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Yamaha's Continued Lack of Top Speed

R

ReddiWhip

Joined Apr 2012
183 Posts | 67+
New Jersey - USA
Greetings, the newest new guy here! A blurb about myself; I ride Yamaha, I cheer for Yamaha. I have one quick question for the Moto GP loving masses. Why is it that year after year Yamaha is consistently lacking Top Speed? Everyone knows they’re always behind the Ducati and Honda Teams in this aspect, why?



I’m fairly sure Yamaha does extensive wind tunnel testing, so drag doesn’t seem to be the problem. Also, as I understand it, these bikes (especially the 1000’s) have far more power then the tires can handle, so the engine power is dialed back from the maximum available. I say this to try and rule Horse Power out as being the main issue. If Yamaha knows it’s a problem and can’t fix it, what gives?



Thanks!
 
Man, as was proved many times, top speed is not necessarily the essential factor for a winning bike. Handling, corner speed, anti-wheelie efficiency, (electronics) etc. Those are the things that matter in our times. Cheers
 
All of the factories have 2 things:

1. A budget

2. A list of priorities.



With 4 Yamahas in the top 6, top speed probably does not appear very high up the list of priorities.
 
Because Yamaha is acutely aware that MGP is not a drag race and ultimate top speed means very little to fast laps.
 
I most certainly agree with all you guys that Top Speed is not the end all, but how many times have we all watched the Yamaha riders battle through the twisties, come out on top, only to see their efforts neutralized on the straight (the least technical aspect of the track). It must be a bit disheartening, comments from Lorenzo and others support that. Yamaha appears to have a great do it all bike this year, I just lack the technical understanding as to why they can’t fix that one aspect of the bike. Qatar’s a few short hours away, CAN’T WAIT!!!
 
ReddiWhip said:
I most certainly agree with all you guys that Top Speed is not the end all, but how many times have we all watched the Yamaha riders battle through the twisties, come out on top, only to see their efforts neutralized on the straight (the least technical aspect of the track). It must be a bit disheartening, comments from Lorenzo and others support that. Yamaha appears to have a great do it all bike this year, I just lack the technical understanding as to why they can’t fix that one aspect of the bike. Qatar’s a few short hours away, CAN’T WAIT!!!
Click to expand...

In line four, crossplane crank etc; their long-term focus has been on making the bike smooth and good handling, and 5 of the last 8 titles perhaps vindicates their philosophy. Valentino is saying again as he did last year that the ducati power delivery is too brutal.



That said rumours persist that they wouldn't mind going for a V configuration and more power, but can't or don't want to spend the cubic dollars required.
 
Ducati has been winning SBK races with the slowest bike on the grid for some time now.



I'd not worry too much about Yamaha's lack of absolute top speed.
 
ReddiWhip said:
I most certainly agree with all you guys that Top Speed is not the end all, but how many times have we all watched the Yamaha riders battle through the twisties, come out on top, only to see their efforts neutralized on the straight (the least technical aspect of the track). It must be a bit disheartening, comments from Lorenzo and others support that. Yamaha appears to have a great do it all bike this year, I just lack the technical understanding as to why they can’t fix that one aspect of the bike. Qatar’s a few short hours away, CAN’T WAIT!!!
Click to expand...

Its kinda like a teeter-totter - handling vs power balance. Not saying its impossible to have ur cake and eat it too but it ain't easy!
 
The "problem" is the inline 4. But I don't know the exact reason. As far as I know this configuration is harder to cool, then they can't put the engine to rev as high as a V because of the heat generated.



B/c Ducati is a L (wider than V), it can cool easier so they can put the engine to rev a bit more than Honda. I think that's the main reason why Ducati is always at the top.
 
ReddiWhip said:
Greetings, the newest new guy here! A blurb about myself; I ride Yamaha, I cheer for Yamaha. I have one quick question for the Moto GP loving masses. Why is it that year after year Yamaha is consistently lacking Top Speed? Everyone knows they’re always behind the Ducati and Honda Teams in this aspect, why?



I’m fairly sure Yamaha does extensive wind tunnel testing, so drag doesn’t seem to be the problem. Also, as I understand it, these bikes (especially the 1000’s) have far more power then the tires can handle, so the engine power is dialed back from the maximum available. I say this to try and rule Horse Power out as being the main issue. If Yamaha knows it’s a problem and can’t fix it, what gives?



Thanks!
Click to expand...



Yamaha have a wind tunnel, but they also mount an I-4 engine across the frame. I'm sure the engine configuration is part of the top speed differential. Furthermore, the Yamaha allegedly lofts the front wheel with ease. If the front wheel is traveling towards the heavens, the bike cannot reach its acceleration potential or its top speed potential.
 
Engine cooling?!!! Ha ha!!!!! Now I've seen it all!



It's the widest engine config on the block (even wider than hondas old v5) so the wind/air is yams worst enemy.
 
What did JB say? "You come to the end of the main straight once a race. You go into and out of corners 14 times a race" or something like that. Trap speed isn't doing .... for ducati.
 
IN Line 4 : You have more Frontal Area..V4 --smaller frontal engine area , less drag , more speed..
 
V5Stroker said:
IN Line 4 : You have more Frontal Area..V4 --smaller frontal engine area , less drag , more speed..
Click to expand...



Especially if we take Rolando's "Spinnaker Effect" into account!!!
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