The 2012 Yamaha YZF-R1 - Six Stage Traction Control

No price, or information on when Yamaha Thailand will have it, but spearheading the Yamaha assault for the next years is a new Yamaha YZF-R1 that comes with six-stage traction control as standard.

Yamaha has a fair few new options in the range for next year, but unless you're a MotoGP wannabe or off-road enduro legend you'll struggle to find much to get overly excited about.

The big headlines will undoubtedly be grabbed by the Yamaha YZF-R1 which for 2012 looks pretty much the same as the current model (we will have to wait until late 2012 to see the next-generation face of the flagship Yamaha) but does get new-look headlights and lower fairing, a new ECU brain for smoother throttle action and better low to midrange power, cosmetic tweaks to the exhaust heatshield and end can and a new top yoke.

So far, so wow, but the 2012 Yamaha YZF-R1 does now get a six-way adjustable traction control system as standard which works by monitoring difference in wheel speed and adjusting the fuel injection, throttle opening and ignition timing.

Yamaha is marking its 50th anniversary with new color schemes. The new colors across the range include the R1, R6 and probably a few of the local scooter models.

The 2012 color scheme has been brought in to celebrate the firm's outings in racing around the world, aping the scheme first used by Yamaha in America in the early '60s.