6k mi review -- '05 R1...commuter :)

[mcoyote]

So, my black '05 R1 is at Eastside today getting new meat and a crash cage, and I thought it a good time to chime in on how it's done. A quick summary of its bits:

2005 Yamaha R1
1700mi at purchase

Last guy put on:
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- Terminininnii (or whatever) carbon race pipes w/ceramic-coated headers
- Ohlins R&T shock
- Ohlins R&T steering stab
- Uprated fork springs
- Galfer brake/cutch lines
- Double-bubble windscreen
- Integral turn signals
- (Nicer) Adjustable levers
- Sato rearsets
- Some other crap

I put on:
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- Corbin basketweave vinyl saddle
- AeroStich/Ortleib side bags
- RKA tail bag
- Heated gear circuit w/Powerlet
- 905 racing crash cage (today -- we'll see)

The Good:
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- No mechanical issues at all. As in, not a damn one. Starts, goes like stink, stops. Always, in all weather. No leaks, no squeaks. That's a first.
- Mixed city/interstate driving, running a gear high (bad weather, feeling lazy): 33mpg. Hard city/interstate driving (nice weather, revs 7+k RPM): 28mpg. Heck knows what the honest-to-goodness "highway" mileage is.
- Michelin Pilot Powers -- new at purchase, just replaced @ 6000mi. Another first for me in honest sportbike tires. Wow.
- Good fit for a tall guy, especially with the rearsets. Love it. I can cuddle up to the tank for long stretches on this thing, but I had to be at peace with being *against* the tank, not an inch or so back. It's a sportbike, gotta use your back and hips.
- A good torque curve for urban use, though not perfect. Less down low is a very, very good thing at crummy, busy stops and slimy ramps, but I miss the smooth roll-on of a twin in turns sometimes.
- Does I4 tricks very well -- the engine won't complain about idling in gear, so you can inch in gear in stop-and-go traffic and idle through slow neighborhood roads without drama.
- Purty.
- The side back/tail pack combination gets this R1 into the game as a commuter, since I don't do tank bags or backpacks (I just hate them, it's me). I never conceived of it carrying passengers, and it doesn't even have rear pegs any more.
- Has the charging capacity to run heated gloves and jacket liner fine as long as you're moving. Honestly don't know if it's too much in stop-n-go traffic.
- Very good stock lighting. Two low bulbs plus two trim lights on the front, all six are on  with the high switch. Pretty good illumination, and anecdotally seems very visible (get flashed on hight during the day, reflections sure seem bright, bulbs seem distinct).
- Good stock instrumentation -- small, all the needed functions (personal essentials: air temperature, clock), easy to read, and *blue* backlighting
- Best cable-driven clutch I've used (goes both ways)
- Twin cooling fans get the job done, without fail. Click on @ 221 degF and, even in 90degF weather, it knocks the coolant temp right back down.
- Incredibly cool exhaust pipes and cans (soft bags are actually strapped against the cans -- metal cans would prevent soft luggage, pretty much, with this underseat design).
- The best fit of any literbike for my tall self, and I've tried all of the big four (though the 999 and the 1098 both come close, once you actually get your feet on the pegs).
- 13k RPM redline. You have no idea. 100mph in first gear, even with me. At 11k RPM the engine noise actually blends with the road noise, if you can believe it, and you suddenly can't hear it.

The Bads:
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- Runs like poo on anything but premium gas. Yes, it's noticeable, but I haven't done exhaustive testing.
- Loud as all hell at speed. If you're feeling shy, you'll hate it. If you're feeling menacing, it's like the Dark Side of the Force. Actually loud enough to beat back tailgaters (though I'm sure it could drive some to violence).
- Good news is, if you run a gear high and watch your RPM's it's actually no worse than stock pipes at neighborhood speeds, so my neighbors don't loathe me (leastwise for that reason).
- Cable-driven clutch is hard on my hand (see above), especially when traffic is *so* slow that I can't idle in gear and have to constantly work the clutch. Very painful, in fact (but much better than other cable-driven clutches I've had).
- Lots of heat through the frame (no surprise). Easily get 1st degree burns if you try and ride aggressively (thighs around the tank, against the frame) without real gear. Not noticeable with the 'Stich on.
- Decent fuel economy, but low capacity. When riding very hard in mixed urban/interstate settings I hit reserve @ 125mi (@ 145mi if you take it easy) and you have ~20mi (~30mi) to get fuel. Big engine means you get to choose, however.
- No fuel gauge, but dual trip meters and automatic reserve trip meter (flips on when you go into reserve).
- It's a literbike, so while it's not twitchy if you crank the throttle you will loft the front wheel. The 'Busa would hunker down a bit, but not this baby. If you sit like you should, you'll not be in too much trouble, but you have to exercise some self-control.
- There is *one* way to sit on this bike, pretty much, except when you're deliberately trying to stretch your legs or something. It's pretty comfortable and gives you lots of control, but it's not very versatile.
- It's black. Very black. Was filthy when I got it, even though they washed it 5min before. Hasn't gotten any better. Still looks hawt.

[Joey Stalin]

Mileage like that is what really deters me from liter bikes. I can get 26 mpg in my 350 hp V8 3,800 pound coupe, a 400 pound bike should get more than 2 mpg more!

[mcoyote]

Mileage like that is what really deters me from liter bikes. I can get 26 mpg in my 350 hp V8 3,800 pound coupe, a 400 pound bike should get more than 2 mpg more!

It is very dependent on how I ride, FWIW, and this is definitely "in town" riding (not "highway", as the EPA would deem it). I doubt yours (or almost anyone's) V8 gets 26mpg in town. My Hayabusa would get somewhere around 30mpg in the same setting, but 50mpg in top gear cruising at 80mph. So, YMMV .

[sharkattack]

Mileage:  FWIW, on my 2001 R1, I will get ~35-40 MPG even with riding it aggressively on the street.  Obviously, the two bikes are worlds apart, but not all liter bikes are 'bad' on gas.

The 05 you have sounds like one incredible machine.  I had the chance to ride an 04 once and it was awesome!

I'll be sticking with my Old Blue for a long time to come.  She serves me well.  Hopefully you'll continue to have as good of an experience with your R1 as I'm having with mine.

S.

[rauchman]

Sounds like a very cool machine and setup.  I've never ridden one, but would be scared to have one.  My right hand sometimes has a mind of its own and has this habit of heavily pulling down on that thing that twists on the right handle bar.

[mcoyote]

The R1 is the devil's own. I called it a "filthy whore" when the service manager asked me if I liked it at the last oil change..."ready for anything, any time." I'm sure a lot of that has to do with me, this place, and the specifics of the setup, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Other bikes, such as the 'Busa, definitely required more adaptation.

Still miss the Ural, however .

[mcoyote]

Mileage:  FWIW, on my 2001 R1, I will get ~35-40 MPG even with riding it aggressively on the street.  Obviously, the two bikes are worlds apart, but not all liter bikes are 'bad' on gas...

This may be one of those well-enough-alone things. The PO was compelled to throw on the exhaust, Ohlins, and the PC3 and it's entirely likely that it actually runs and rides slightly worse than stock, as a result. Either because the net fueling is prohibitively rich or because the springs are all wrong for me.

Just 'cuz somebody has a PC3 and a map doesn't mean they dyno'ed the bike or hooked up an EGA to it. The suspension was professionally set up (GP Suspension up here in the PNW) but who knows for what rider? Eh...still like it a lot, however.