Happy 20th Birthday YZFR1
Discussion
I remember it well and have a 1999 and a 2017.
What is really surprising is just how big and comfy they are in comparison with the latest stuff - as is often the way they feel very much like sports-tourers, and the '99 feels well slow. Very well made though - unmolested and un-R&Gd examples still look well.
What is really surprising is just how big and comfy they are in comparison with the latest stuff - as is often the way they feel very much like sports-tourers, and the '99 feels well slow. Very well made though - unmolested and un-R&Gd examples still look well.
I sat on an R1 (and a Blade) after my ZX6, with a view to updating, and it felt so uncomfortable!
Sadly never took the plunge.
They are silly cheap over here (SE Asia) and can go for 50% less than the UK...but there’s nowhere to ride them. It’s just too dangerous.
Bokor Mountain however...
Sadly never took the plunge.
They are silly cheap over here (SE Asia) and can go for 50% less than the UK...but there’s nowhere to ride them. It’s just too dangerous.
Bokor Mountain however...
I had one in 2000. I traded in a ZX7R for it and loved it from day one. I’ve never had a bike that I felt so comfortable or confident on. I really used to bully it about and the bloody thing lapped it up. Trackdays, trips abroad and general arsing about on and after 2 years & 15000 miles it was pretty tired & it was either spend on the R1 or move on. Great machines. 
It's only been off the road since the end of June last year...
The original R1 was THE bike that got me into bikes, drooling over them in my local bike shop when they were released as a college student. I finally scratched the itch with a 2003 R1 and clicked with it immediately, replaced it 5 years later with a 2005 model and now have a 2015. Awesome bikes.
Eseptico, a well set up 98 or 99 R1 is still a formidable weapon. To make them handle they need a decent rear shock ( Ohlins etc ) , a fork re valve / re spring for your weight and the icing on the cake is off set yokes.
Power wise a decent can ( the oe one is a tad heavy ) and a Dyno Jet kit.
Brake wise a Brembo master cylinder is a worth wile upgrade.
As long as the head races are in A1 shape and correctly adjusted, then for the road they dont really need a steering damper ( the steering on these really is fantastic, one of the bikes best points ) its lightening quick and for me a damper just ruins the beautiful steering feel / feedback but some owners feel the reassurance of having a damper )
Ive never had one on any of the 4 98s that i have owned.
Power wise a decent can ( the oe one is a tad heavy ) and a Dyno Jet kit.
Brake wise a Brembo master cylinder is a worth wile upgrade.
As long as the head races are in A1 shape and correctly adjusted, then for the road they dont really need a steering damper ( the steering on these really is fantastic, one of the bikes best points ) its lightening quick and for me a damper just ruins the beautiful steering feel / feedback but some owners feel the reassurance of having a damper )
Ive never had one on any of the 4 98s that i have owned.
Edited by neutral 3 on Friday 16th March 23:47
neutral 3 said:
Eseptico, a well set up 98 or 99 R1 is still a formidable weapon. To make them handle they need a decent rear shock ( Ohlins etc ) , a fork re valve / re spring and the icing on the cake is off set yokes.
Power wise a decent can ( the oe one is a tad heavy ) and a Dyno Jet kit.
Brake wise a Brembo master cylinder is a worth wile upgrade.
As long as the head races are in A1 shape and correctly adjusted, then for the road they dont really need a steering damper ( the steering on these really is fantastic and for me a damper just ruins the beautiful steering feel ) but some owners feel the reassurance of having a damper )
Ive never had one on any of the 4 98s that i have owned.
ThanksPower wise a decent can ( the oe one is a tad heavy ) and a Dyno Jet kit.
Brake wise a Brembo master cylinder is a worth wile upgrade.
As long as the head races are in A1 shape and correctly adjusted, then for the road they dont really need a steering damper ( the steering on these really is fantastic and for me a damper just ruins the beautiful steering feel ) but some owners feel the reassurance of having a damper )
Ive never had one on any of the 4 98s that i have owned.
To make those suggested adjustments (without the damper) how much should I budget? I don't work on my own bikes so would have to get it done for me.
Although I expect it would be much more economical to try to find a bike that already has some if not all of the work already done.
Esceptico said:
Never ridden an R1 of any description. Must correct that this year.
Red and white original R1 looks pretty bloody good. How do they compare with modern sports bikes (I’ve currently got a 2017 GSXR 750)?
It will steer like a wheelbarrow full of paving slabs, brakes will be comparatively poor bite wise and it well rev slower at the top end.Red and white original R1 looks pretty bloody good. How do they compare with modern sports bikes (I’ve currently got a 2017 GSXR 750)?
On the plus side it will be comfier, smoother throttle response and far, far torquier motor.
That's for a well maintained one.
In short - better road bike. Mate's ride mine and declare it to be "like an old pair of slippers". I wouldn't bother with any mods for use as a road bike. Latest tyres is all it needs to make it handle & steer without being unstable. Couple of thousand miles a year, zero depreciation, still far too fast for the road, loads of middle aged blokes will feel the need to chat to you and relive their yoof.
My 98 red & white one is probably up for sale this year. Never raced or rallied, female vicar owner etc etc but then owned by me for last 10 years. Completely standard but high miles (52k) together with Ohlins road & track forks and shock for those blingtastic approval ratings.
Eseptico, i specialise in early R1s. If you are thinking of taking the plunge, please PM me.
Re upgrades, the OE shock was under damped and under sprung and yen cheaply built. Add 20 years and its fit to just throw it over the hedge. Budget from between £350 and £500 for a very clean used Ohlins unit. You may be lucky and find an Ohlins that that has recently been serviced and re sprung, otherwise budget circa £220 maximum.
Tech 2000 made a really good shock for these, but they were made in limited numbers and very hard to find. Like wise WP. My one has a Tech 2000 unit on at the mo ( which needs a service ) but i also have an Ohlins ready to fit once it has been serviced etc.
The forks were under damped and under sprung when new, so add 20 years and most likely few if any oil changes and so they will need an over haul. Uprated ( K tec fork springs in my one ) fork springs are circa £100, plus labour charge to re valve etc. K tec will do this.
Off set yokes ( Harris ) are circa £550. These are my next upgrade.
Budget from between £100 and £250 for an Aprapovic can.
Leave the Exup valve in place. Remove it and you lose the excellent low and mid range grunt ( which is what you need for the road )
Dyno jet kit and fitting etc i reckon budget circa £250 - £350
Re upgrades, the OE shock was under damped and under sprung and yen cheaply built. Add 20 years and its fit to just throw it over the hedge. Budget from between £350 and £500 for a very clean used Ohlins unit. You may be lucky and find an Ohlins that that has recently been serviced and re sprung, otherwise budget circa £220 maximum.
Tech 2000 made a really good shock for these, but they were made in limited numbers and very hard to find. Like wise WP. My one has a Tech 2000 unit on at the mo ( which needs a service ) but i also have an Ohlins ready to fit once it has been serviced etc.
The forks were under damped and under sprung when new, so add 20 years and most likely few if any oil changes and so they will need an over haul. Uprated ( K tec fork springs in my one ) fork springs are circa £100, plus labour charge to re valve etc. K tec will do this.
Off set yokes ( Harris ) are circa £550. These are my next upgrade.
Budget from between £100 and £250 for an Aprapovic can.
Leave the Exup valve in place. Remove it and you lose the excellent low and mid range grunt ( which is what you need for the road )
Dyno jet kit and fitting etc i reckon budget circa £250 - £350
neutral 3 said:
Eseptico, i specialise in early R1s. If you are thinking of taking the plunge, please PM me.
Re upgrades, the OE shock was under damped and under sprung and yen cheaply built. Add 20 years and its fit to just throw it over the hedge. Budget from between £350 and £500 for a very clean used Ohlins unit. You may be lucky and find an Ohlins that that has recently been serviced and re sprung, otherwise budget circa £220 maximum.
Tech 2000 made a really good shock for these, but they were made in limited numbers and very hard to find. Like wise WP. My one has a Tech 2000 unit on at the mo ( which needs a service ) but i also have an Ohlins ready to fit once it has been serviced etc.
The forks were under damped and under sprung when new, so add 20 years and most likely few if any oil changes and so they will need an over haul. Uprated ( K tec fork springs in my one ) fork springs are circa £100, plus labour charge to re valve etc. K tec will do this.
Off set yokes ( Harris ) are circa £550. These are my next upgrade.
Budget from between £100 and £250 for an Aprapovic can.
Leave the Exup valve in place. Remove it and you lose the excellent low and mid range grunt ( which is what you need for the road )
Dyno jet kit and fitting etc i reckon budget circa £250 - £350
Thanks. I will PM if I do buy. Whereabouts are you based? What’s the best way to source a good one?Re upgrades, the OE shock was under damped and under sprung and yen cheaply built. Add 20 years and its fit to just throw it over the hedge. Budget from between £350 and £500 for a very clean used Ohlins unit. You may be lucky and find an Ohlins that that has recently been serviced and re sprung, otherwise budget circa £220 maximum.
Tech 2000 made a really good shock for these, but they were made in limited numbers and very hard to find. Like wise WP. My one has a Tech 2000 unit on at the mo ( which needs a service ) but i also have an Ohlins ready to fit once it has been serviced etc.
The forks were under damped and under sprung when new, so add 20 years and most likely few if any oil changes and so they will need an over haul. Uprated ( K tec fork springs in my one ) fork springs are circa £100, plus labour charge to re valve etc. K tec will do this.
Off set yokes ( Harris ) are circa £550. These are my next upgrade.
Budget from between £100 and £250 for an Aprapovic can.
Leave the Exup valve in place. Remove it and you lose the excellent low and mid range grunt ( which is what you need for the road )
Dyno jet kit and fitting etc i reckon budget circa £250 - £350
I will probably wait until next year. I am trying to get down to one bike as really I don’t ride enough to justify having a collection. Problem is I stopped riding for 16 years after an accident and since starting again 4 years ago I have an urge to own the bikes I lusted after before I stopped, but also the great bikes that came out after that and now getting interested in even earlier stuff that was before my time!
Original R1 currently at the top of my list.
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