport model.

The R1 is sometimes confused with Yamaha’s earlier FZR1000. Both were high-performance liter-class motorcycles, but the YZF-R1 was a new model line rather than simply a renamed FZR. Later generations added fuel injection, electronic rider aids and extensive chassis revisions.