Yamaha YZF-R1 (2004-2006)

Have had 10 months now and covered about 7K and 7 thousand happy miles they have been. Coming off a K2 GSXR 600 I was a little scepticle... no need, insurance wise it was 50 pounds more a YEAR! and performance wise it has taken my riding to another level... Very Very easy to ride, docile around town and not particularly wristy either, power isn't massive low down but starts moving from about 5K and goes completely f**king nuts after about 11K.. hold on tight (to the bike and your licence!).. bike is incredibly planted and the confidence in corners is great and did I mention the lean?? it will lean for Japan and then some!...Ridden in a hot French Summer, sub zero English commute and terrential rain, have never felt so safe/planted on a bike.. oh yeah and it may be a 7 year old design but still looks smoking and always draws positive comments. Ok Bad Bits/niggles (cos all bikes have them).. Fairing Panels are very thin/flimsy and though I hate to say it do feel cheap. Gearbox is a little cluncky and you do get the odd false neutral especially when upshifting when gunning it. (Guess I was spoilt with suzi gearboxes for to long!). Other than she's a beauty and a beast.... but the thing is YOU decide... first Yamaha for me and very impressed.

Having come from a cbr600f,the R1 makes it feel anaemic,it does everything better,the thing what is striking is the fact it makes you feel more alive,it will potter about or give it your 100% and it will laugh at you and say is that all you got kind of thing.I was reserved about owning one,but looks and performance you can,t fault it.I havn,t ridden every bike but the R1 has that sublime don,t mess with me look and feeling about it.

I had a 2004 R1 purchased brand new at launch. Was first Jap 1000cc has had V-twins before. Have to say it was a good bike, but was not impressed with the build qaulity Panels were too flimsy and felt cheap. Was forever fighting to keep the front down when nailing it. Bike looked good though. Until I binned it at 12 weeks old, resulting in it being a write off as plastics just fell apart and forks bent. Went a gixer 750 K4 after and that felt loads better as was solid build quality and much more useable.

Thats it the 04 R1 is nice. An R1 should not be nice. I had a 98 model that was wicked, in all senses of the word. My 04 was nice. I toured long distances- covered 20,000 miles im less than two years. No where near as grunty as the 98 but faster and easier to ride. The only bad bit is that tyre choice is critical. Get the wrong ones (Corsa III) and the steering gets very very heavy at low speed and the back end slides into corners. Just chopped it in for a new one - much better. This one has got the fire back. It took Yamaha 9 years repeat the feeling of the original R1 but they have got it just about right

chopped in my Aprilia last July for a new Laguna Seca coloured 2006 model. A month later i went over to France on it. i have now finally found a bike that inspires me with confidence even in pouring rain. the feedback is fantastic and the stability at both high and low speed is the best i have experienced. Build quality is excellent and the feel good factor it gives me every time i ride has been worth every penny, with more than enough performance for any average road rider and after all looking good is part of riding this type of hypersports bike and this R1 has got what it takes! this bike is so good that i dont see myself parting with it for a long time to come.

The R1 has to be the best litre bike you can buy for the road. Having access to fireblades, gixers and a ZX10, the R1 simply blows me away with its ability. The riding position is superb. If you found a blade uncomfortable, then try one of these. Its also the best looking superbike out there. The downside is that the clutch plates fused together and needed soaking over night, and the bike plays up in hot weather especially around town. The gear change can be a little clunky at times also. People have moaned about the lack of torque with this incarnation of the R1, I found it helps when putting the power down out of corners. Strengths: Looks, handling, riding position, comfort. Looks. Build quality. Parts available. Weaknesses: Tyre wear, gear selection, bikes popularity.

Traded in by 2004 blade for the 2006 R1 - The R1 is better built in terms of quality and feels better to ride. Only issue I have has is with vibration early on and this went after about 1,200 miles. Better than the blade around town, but not as good on the track (for me anyway - less stability at the front). Strengths: Looks, build quality and it's high rev grin factor. Weaknesses: Still vibrates more than a honda between 3 and 5 K.

Having just moved from an Aprilia RSV Mille I have to say that the one thing that I notice most is the real lack of performance at lower revs. The Mille would just leave it standing. The seat height is lower than the Mille which is good for me & the riding poition is much more comfortable. I had found the gear box clunky & many false neutrals but this has become alot better as it is getting run in. You can really feel that is a lot lighter & it tips into corners so easily. The Mille had to be wrestled in comparison (& I thought the Mille was good). Considering it is February, cold damp & I'm on a new bike, it gives me a lot of confidence on braking & cornering. Strengths: Looks, sound of exhaust, weight, higher rev performance. Weaknesses: Really weak performance at lower revs, poorly positioned foot pegs, they are exactly in the path of where my legs want to be when stationary on the bike. Non adjustable clutch lever. Clunky gear box.

I had reservations about taking on 170 BHP, I needn't have as unless you are a freakin nut case it is a pretty docile bike. Set the rev warning light to 6k revs and change up when you see it. Even limiting the revs to 6k this bike is awesome, the low down grunt is exceptional and for most riding you can keep it in 6th, it really is that good. The "turn in" is true sports bike, a gentle nudge and it simply goes where you point it. The instruments are clear and concise and the switches intuitive and easy to use with a firm feel. I traded up from a CBR600 and for the first mile of riding I couldn't stop thinking what have I done! The riding position can only be described as "tough", tough on the neck, the wrists and the back. It's only above 50 mph that the airflow lifts your body up in to a comfortable position and takes some of the strain away. With a seat height of 830mm it's probably the highest seat on a sportsbike today. I fitted an Alpha Technik link arm that lowers it by 30mm. Strengths: Torque, lots of it and it's also a beautiful piece of engineering. Weaknesses: It may be the most comfortable superbike bit that doesn't say much, try before you buy.

This is simply the coolest bike on the planet!!Precision engineering like a swiss watch (forget your dukes etc), with gorgeous looks and sound (have you seen that ugly gixer end can ?), and with all the performance and character you will ever need (boring blades go home)- what more could you ask for ? Having previously owned R6, R1, Blade, Boxer Cup Replika etc etc this new generation R1 is the dogs. Pure music from the induction roar (first time on an R1) will keep you grinning. Gearbox is also so slick, clutchless changes smoother than with clutch. If you haven't tried one yet - you must, and you will be sold, if not then it's time to hang up the leathers and get a new pipe and slippers.  Strengths: 1/ Performance, performance, performance. 2/ Looks, looks, looks. 3/ Sound, sound, sound 4/ Cool, cool, cool.  Weaknesses: 1/ Pillion provision poor (rather tall leggy wife to accommodate occasionally). 2/ No good for touring. 3/ Flat below 4500 rpm 4/ Yamaha sports screen means more wind protection but more wrist pressure.