2007 Yamaha YZF R1 Oppinions?

[CRF_Rider]

Hi im off to go have a look at an '07 r1 this weekend (in white and red ). An i was wondering if theres anyone that has had one/owns one/ridden one an what are they like to live with? Will be used for Sunday runs out (an general day off so im off to play), couple of rallies, maybe the odd commute to work so i can have a play afterwards etc. Have had an R6 + a ZX9R aswell as several supermoto's and off road machinery (like trials bikes, crossers etc so good varied mix), done a few trackdays and a bit of racing etc etc.
Had a go on Dave's/G's GSXR thou in the summer an decided now is the right time to buy as its just before xmas an everyone is skint. So i should (and am on this r1 in point) be gettin a bettter deal.
Plus an negative points:
feel.
handling (suppose it comes under feel).
engine.
general running + maintenance costs.
how easy it is to live with.
etc etc

Also if theres any alternative that i should be looking at -£5K please do voice your oppinions.
Cheers Chris/CRF
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Why is it everything i race, seems to be going backwards?
Current: Honda CRF 450 R Supermotard
Previous: Yam TY250 x2, Gas Gas TXT 200, Sherco 290, Suzuki TS 50,Honda CG 125, Yam SR250, Suzuki DR-Z400E, Yamaha YZF R6 112rwbhp

[matlow]

I had one of these in black a few years ago, bought it new. long revving engine which means its super easy to ride around town. just seems to rev and rev and rev when you pin the throttle, although to counter that i found the fly by wire throttle to be hesitant when pulling away. On an open road blast it was really quick.
handling is very neutral, comfortable riding position although the cat being beside your leg can make it uncomfortable when coming into town after a blast and getting caught at the lights. to the point where you'll find yourself pulling some ballet moves when the weathers warm enough. Brakes are really good and never seemed to suffer from fade.
i put on Akra cans which made a healthy difference to mid range, then a couple of months later added the Y piece to remove the cat issue, once i'd changed that the fuelling went to pot though so had to fork out for a power comander. pc made no difference to outright BHP but it did smooth the fuelling back out.
i'd not be disapointed to have another
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Hornet 600, CBR600F, 929 blade, 07 R1, R1200GS, 09 Blade, 750 SRAD, ZZR1200, 954 Blade, KTM 990 Adventure, Ducati 749s

[CRF_Rider]

cheers
What do you ride now out of interest? an if you had both in the garage which do you think you would take out more?
Any mods you'd say do asap?
would putting some heat wrap stuff round the link pipes sort out the heating issue do ya think?
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Why is it everything i race, seems to be going backwards?
Current: Honda CRF 450 R Supermotard
Previous: Yam TY250 x2, Gas Gas TXT 200, Sherco 290, Suzuki TS 50,Honda CG 125, Yam SR250, Suzuki DR-Z400E, Yamaha YZF R6 112rwbhp

[rac3r]

I want one of those
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[boundy]

The old mans got an 07 R1, I've rode it a few time and love it to bits. He moans after an hour that his back is going. I rode it back to back against my 99 GSXR600 and didn't want to give it back, its so smooth, power comes from nothing. It feels like I was perched on top rather than sat in it compared to my old GSXR or current 98 ZX9r. Brakes are first class but than again anthing is compared to the 6 pots on early ZX9's.

Its almost to easy to ride, it just seems to work.

All this is based on 40-50 miles road riding around Hants and Surrey

[woo]

Good things:
Great bike all round and will do what you want it to.

Excellent handling and will go smoothly anywhere you want it to go.

The brakes are amazing and if pressed hard enough could stop the planet earth from rotating round the sun!

Looks beautiful and has fly by wire and has nice tech!

Clocks look great can tell you the current temp of where you are, has a clock, can change the rev light and the brightness of the backlights

Despite everything it still is a fast bike

Exhaust are great in winter as they provide extra heating for your legs however in summer they can feel like they are cooking your legs!

Has automatic fast idle/choke (I hated this feature I thought the automatic fast idle stayed on far longer than it needs to, I prefer manual choke)

Lights cannot be switched off are always on

Bad bits:
The 07-08 R1 low end torque is not that great but mid range and top end is very good.
Whereas the older models 98-02 had great low end torque and midrange and top end.

Storage space under the seat is a joke and good luck trying to fit a chain and disc lock in there.

To change the spark plugs is a nightmare.
You have to losen the radiator to get to them and its quite fiddley!
Also batterys a nightmare to get at as you have to take the seat off (which is normal) and practically almost remove the fuel tank, just to take the battery out if you have problems with it in winter like I did!

They are a theif magnet (so is anything nice these days) as my 08 R1 got stolen in April , was blue white & black with gold rims, with only 3000 miles on the clock.

Does about 30-35mpg depending on how you ride whereas my vespa does 70mpg lol

The swing arm on the rightside as you are sitting on the bike, can get marked easy so good idea to use venture shield or some sort of protection to stop it getting marked by road debris.

There have been cases where engines have failed due to wearing of the valve stems inside the engine and its hard to tell if the bike has this problem as these engines are quite noisey anyway.
The sound is a sort of ticking sound but the annoying things is alot of these model R1's and 04-06 R1's make that noise.
Type 07-08 R1 ticking sound into google and you will find out more about this.



However it is a great bike but I and I choose not to get another but went back to my first 00 R1, but when I get a bit more funds will put the 07-08 R1 brakes and front forks on my 00 R1.

This bike is fun and powerful and if not respected will throw you off however the earlier R1's if disrespected will simply kill you lol!

Only person an R1 cannot slay is CHUCK NORRIS!

Price wise at this time of year anything from £4500-£6500, via ebay, gumtree, mcn, biketrader, pistonheads
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Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[Dilyan]

^ This has got to be the most useful and practical bike review I've read recently. Good job!
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Current: 2007 VFR800; Ex: 2001 YZF600R Thundercat
Škoda Octavia (yes, a taxi driver)

[matlow]

Agreed, really good write up. I never needed to do maintenance on it so wasnt aware of the hassles.
Something that has occured to me since though was mine needed a new throttle position sensor twice in the time i had it, under warranty so not sure of costs. symptom was the engine would cut out when closing the throttle, not frequently i might add but made for the occasional brown trouser moment mid corner.
As for mods the one i would go for over anything is the exhaust, definitely had an impact on midrange and the standard exhausts are super sterile in the noise department.
I'm currently without bike at the moment but looking to get a older blade in the new year, due to budgetry restraints now that i have a family etc..
I still think the 07/08 R1 is one of the best looking bikes theres been.

https://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k201/mrpoatohead/DSC00065.jpg
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Hornet 600, CBR600F, 929 blade, 07 R1, R1200GS, 09 Blade, 750 SRAD, ZZR1200, 954 Blade, KTM 990 Adventure, Ducati 749s

[CRF_Rider]

hey cheers for the informative replys great rider reviews too.
Will let ya know how it goes this weekend.
____________________
Why is it everything i race, seems to be going backwards?
Current: Honda CRF 450 R Supermotard
Previous: Yam TY250 x2, Gas Gas TXT 200, Sherco 290, Suzuki TS 50,Honda CG 125, Yam SR250, Suzuki DR-Z400E, Yamaha YZF R6 112rwbhp

[rac3r]

Aren't the 04/5/6 R1's basically the same?
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[P.]

Can't see myself on an R1, If I was to get a litre it would have to be an 05/06 GSXR... just because I felt perfectly fine on that bike, it fitted.

[Fizzer Thou]

Nothing like the R1 - no matter what year

www.yamahar1.co.uk
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[rac3r]

Sorry to hijack the thread but what are 03 shape R1's like? As mental as the old ones or a bit more 'civilized' ?
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[woo]

lol ok here are almost all the R1's I have owned from 2000-2008

02-03 R1's are mental just a little bit more smooth as oposed to aggressive.
Has almost practically the same engine as the 98-01 R1's

02 R1's you can switch the lights off but the 03 R1's you cannot as they are permantely on, also the 02-03 R1's also have automatic fast idle when the engine is started from cold.

I didnt really get on with my 02 R1 so now I am happily married to an 00 R1

One point it got stupid and I had 4 R1s in the garage, that was just plain stupid of me!
Now just a Vespa ET4 125cc and an 00 R1 (£8 for a full tank of petrol just wins as petrol is getting to expensive, £20 for the R1 and both bikes do 100miles town ridding before reserve on that price, hence why I use the scooter for communting and the R1 for any ride outs or long rides from London to Fort William)

As for GSXR 1000's I only like the shape of the K1&K2 2001-2002, the rest I think are ugly but perform amazing and have far much more low end torque than an R1 could ever have.

The K3 is a mental bike not tried the others shame I think they are ugly.

Only Honda Fireblades that I like are from 2003-2006 rest dont appeal to me.

Never got on with looks of the Kawasaki range when I was going to get a Kawasaki J1/J2 I got put off with the fact they need the shimms checking or replacing every 8000 miles that put me right off when the R6 & R1 of that year dont need that done untill around 24000 miles.

As for the BMW never ridden it but heard nothing but great things only downer is that a guy I know whos does racing had 2 of these engines blow up during testing.
Plus I think the bike is ugly lol, unsymetrical headlights really dont sit well with me.
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Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[EXC-Rider]

holy shit i thought i posted this topic for a second
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owned bikes: DR50, Thumpsta 110 , Honda CR85, Speedfight 100, Yamaha XT125X, Honda CRF450, Honda Hornet '07
current bikes: KTM EXC525 AKA the wheelie machine
A friend in need is a friend indeed but a friend with weed is better!

[bunglebubs]

You should get a GSXR! Everyone knows the GSXR is the faster, better handling and better looking bike
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899 Panigale, K7 GSXR 750

[Jayy]

Always been a fan of the R1, it's what I would have got if I didn't get the ZX10R. I test road an 04 R1 and an 06 ZX10R and the only reason I preferred the ZX was it felt more mental to ride than the R1.

Great looking bikes all the way from 98 up until the last few years, really don't like the newest R1s, I would say up until 08 they still looked great.