I thought it was not coming with headlights, etc. I may have missed it, but thought I read it was not going to be street legal.

The R1M is street legal also. It's an R1 with CF bodywork, Ohlins electronic suspension, CCU, wider tire, brushed aluminum tank and swingarm. Aside from that stuff they are essentially the same.

The H2R on the other hand is not street legal.

How so? In the US they would not be able to license the M as they are not street legal.

This is the first time a jap bike has brought all this tech, meaning it is getting cheaper to make. Just like in the car world. The higher priced typically start the new tech and it works its way down. Just like ABS for example.

Since when is the M model not street legal?

I personally would not say the base model is cheap at $16500.. I would say it is more like if you can't beat or match your competitors contact their suppliers and buy the same parts. Or should I say the same stuff Ducati uses.

How so? In the US they would not be able to license the M as they are not street legal.
This is the first time a jap bike has brought all this tech, meaning it is getting cheaper to make. Just like in the car world. The higher priced typically start the new tech and it works its way down. Just like ABS for example.

Like I said, I'm sure there are a few nuts like you :P that will use the CF fairings on the track, but to most people a few grand, even after dropping $20K on a toy, is still a good chunk of change. And to the people who think $20K is chump change, they probably didn't get to that point by being cavalier with their money. ;)

If you are buying a 20k+ bike I doubt you are worried about a few grand in body fairings. Id go carbon fiber if I was racing to make something off it. Dodge has already priced me, I just dont see it worth it right now for my bike as I am just a small fry, but there have been plenty of people here that have had carbon fiber track bikes and street bikes.

Plus Id rather just use what comes on it before buying other race fairings.

I'm aware that the body panels are carbon fiber, but how many people are going to leave them on there when they track it? I'm sure a few, but I'd hope most would have sense enough to replace them with race bodywork. Otherwise you'll be looking at a pretty hefty repair bill every time you come off the bike. Maybe these bikes are so nannied now riders will hardly ever crash. It'll be interesting to see.

I just know the carbon fiber isn't much of an incentive for me when trying to justify the added cost since I'd be replacing them immediately with cheap plastic panels which would thankfully eliminate those god awful headlights.

I would wager some $ the majority of the M will be sitting at a bike night near you. The yamaha will possibly get some of the other japanese makers to do something, being they have been losing the techno battle in motorcycling since 2007.
The RSV4, S1000RR & any Ducati SBK since 2007 have been continually bringing the tech!
I am looking fwd to riding the new R1 once it shows up at the local dealer.

Aren't the m's already sold out

I'm aware that the body panels are carbon fiber, but how many people are going to leave them on there when they track it? I'm sure a few, but I'd hope most would have sense enough to replace them with race bodywork. Otherwise you'll be looking at a pretty hefty repair bill every time you come off the bike. Maybe these bikes are so nannied now riders will hardly ever crash. It'll be interesting to see.

I just know the carbon fiber isn't much of an incentive for me when trying to justify the added cost since I'd be replacing them immediately with cheap plastic panels which would thankfully eliminate those god awful headlights.