Discussion
jjr1 said:
Those GT-Rs are seriously quick off the line, but he quickly gets whooped. The R1 completely annihilates him on the rolling start. I'd guess that GT-R is probably generating a good chunk more power than it left the showroom with too. legzr1 said:
Lovely bikes.
Only reason I asked was I've read posts praising just about every new bike produced since 1970 as the best bike ever - then you look at their previous bikes and understand the hyperbole - "just sold my 1980 250N super dream and this CB500 is amazaballs etc etc"
High praise for the R1 considering your last bike then!
It's fantastic . The modern bikes I've owned over the last few years are a Ducati 1098, sport classic , desmosedici , ktm duke 690(?) and I can honestly say the r1 is a cracking cracking bike . Betters them all although I didn't get to track the desmo unfortunately . You will not be disappointed !Only reason I asked was I've read posts praising just about every new bike produced since 1970 as the best bike ever - then you look at their previous bikes and understand the hyperbole - "just sold my 1980 250N super dream and this CB500 is amazaballs etc etc"
High praise for the R1 considering your last bike then!
Congratulations
LoonR1 said:
You might be able to keep up on the way to Hartside now
Not a hope - still not got intermittent semi-active suspension but my wheels are blue and light so game on lol.Doom,
Nice line up there.
The RSV4 will take some beating in the handling department (one area where they are outstanding) but they were always down on top end power - if the R1 gets close in the handling stakes (just pushing it around you can feel it's quite a bit lighter but feels a little firm) I'll be more than happy.
First impressions - the R1 has the beating of the S1000 in quality of finish and neat touches but it's not up to the pretty Aprilia with Ohlins and Brembo bling and the anodised finish on the York, frame and swing arm.
The mag wheels also look a little rough where you can see casting marks under the paint - the forged alloy rims on the Aprilia and S model 1198S look better quality.
But, those clocks - they'll probably age quite badly (I remember 2003 ZX10 clocks looking cool - they look naff now lol) - for the moment they're cool!
Not sure about the brake pressure meter though...
Oh, clear plastic-coated brake lines as standard - very 0W01
Hopefully the weather holds or improves this weekend so I can get some miles on it - delivered by van so currently showing 2 miles and 17.6 mpg - not sure how that works when it's used about a litre of fuel but has travelled from Japan
Biker's Nemesis said:
There was an R1 M at Ian Bells today.
Think I just missed you and Davey - popped up for paddock stand bobbins and it was bloody freezing!Parked at the front so missed the M. Looked very busy today.
Doom, weathers been s
t so still only 50 miles on the clock - very snatchy throttle response in A mode but started to feel better once used to it.Apart from that I love it.
Edited by legzr1 on Sunday 3rd May 00:30
legzr1 said:
Think I just missed you and Davey - popped up for paddock stand bobbins and it was bloody freezing!
Parked at the front so missed the M. Looked very busy today.
Doom, weathers been st so still only 50 miles on the clock - very snatchy throttle response in A mode but started to feel better once used to it.
Apart from that I love it.
I use b throttle on roads most of the time . Works better for slow stuff around town . I used the a on track and it was perfect .Parked at the front so missed the M. Looked very busy today.
Doom, weathers been s
t so still only 50 miles on the clock - very snatchy throttle response in A mode but started to feel better once used to it.Apart from that I love it.
Edited by legzr1 on Sunday 3rd May 00:30
1POB said:
I am really interested in this bike. I've just converted my 2013 ZX10 road bike into track only so I am looking for a replacement road bike and I am torn between this and the RSV4. Ideally I'd get the new RSV4 RF but at 18K it is just too much so I was looking at the "old" RSV4 Factory (new @ 14K) versus the R1 (15K). I don't suppose anyone has ridden both and has any opinions have they ?
Cheers,
Ed
Forgot about this, sorry.Cheers,
Ed
Up to around 300 miles now but weather and work are preventing me getting out ready for first service - ggrrrrr...
Posted this on Aprilia forum so just pasted here rather than re-typing :
LegzR1 said:
Loving the R1 - the motor is a peach (and I'm only using 8000 rpm until first service although I've strayed up to 10,000 a couple of times).
Low down fuelling in A mode is a little snatchy but you soon get used to it - it pulls better than the Aprilia and will hold town speeds in third where the Aprilia needed first or second to prevent chain snatch).
Starts pulling strong at 6000 then fairly takes off at 8000.
Its a fair bit quicker than the Aprilia although I'd be interested in seeing it compared to the RF.
To give you an idea of how quick the R1 is I was out with Tight5 from here and another mate on an 03 R1 - at one point the R1 rider set his away up a slip road to join a motorway up to a decent speed yet I managed to stay with him and start reeling him in just short-shifting at around 8500 rpm - doesn't sound that impressive but I couldn't do that running in the RSV4 or a 2010 S1000.
The electronics feel even better than the Aprilia - the anti-wheelie especially is barely detectable. That might change once I use all the power but it feels great just now.
Brakes (like the rest of the bike) are still bedding in but initial bite feels far stronger - you'd think they'd be all bedded in and ready to go at 250 miles but, truth be told I've hardly used them - the engine braking is that strong!
Knocking it down a few gears slows the bike as much as a mate braking fairly hard manages on an 03 R1 - this is taking some getting used to.
Got an akra slip on fitted and sounds great on the over run burbling away but the bike still,doesn't sound as good as the Aprilia.
Handling - no contest as it stands - fresh from the crate without any tinkering the RSV4 will run rings around the R1.
This is the one area where the Yam needs some tinkering.
At the minute (and baring in mind I'm still running in so not exactly pushing it) there's hardly any weight transfer yet it doesn't like trail braking to apexes - releasing the brakes and just getting on the throttle causes a little understeer and it just feels a little wayward compared to the (sublime) Ohlins kit on the Aprilia - I've read OE Ohlins being slagged over the years with some saying it's just a sticker - bks - compared to the standard JAP stuff it's in a different league in feel, is compliant on rough roads and nice and stable everywhere else.
Overall it's an excellent bike - lots of hype from the likes of MCN and maybe it's not quite 'that' good but I love it.
Its roomy and comfortable for the larger fellas out there too although I imagine midgets (below 6' ) might find using one foot or tiptoes and little nervy.
Theres a nice feel about the bike in general and it's quite well built (far superior to the disappointing S1000) although I miss the finish on the Aprilia frame, swing arm and top york.
The mag wheels might be lighter than the forged fitted to the factory (and they're far easier to keep clean) but there's a very rough finish to them - you can see the casting marks under the very thin paint.
The clocks are a revelation after the awkward and hard-to-read effort on the Aprilia - I prefer analogy tachos and thought I'd dislike the Yam's but they're clear, easy to read and look trick.
Final point (and don't wish to cause a storm here) but the Aprilia was almost out of warranty and not a day goes by where I didn't either have an issue myself or read of issues on here - on an £8000 bike I'd be pissed off - when it cost double that I thought enough is enough.
Im glad I owned the factory - best handling, best sounding and prettiest bike I've owned but I think I've done the right thing and returned to Yamaha after 12 years - this is my fourth R1 which followed an Exup 1000 and T'ace so I guess it was only a matter of time before Yamaha tempted me back.
Never say never - there's nothing stopping me changing for the RF at a later date but I'm sure as hell not going to throw another £11,000 into the deal for the 'privilege'.
Low down fuelling in A mode is a little snatchy but you soon get used to it - it pulls better than the Aprilia and will hold town speeds in third where the Aprilia needed first or second to prevent chain snatch).
Starts pulling strong at 6000 then fairly takes off at 8000.
Its a fair bit quicker than the Aprilia although I'd be interested in seeing it compared to the RF.
To give you an idea of how quick the R1 is I was out with Tight5 from here and another mate on an 03 R1 - at one point the R1 rider set his away up a slip road to join a motorway up to a decent speed yet I managed to stay with him and start reeling him in just short-shifting at around 8500 rpm - doesn't sound that impressive but I couldn't do that running in the RSV4 or a 2010 S1000.
The electronics feel even better than the Aprilia - the anti-wheelie especially is barely detectable. That might change once I use all the power but it feels great just now.
Brakes (like the rest of the bike) are still bedding in but initial bite feels far stronger - you'd think they'd be all bedded in and ready to go at 250 miles but, truth be told I've hardly used them - the engine braking is that strong!
Knocking it down a few gears slows the bike as much as a mate braking fairly hard manages on an 03 R1 - this is taking some getting used to.
Got an akra slip on fitted and sounds great on the over run burbling away but the bike still,doesn't sound as good as the Aprilia.
Handling - no contest as it stands - fresh from the crate without any tinkering the RSV4 will run rings around the R1.
This is the one area where the Yam needs some tinkering.
At the minute (and baring in mind I'm still running in so not exactly pushing it) there's hardly any weight transfer yet it doesn't like trail braking to apexes - releasing the brakes and just getting on the throttle causes a little understeer and it just feels a little wayward compared to the (sublime) Ohlins kit on the Aprilia - I've read OE Ohlins being slagged over the years with some saying it's just a sticker - b
ks - compared to the standard JAP stuff it's in a different league in feel, is compliant on rough roads and nice and stable everywhere else.Overall it's an excellent bike - lots of hype from the likes of MCN and maybe it's not quite 'that' good but I love it.
Its roomy and comfortable for the larger fellas out there too although I imagine midgets (below 6' ) might find using one foot or tiptoes and little nervy.
Theres a nice feel about the bike in general and it's quite well built (far superior to the disappointing S1000) although I miss the finish on the Aprilia frame, swing arm and top york.
The mag wheels might be lighter than the forged fitted to the factory (and they're far easier to keep clean) but there's a very rough finish to them - you can see the casting marks under the very thin paint.
The clocks are a revelation after the awkward and hard-to-read effort on the Aprilia - I prefer analogy tachos and thought I'd dislike the Yam's but they're clear, easy to read and look trick.
Final point (and don't wish to cause a storm here) but the Aprilia was almost out of warranty and not a day goes by where I didn't either have an issue myself or read of issues on here - on an £8000 bike I'd be pissed off - when it cost double that I thought enough is enough.
Im glad I owned the factory - best handling, best sounding and prettiest bike I've owned but I think I've done the right thing and returned to Yamaha after 12 years - this is my fourth R1 which followed an Exup 1000 and T'ace so I guess it was only a matter of time before Yamaha tempted me back.
Never say never - there's nothing stopping me changing for the RF at a later date but I'm sure as hell not going to throw another £11,000 into the deal for the 'privilege'.
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