Discussion
I think you'll be hard pressed to find an 02/03 for low threes, but mid - high threes should get you one. There's one currently on eBay at £3,500.
I haven't ridden the Y2K model but I do own an 03 and I absolutely adore it, from it's design through to it's handling, power and power delivery. It's utterly wonderful. In comparison (though as I say, i've not ridden a Y2K) the earlier models look dated - many of the design cues in the 02/03 have been carried forward through to the 06, and some bits even to the 07. This just means it still looks fresh today; hell, even the dash looks cutting edge with it's diddy LED idiot lights. As standard it has a colour coded undertray and LED rear light and the brakes are awesome. Buy an 02/03
Sorry, i'll stop waffling now - can you tell i'm rather pleased with it?!
A quote from last months Fast Bikes "The 2002/2003 model R1; one of the coolest jap bikes ever"
I haven't ridden the Y2K model but I do own an 03 and I absolutely adore it, from it's design through to it's handling, power and power delivery. It's utterly wonderful. In comparison (though as I say, i've not ridden a Y2K) the earlier models look dated - many of the design cues in the 02/03 have been carried forward through to the 06, and some bits even to the 07. This just means it still looks fresh today; hell, even the dash looks cutting edge with it's diddy LED idiot lights. As standard it has a colour coded undertray and LED rear light and the brakes are awesome. Buy an 02/03
Sorry, i'll stop waffling now - can you tell i'm rather pleased with it?!
A quote from last months Fast Bikes "The 2002/2003 model R1; one of the coolest jap bikes ever"
Thanks for response Dave. I agree that the black frame bikes do look more modern, and I am tempted in that direction. I am still interested though in whether there was a step change in performance or handling between the last of the carbs and first injection. Also, you do hear horror stories about the bikes makers first forays into fuel injection (I am not referring to Yamaha here). Is the '03 R1 setup well sorted, smooth and reliable ?
I had a '99 TL1000R before the R1 and the injection was very Old School - it even had a manual choke! Yamaha joined the FI party a bit later than the rest (I think - certainly the K1 GSXR1000 I rode had FI), presumably to get it fully sorted and it really is very good. It pulls cleanly from as little as 3k rpm in top and only bogs down if you open the taps fully at very low revs (and even then only a little, and it still goes well enough to overtake cars).
Oh and I can't add anything to your handling questions - as I say, i've not ridden an earlier model. I can give you a quote from an old '02 Fast Bikes mag i bought. They tested all the litre bikes plus the ZX9R and the R1 won. They said -
"The R1 has gone from being a flawed bike that an expert could ride fast, to a bike that the same expert could ride faster than anybody, on anything else"
"The R1 has gone from being a flawed bike that an expert could ride fast, to a bike that the same expert could ride faster than anybody, on anything else"
I had an 99 R1 for three and a half years.
Suspension. All the Mags at the time were complaining of it running wide, or not able to hold a tight line, which to a certain extent was true. The main problem I found was too much weight transfer front to back, during acceleration and braking. I sent the forks away to Manxton for re-valving and bought an Ohlins rear shock. Once this was done the handling was nearly on par with my previous bike. (YZF750 SP)
Engine. Loads of bottom end grunt and creamy smooth acceleration, the only modification I made was a Micron end can. (added character)
Ergonomics. At 6ft 4" I found that I fitted it quite well, the only problem being wrist ache around town, which was not a problem as round here it's all fields.
Running costs. No problems in twenty two thousand miles, chain and sprockets lasted seventeen thousand and pads usually changed once a year. Tyres? Depends what type and how you ride and what type of roads you mainly use. Tank range for me was typically 100-120 miles.
I've owned or ridden all models of R1's and really rate the first carbed or injected ones, the first Injected models have a nice "taught" feel to them and a superb front end as standard.
Fun. Yes.
John.
Suspension. All the Mags at the time were complaining of it running wide, or not able to hold a tight line, which to a certain extent was true. The main problem I found was too much weight transfer front to back, during acceleration and braking. I sent the forks away to Manxton for re-valving and bought an Ohlins rear shock. Once this was done the handling was nearly on par with my previous bike. (YZF750 SP)
Engine. Loads of bottom end grunt and creamy smooth acceleration, the only modification I made was a Micron end can. (added character)
Ergonomics. At 6ft 4" I found that I fitted it quite well, the only problem being wrist ache around town, which was not a problem as round here it's all fields.
Running costs. No problems in twenty two thousand miles, chain and sprockets lasted seventeen thousand and pads usually changed once a year. Tyres? Depends what type and how you ride and what type of roads you mainly use. Tank range for me was typically 100-120 miles.
I've owned or ridden all models of R1's and really rate the first carbed or injected ones, the first Injected models have a nice "taught" feel to them and a superb front end as standard.
Fun. Yes.
John.
stig said:
I had an '00 R1 from new and only just sold it. Never gave a squeak of bother and was as good (if not better) the day I sold it, as when I bought it.
'nowt wrong with carbs
Yamaha are masters of carbs. The fueling on my old R6 was perfect, if not better! 'nowt wrong with carbs
Of course, this assumes that any carbed R1s haven't had a can on them at some stage to bugger up the fueling!
I remember reading last year that the red and white carbed models were getting tricky to find as the demand for the original carbed model was pretty high. This combined with the fact that most people seemed to opt for the blue model made it a pretty good buy. I could see a good condition carbed R1 becoming something of a cult bike in the future.
dare2fail said:
I remember reading last year that the red and white carbed models were getting tricky to find as the demand for the original carbed model was pretty high. This combined with the fact that most people seemed to opt for the blue model made it a pretty good buy. I could see a good condition carbed R1 becoming something of a cult bike in the future.
That's actually what I was after, but then I found my mint low mileage 03 and couldn't resist
iguana said:
Mad Dave-
blimey fella. I've not been on here in a bit & you've been moving onwards & upwards in the bike world 'eh, only seems like yesterday you were wobbling around on Mech sympathys old clunker Bandit & crashing into old biddies
Like the look of yr new toy, looks jubbly
blimey fella. I've not been on here in a bit & you've been moving onwards & upwards in the bike world 'eh, only seems like yesterday you were wobbling around on Mech sympathys old clunker Bandit & crashing into old biddies
Like the look of yr new toy, looks jubbly
Indeed mate!
We should meet for a blast at some point, assuming you're still on two wheels?
So, update time.
I took on board all your comments, decided to go for an 02/03 injection, and today picked up.................a 2000 carbie ! Seemed too good to miss - One owner, 6.5k miles and full Yamaha history. Looks and rides lovely and I think I'm very happy, but I do have a couple of questions :
1. Seems to run very hot - Not particularly the temp on the guage which is fine, but the temp of the bike itself. Frame spar running down back of engine very hot to the touch after a decent run and almost feels like it has a heated seat ! Not something I'm used to, so is that normal ?
2. Not measured it with a friend on another bike yet but speedo seems to read fast - Is that a symptom of gearing change ?
As ever, thanks for your help.
I took on board all your comments, decided to go for an 02/03 injection, and today picked up.................a 2000 carbie ! Seemed too good to miss - One owner, 6.5k miles and full Yamaha history. Looks and rides lovely and I think I'm very happy, but I do have a couple of questions :
1. Seems to run very hot - Not particularly the temp on the guage which is fine, but the temp of the bike itself. Frame spar running down back of engine very hot to the touch after a decent run and almost feels like it has a heated seat ! Not something I'm used to, so is that normal ?
2. Not measured it with a friend on another bike yet but speedo seems to read fast - Is that a symptom of gearing change ?
As ever, thanks for your help.
GR4 said:
So, update time.
I took on board all your comments, decided to go for an 02/03 injection, and today picked up.................a 2000 carbie ! Seemed too good to miss - One owner, 6.5k miles and full Yamaha history. Looks and rides lovely and I think I'm very happy, but I do have a couple of questions :
1. Seems to run very hot - Not particularly the temp on the guage which is fine, but the temp of the bike itself. Frame spar running down back of engine very hot to the touch after a decent run and almost feels like it has a heated seat ! Not something I'm used to, so is that normal ?
2. Not measured it with a friend on another bike yet but speedo seems to read fast - Is that a symptom of gearing change ?
As ever, thanks for your help.
1 - Mine never gets as hot as you describe.I took on board all your comments, decided to go for an 02/03 injection, and today picked up.................a 2000 carbie ! Seemed too good to miss - One owner, 6.5k miles and full Yamaha history. Looks and rides lovely and I think I'm very happy, but I do have a couple of questions :
1. Seems to run very hot - Not particularly the temp on the guage which is fine, but the temp of the bike itself. Frame spar running down back of engine very hot to the touch after a decent run and almost feels like it has a heated seat ! Not something I'm used to, so is that normal ?
2. Not measured it with a friend on another bike yet but speedo seems to read fast - Is that a symptom of gearing change ?
As ever, thanks for your help.
2 - Yes, I've re-geared mine and it over reads by about 10% now.
GR4 said:
So, update time.
I took on board all your comments, decided to go for an 02/03 injection, and today picked up.................a 2000 carbie ! Seemed too good to miss - One owner, 6.5k miles and full Yamaha history. Looks and rides lovely and I think I'm very happy, but I do have a couple of questions :
1. Seems to run very hot - Not particularly the temp on the guage which is fine, but the temp of the bike itself. Frame spar running down back of engine very hot to the touch after a decent run and almost feels like it has a heated seat ! Not something I'm used to, so is that normal ?
2. Not measured it with a friend on another bike yet but speedo seems to read fast - Is that a symptom of gearing change ?
As ever, thanks for your help.
The frame on my 03 gets quite warm..I took on board all your comments, decided to go for an 02/03 injection, and today picked up.................a 2000 carbie ! Seemed too good to miss - One owner, 6.5k miles and full Yamaha history. Looks and rides lovely and I think I'm very happy, but I do have a couple of questions :
1. Seems to run very hot - Not particularly the temp on the guage which is fine, but the temp of the bike itself. Frame spar running down back of engine very hot to the touch after a decent run and almost feels like it has a heated seat ! Not something I'm used to, so is that normal ?
2. Not measured it with a friend on another bike yet but speedo seems to read fast - Is that a symptom of gearing change ?
As ever, thanks for your help.
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