Highside

[bennyboysvuk]

bass gt3 said:

Sounds like you lost it on oil/diesel for it to go so suddenly. Not much you can do in that case.

The weather was really sporadic, patchy rain at the time and it had gone from dry to wet a bit on my route. I came off at a bit where it went from tree covered to uncovered so the surface was suddenly much more damp at that point, so I’m putting it down to that.

bass gt3 said:

Hopefully MCE will come right.

Thanks. Me too.

[bennyboysvuk]

After 2 months of being bikeless, I now have an immaculate, low mileage 2009 R1 in blue.

I test rode the bike last night and it's a huge change from the 2008 R1. It feels smaller and more agile. The engine seems flatter/less peaky in its power delivery and it sounds different to any V-twins or inline 4s I've owned in the past. The clutch is lighter and easier to use than the 08 version too. The gearing is silly high and I will almost certainly lower that via a rear sprocket change. My 08 bike had a 1 tooth smaller sprocket on the front which made the bike quite lively, which I liked. The current tyres are some fairly well worn Michelin Power 3s, which felt fairly horrible on my test ride, but I'll immediately replace them with Pilot Road 3s.

My shoulder is healing well and only has an area about the size of my little finger nail that's still open. I'm still using iodine gauze under a dressing as recommended by my GP that's being changed every 3 days. It still aches a bit if I lean on it and I'm sure that it will take another 6 months or so before that is completely OK.

I just need to go out and get new leathers, lid and gloves now.

[Prof Prolapse]

PR3s? PR4s surely?

Lovely bike. I'd love a go on an R1 to see what the fuss is about.

[SteelerSE]

Good news. Glad that the settlement must have come through OK.

[bennyboysvuk]

Thanks, the settlement was pretty good. I bought the 08 R1 for £6450 back in 2011 and they gave me £5800, though I haggled a bit to get to that.

I fancy the PR3s over the PR4s partly due to the edge sipes on the rear looking deeper and running further. It looks like the PR4s go a bit slick towards the edge. Having done seriously wet track days on Supercorsas I appreciate what sipes on the edge of the tyre can do in the wet and the damp. I think the PR3s tread blocks will cause slightly more movement in the tyre so I would think it would warm up faster and run hotter during short commutes...maybe. This is all just best guesses though and I might just use the PR3s until they wear out and then try some PR4s. In road use, I was getting less than 3,000 miles out of my Pirelli Diablo 2s so it will be interesting to see how the Michelins wear too.

[Prof Prolapse]

I think this is the sort of thing Michelin R&D and the independent testers would notice if I'm honest.

I've had both, I'd take either, but the PR4s seem better value as they certainly last longer. I think the Diablo 2s are fine in the wet too, but the PR4s are noticeably better. In my head anyway.

[bennyboysvuk]

Prof Prolapse said:

I think this is the sort of thing Michelin R&D and the independent testers would notice if I'm honest.

I've had both, I'd take either, but the PR4s seem better value as they certainly last longer. I think the Diablo 2s are fine in the wet too, but the PR4s are noticeably better. In my head anyway.

True, but I couldn't find any test that stated they are significantly better.

I think I may be forced down the PR4 route due to not being able to find a PR3 through my usual online channels. I'm fairly unfussed though and both PR tyres seem to be more ST than the Pirelli Diablo 2, so should hold heat better and warm up faster, which are my main concerns.

[bennyboysvuk]

Looking around eBay and what do I find? It's my old bike being broken for parts. Even though it's now replaced, I still feel sad to see it in this state:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-R1-4C8-2007-2008-...

[Biker's Nemesis]

ow are you getting on with the new bike?

[bennyboysvuk]

Biker's Nemesis said:

ow are you getting on with the new bike?

Life dictates that I only commute on it in the lighter months so it's not taxed at present. I have fitted the new Renthal sprocket though and it is beautiful. I reckon it's probably shortened the wheelbase a couple of mm too. I've fitted the Michelin Road 4s and changed the brake fluid and put some fuel stabiliser in it whilst it's being stored, so it's in good fettle for spring.

I keep hearing from people that this model is a grower and the more time you spend with it, the more it gets under your skin. I'm thoroughly looking forward to next year when I can dust it off and get cracking with riding it.

I took one for a (long and fast) test ride in 2009 and the experience stayed with me long enough to make me buy the one I now have. I'll write more of a review of it next year once I've had a chance to bed in the (completely new to me) Michelin Pilot Road 4s.