Yamaha YZF R1 2006. Review/Pictures

[Radar]

I have always wanted to ride Yamahas’ iconic litre sports bike and Prezzo (of TBF) was good enough to give me an opportunity to satisfy this craving while we in Aosta in Italy recently. Under the shadow of Mount Blanc is a pretty spectacular setting to realize a long held ambition!

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/France%202007/P6030053.jpg
Not a bad location for my first ride on a R1!

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/France%202007/P6040020.jpg
The name of the beast...

I must admit that I was actually a little reluctant to ride the R1 initially; somebody else’s very expensive bike, many miles from home, on the wrong side of unfamiliar and demanding roads…what if I dropped his pride and joy? So the first emotion I felt when sitting on the big Yamaha wasn’t excitement, anticipation or fear even…no it was nerves. However as the miles mounted this feeling rapidly subsided and after 15 miles or so things were beginning to really come together and my nerves just melted away.

What struck me was just how is it was to ride, somehow I had expected that any of the hard hitting litre super bikes like the R1 or Fireblade would be difficult to master. In fact the opposite was true and the performance was extremely easy to access, while I don’t think I went that much faster than I normally do the pure ease of it was immensely impressive.

The R1 was great in the twisties too especially when left in a lower gear, say 3rd or 4th and rowed from bend to bend. I particularly remember a sequence of perhaps a dozen bends that flowed into one another in quick succession and it felt great to flicking from left to right and attacking each one in turn. Even with a marginal rear tyre the R1 felt assured and stable and my confidence was growing with every mile. The brakes were superb and similar in feel to those on my Thundercat, but with way more bite especially from higher speeds.

All the stuff about performance, handling and brakes is hardly surprising, but the level of comfort I enjoyed during my ride was. My expectation had been the R1 would be cramped and whilst the riding position was compact the Yam left me with no aches or pains for the 140 miles or so she was mine.

Overall the R1 proved itself to be the bike I expected, but without the intimidation to go with the power. What a machine; very probably the R1 will be my next bike when the time comes! Thanks again Prezzo!!

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/France%202007/P6030055.jpg
I think we look made for each other...

https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j289/Radarspit/France%202007/Picture035.jpg

[craigs23]

[Fahd]

[lllN30lll]

If you buy one then i'm selling mine
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Turbo R1
CRF450R

[colin1]

reminds me of my go on an r1

r1's can be enjoyed by leisurely bikers too, and id agree that its more about power on tap and under control than being a scarey beast

maybe r1's should only be sold to sensible chaps who use them carefully

although id like to mention that the 98 r1s are very affordable at only about £2500 so no need for us leisurely bikers to buy the latest model
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Fahd]

[Radar]

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[mrtEE]

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[Noxious89123]

[colin1]

i think the building is from a video clip of someone who rigged their house up with the ultimate christmas lights

sequenced lights
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Radar]

[colin1]

nah roof is different
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colin1 is officially faster than god