Yamaha YZF-R1 (2009-current)

Traded my 2008 Ducati 1098 for the new 2009 R1.I had alot of reservations about it before the descion was made,mostly due to the fact I thought I had the bike I would own for the rest of my life,and previously being lucky enough to have owned nearly all the latest and greatest bikes over the last 10years,I thought I'd found the bike of my dreams that ment more to me than just having the lastest tool.But a few problems with the Duke mainly the constant cutting-out,and also the fact that I do around 7-10k a year on bikes ment that I started to look else where.Anyway,after choosing the new r1,(and telling the wife the payments are roughly the same) I got one and made sure I put on the akras with Y piece straight away .Having had it for a little while now I can honestly say it's by far the best bike I've ever owned.The engine is a perfect mix of a twin and 4c,the handling is beyond the 1098 and my old K7-1000.It came with those fucked-up dunlops on it,but when I get some money together I'm putting a pair of 2ct's on that should quicken-up the steering.The brakes felt a bit vague at first but no doubt that's just the bedding-in.Not much engine braking,or maybe it's because I 'm used to the Duke.Comfort is good for me(6',13st) and the noise...fantastic! can't wait to do a trackday hopefully in march as the weather is shite at the moment.The looks are growing on me now after the exhaust,footrests,plate holder,and all the indicators have been changed to flush mounts.It is a very different bike to ride at first,but once your used to it,it's hard to imagine another bike offering such a unique blend of tech-and engine character.I'm off out to the garage t have another look!

Getting cold, but I don't care. This bike eats flys...especially the big green ones haha!

I've only test rode it for 3 days and cannot quite adapt to the engine I think people who have ridden a ducati or bmw would get on it and go quicker than those of us who've only ridden in line 4's. the looks are... in the eye of the beholder good from the front not so good from the rear but from any angle you can see this bike means business. it's power delivery is set up to allow for earlier power out of bends but 3 days was not long enough to build enough faith in it to do so. the handling is awesome on a par with the k9 suzuki. The engine cannot compete with the blades in the midrange but wins everywhere else. It might be different after an aftermarket exhaust system is fitted but you might lose the superb exhaust sound. a great bike but at £11,400 I cannot justify it. Probably the first bike since eu3 regulations came in... to challenge the k6 gixxer 1000

BAD ASS MOTORBIKE! I don't think any bike i've ever sat on was as nutz as the R1 in A MODE... it's a fly killer on the motorway...

This bike is fantastic, the engine is so smooth and just sounds great.The riding position is also great but it gets hot for your legs if stuck in traffic.Might need a rad guard too.I did 700 miles in two days and could still walk when i got off, so the riding position isn't bad. It's a bit stiff out the box and will need some tweaking to sort it. Tyres are a let down, yamaha should have put something else onto the flagship bike. At ten grand plus it's not cheap but worth the outlay in my opinion. Love it, especially in black.

You know what... I really hate people who say the R1 is UGLY. I love the look of it! I have become BIKESEXUAL!!!

I brought an R6 two months ago and got a full acrapovic system on it, but two days ago when I went to my local dealer. I saw the R1. I didn't like the look of it, but I brought it knowing it'll be faster then anything I can imagine. I've done just over 100 miles so far and it's not runned in yet but it's still fast. I love the 3 stage remaps (I haven't used A Mode yet which gives you the full 182ps) comparing to my R6 which was 140ps Anyways after ridding it, It looks much more beautiful now. It's grown on me. LOVE IT!

Had my R1 now for a little under a month and love it! Took it to the 2009TT to run it in and serviced by Road and Track who supplied Rossi's R1 for his lap of the circuit while he was over there. This bike is awesome!! And the difference it makes switching from the Standard setting to 'A' blows your mind and transforms the bike into a race bred missile. I still have memories of laughing under my crash hat at just how fast this bike accelerated and was in it's element riding around mountain section of the circuit. The amount of torque it produces coming out of corners made it feel like a twin, but then once you're tucked behind the screen and blipping through the gears it's back to the four banger missile it's always been with an extra kick. Since being back from the Isle of Mann I've fitted some Yoshimira Tri-Oval cans to it which makes the R1 sound like a caged animal. The only gripe I have which isn't a huge one is that it's not brilliant for a pillion and that Renntec still haven't made a grab rail for it? So if anyone has a 2009 R1 and live around Bournemouth, then would you loan Renntec your bike for the week as they need one to design the new rail. I would, but I'm over 400 miles away?? Over-all, this is the bike to have and wipes the floor with ALL other bikes at the moment!

right done 500 miles on mine now, takes a bit of getting used to but this is what i think of it, th handling riding postions and brakes on this bike are faultless, the clever bit id the power it has the smooothest power ever in the right places, as you open the throttle you have massive linear power, but friendly and usable it now makes my old gixer k5 feel like a prehestoric monster, but after that the power is usable and controlled and less than my best mates fireblade, it is a masterpiece of useable control, i have loved IL4's all my life but i could not go back to one again after this, if you want a top handling bike, if you want banzie top endy power then buy a gixer or a blade, but in the real world we all like to open the throttle and get smooth power and that is where this yam wins my mates blade feels like a vespa as you open the throttle compared to the R1 but then gets stronger as the revs build,i finally have found a 1000 superbike that has the lot,controlable power everywhere,perfect handling, superb controls,brakes and riding position is good, you need to change tyres mine has dunlop gp racer

Well fellas, my mate picked his up at the weekend, and i can say honestly...its superb, flick it to "A" mode and let rip, its like nothing i've ever ridden and i've ridden triple and owned an SP2 so have had a good experience of many different motors. It takes a while to get used to it, many may not like it when first on board, but like with any change, you need to give it time and get used to it.The noise is spot on, but again if all you've ever ridden is IL4's you may get off it and think "it sounds and feels a bit lumpy/rough" cant wait to see if the other manufacturers are brave enough to do summat different..now then, where's my cheque book!!