Yamaha YZF-R1

[Bigsaint]

I'm really thinking about pulling the trigger on one of these sport bikes. Anyone have any experience with them... good, bad or indifferent ?



I sold my last street bike when I got married. It's been ten years now and I'm read for another one ( bike, that is). A friend of mine has a 2001 YZF-R1, says first gear is good for about 85 MPH . Everything I've read so far is all positive, would like to hear about any negative aspects of this bike. There's a few good deals floating around on '02 leftovers, or I could wait 'till fall for a '03.



TIA !



Scott W.

 

[WKener]

Nothing but good things from R1 owners that I know...

 

[NVR FNSH]

I've only heard good things about them as well. That is, when they are used for what they were designed for by a rider that is capable of using the bike.



I'd love to own one but I know I'm never going to even come close to the limits of the bike on the street. Not trying to say don't buy one, just take serious stock of what your needs/wants are. When I win the bet with my wife, I've got to drop 40lbs and keep it off for 6 months, I will be buying a Honda Interceptor or BMW R1100S.



Brian

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

My STREEt Baby

<img src=http://image1ex. villagephotos.com/pubimage. asp?id_=172909&uid=13456>

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

My Race Buddy

<img src=http://image1ex. villagephotos.com/pubimage. asp?id_=173780&uid=13456>

 

[Bigsaint]

Toolman... Awesome bikes . You are obviously a Kawasaki man. What's the talk around the track on the Yamaha I mentioned above. Don't be afraid to hurt me .



Scott W.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Yamaha plays a funny game when it comes to superbike. The R1 is used in Formula racing (As the gsxr 1000 , R1, Zx9R Top off the field amongst others) The R1 in my opinion is a GORGEOUS bike (In fact the zx9+6R share the same styling cues as the headlights now show) all in all a sweet package. Me I am (I can't believe I am telling a cop this) a huge wheelie fan (Start 'em off @ 65 and click out 2 gears) and the KawaMooMoo transmission has Allways been good to me weather blasting out seccond gear monster rolling burnouts @ 40 or a quick flick of clutch in seccond to do some one wheeled banditry. The R1 really FEELS as nimble as it looks. VERY flickable lean > Center < lean and the front end input on the new generation yam is much more tamed than the previous gen. One HUGE problem I found was the clutch baskets were very weak! Again newer gen have been revised so this isn't a problem. Another bummer was the wicked plasticy feel Shift and forget trans ..... maybe just me but I have heard other complaints as such. As with any litre bike the front end loves to stare at the moon in first and the Yam is no exception of the rule. With pretty muck is the shortest wheelbase out of the big 4 alot of newbies that think they can handle all of that nut usually have road rash on their backside and need a tailsection at the least. All in all I like 'em alot (As I am A HUGE ANTI~GIXXER person) and quite honestly have been kickin' the ball arround on getting a Silver/Black 02 I am major KawBoy infested and my opinion may not agree with many but looking at the two (9R and R1) I like the 9R as it has great ergos , Rips , does what I want it to and can be done in fasion after 150 miles. R1 Just Plain Rips ... But so do your wrists BEFORE 150 miles. R1 Beautiful styling ... ... ... 9R BOROWED R1 Styling. R1 Light and nimble ..... 9R Portly and nimble but portly. Both get respect wherever you end up at (Exept for the "Gixxer Blue and white no individuality Wahh wahh were #1" Boys How many Gsxr1000's still have the factory bodywork still left on them? Man I should go work for cycleworld huh?

 

[Bigsaint]

Thanks Toolman, that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for !!! Real world stuff, from folks that drive these rice rockets on a regular basis. No doubt, that write could easily make cycle world .



Don't sweat the wheelie stuff, I'm a motorhead just like you, just play cop to feed the family .



Thanks again buddy !



Scott W.

 

[Bigsaint]

UPDATE !!!

Well, after looking and sitting and looking and sitting, I took the Toolmans advice and checked out the Kawa ZX-12R. Found a real nice '02 Blue ZX and she will be all mine next week. I'm ready to be a kid again .



Scott W.

 

[Todd G]

Keep that get-out-of-jail card in your pocket at all times

 

[K_Arts]

Sounds like you picked out a pretty sweet bike Scott. Make sure you share some pictures with us when you get it.



Kev

 

[GiesJ]

Scott -

like Kev said sounds like you picked your ride out already but I'll share what I know...

I have a friend who has both an R-1 and an RC-51. There is nothing like the sound of the v-twin. I'm a Ducatti fan - big time and the 51 is a maintenance friendly version of that. ANyway, the 51 is not for me size wize - I'm 6'2" and alot of leg, so I was pretty cramped when I took it 40ish miles out of town into a canyon. The R-1 is a bigger bike and I just loved it. It had a micron pipe and a powercommander in it. she went. I love the dynamics of the bike and the flat black and silver has got a killer look too.

For what it's worth, I've also spent some time on a 9R just like toolmans and it is sweet too. the larger bikes get me into more trouble but fit my body size better. Good luck in whatever you choose and watch out for that idiot driver that doesn't see you!

J

 

[TPCDrafting]

#ad




This spring I bought this from a friend. I went for the Retro bike instead of buying new. It's an '84 Ninja 900. Their first year I believe. It has 11,000 well maintained miles on it. It's an oldy, but it's still a rip to hang on to! Everybody likes the custom paint but my wife, she hates it!

It's got twin Super Trapps and K&N filters.

 

[Bigsaint]

Thanks guys and you bet I'll post a pic. as soon as I get the bike.



GiesJ... I agree, the R1 was sweet. I drove a buddies 01, stock, and it was insane. The selling point on the Kawa for me was that it just felt like it fit me somewhat better. I'm 6' 1".



tpcdrafting... that's and awesome bike ! I like the custom paint .



Scott W.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Z-ReX baby

Comfy UJM seating position, tons of torque and classy

80's Superbike looks:



#ad