Yamaha made a heartbreaking announcement a while ago saying that the YZF-R1 will not see updates in the future, possibly signalling the end of the line for an iconic litre-class motorcycle. However, new patent images have revealed a battery pack nestled inside what looks to be identical to an R1 frame.
The patent images show a large battery pack, its positioning, and the overall structure of the motorcycle. The electric motorcycle uses a tubular frame with the battery pack being a semi-stressed member, while what seems like a gearbox driving the rear wheel.
The battery pack seems to be liquid-cooled and as per reports, the drivetrain uses aluminium extensively and the motor could be a high-performance unit.
However, what seems confusing though is the basic suspension setup, as the rear shock is mounted directly on the swing arm, more in tune with a motorcycle on a budget than a halo. That said, the patent images can be for the battery pack alone and not for the entire motorcycle.
