Video: Our First Laps on the 2015 Yamaha R1

Some days are better than others, and just the same, some motorcycles better than the next. This week we reminded ourselves of how true both those things can be by flying to Sydney, Australia and throwing a leg over Yamaha's all-new 2015 R1 at Sydney Motorsport Park (more commonly referred to as Eastern Creek).

During our trip and time at the track, we had the opportunity to ride the R1 and up-spec R1M, both of which utterly shocked us with their out-of-the-box performance. Yamaha has stepped up big time in 2015, and in borrowing technology from its MotoGP team, built a bike that's leaps and bounds better than its predecessor, both in terms of handling, power, and electronics. More specifically, the bike has better front-end feel than before, great aerodynamics and ergonomics, especially for taller riders, and an expansive electronics package that centers on smooth intervention for better drives through and out of corners. It also doesn't hurt, of course, that the bike weighs just 439 pounds (wet) and flicks from left to right, or vice versa, with the lightest of inputs.

For more information and feedback on the 2015 R1, be sure to check back soon for our full first ride report on the bike (Update: you can read our first ride review on the R1 here, and our first ride report on the R1M here). In the meantime, crank the volume up on your smart phone, tablet, or computer, and enjoy this onboard lap shot during our first day aboard the R1M at Sydney Motorsport Park's 2.8 mile Brabham circuit.

It's, if nothing else, a little reminder that some days are better than others. And that some motorcycles are...well, we'll just let the video do the talking.

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