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Thinking out loud

Posted by Staff
Saturday, 25 August 2007
*By Mirage* I’ve owned many motorcycles over the years from multiple manufacturers (i.e. Honda, Kawasaki, etc.) but when I first saw the 2004 Yamaha R1 I knew it was the bike I’ve been waiting for. It exuded sexiness like nothing I’ve seen before. From the under seat exhaust to the inverted swing arm, it looked like it was moving while sitting on its front and rear stands. After a few weeks of debating whether I should sell my current (at that time a 1995 CBR 900 RR) motorcycle I made the decision. Out with the old and in with the new. Gone are the days of carburetor syncing and squishy brakes. Hello fuel injection, inverted front forks, radial brakes, 17in front rim, digital dash displays and more! Now mind you, after calling six dealers only to hear that they had already sold their allotment and that I’d be hard pressed to find a dealer who would have one, I thought all hope was lost. You must know that all this was occurring while it was 20 degrees outside and no one in their right mind would be shopping for a new motorcycle. Right? Wrong! Apparently I wasn’t the only one with this idea as it took a few weeks of calling and faxing dealers to find one to work with. Luckily the one I found was not only willing to sell me an R1 but sell it for less than MSRP. I couldn’t reach for the car keys fast enough to take the trip to the local dealer. Needless to say I put my deposit down on a 2004 Cerulean silver version and waited. Patiently waiting is not my strong suit but I can say without a shadow of a doubt, it was worth every minute. Four months passed and I finally received a phone call saying: “Come on down, your motorcycle is in.” After getting all the required paperwork together I made my way to the dealer. I have to admit I was a little nervous since I never did get to sit on the bike or see it in person. I made my decision off high-resolution photos, brochure data, and specifications found on the Yamaha web site. My biggest concern was the seating position. I’m not a small person (6’2” – 200lbs.) so being cramped while riding is not something I look forward to. This is especially true after spending large amounts of money. Fortunately, to my surprise, the seating position was superb. Perhaps Yamaha had a six-footer on the design team? Throwing a leg over the R1 felt perfect, with a seat to bar relationship that put minimal pressure on my wrists and didn't hurt my back. The tank, albeit not as big as I would like, did not feel like a small 600cc version. I think that the lowered pegs, and the redesigned tank and controls, really helped the rider's comfort (the "rider triangle" that everyone mentions - the relationship between the bars, pegs, and seat). As my initial voyage from the dealer to the gas station started, I thought of two impressions. One I already mentioned (rider comfort) and two, “man this thing’s got a tall first gear.” Shifting took some getting used to as it was a brand new clutch along with everything else on the bike, but after a quick fill-up, it was off to the nearest highway. I remember that I had a huge grin on my face during the whole trip home. It’s a good thing I had a dark shield on my Shoei otherwise I’m sure people would’ve thought, “what’s that guy smiling about?” I think I would have answered that question by saying: “I’m on board a fantastic motorcycle so life is good.” Now being that I was in the break-in period, I couldn’t really get in the rpm range where the R1 likes to be but never the less, it was apparent that this new beast had enough testosterone to put Arnold Schwarzenegger to shame. The journey home was too short as I could’ve been out riding all day but alas, at some point you have to park your steed. Fast-forward almost 4 years and the performance is still remarkable. I knew coming home that cold late fall day “the One” was biding it's time waiting to be unleashed. Thankfully after 12,000+ miles I’ve had zero mechanical issues and all the horsepower I could want. Although I’m sure you’ve read the horsepower listings and zero to sixty times, which by themselves are impressive (as any liter bike is now-a-days ) to know what really needs to be said is this: The 2004 R1 is a remarkable machine doing everything extremely well. The suspension out of the box makes riding effortless and the ergonomics are perfect. Whether it’s canyon carving twisties you’re looking for or just regular street riding, you certainly won’t be disappointed in any one of Yamaha’s previous generation R1’s or its latest creation. Clearly the liter bike class has grown over the years and to stand out is particularly hard but Yamaha seems to have done it. It’s a beautiful time to be sport bike rider. Cheers! Go to the Bike Review forum to share your thoughts on this story.

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