It's not your squid nephew's R1 (400mi/2wk review, '05 R1)

[mcoyote]

(...Hi there. mods feel free to deport this to wherever -- not sure where a bike review goes...)

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This is my 3-tank (~450mi)/2wk review of my new R1, slightly modded for ST (truthfully, inter-urban commuting) work. I've owned a few bikes in the last few years, so I'm getting to the point where I have developed definite wants and don't-wants in bikes and riding. Along with that, I try to withold judgement about a bike or a mod until I have found (a) at least one thing I don't like about it and (b) used it for 400+mi.

Let's start with what I was handed:

- 2005 Yamaha R1 (black), 1,700mi
- Ohlins R&T shock + heavier (unknown) spring
- Ohlins R&T steering damper
- Some fork work (at least heavier springs)
- Full race exhaust system (ceramic coated headers w/carbon fiber cans)
- PC3R/USB with somebody's map (no idea)
- Double-bubble windscreen
- Sato racing adjustable rearsets
- Some aftermarket adjustable levers
- Kevlar brake/clutch lines

...and what I've done to it (not much):

- RKA pillion-mounted tailbag
- Fused circuit for heated gear
- Corbin basketweave saddle (denser foam for my weight)
- Stem stand w/dual-lok for GPS, etc.
- Throttle rocker

...and am experimenting with the following (haven't settled yet):

- RKA sport saddlebags
- Ortlieb thin (the custom ones that Aerostich sells) saddlebags
- Ventura rack & tail bag

...now, what does this package tell you?

Yeah, doesn't scream commuter. I went to the dealer, in fact, to rule out a whole bunch of bikes I had never sat on before moving on to one that was more my speed (or so I thought), and then he rolled out this thing. I was in a what-the-hell mood and took it for a spin around the block, and was pretty impressed. It had superbike things that I have come to dislike -- tall 1st gear, a what-the-hell-were-they-thinking seat, etc. -- but there was a lot to like.

Very well mannered in traffic -- very sorted fueling at city street speeds, and once I dialed up the comp damping and preload a little the suspension handles the crummy pavement, ramps, tunnels, bridges, etc. with grace. Fast, but very pleasant (for example) engine braking and brake response. Powerful but manageable all around. Very tight turning radius and very civilized behavior in parking lots -- very good low-low-RPM fueling, very controllable friction zone, not too-stiff clutch.

The R1 is the most comfortable superbike for tall guys in my book, especially with these rearsets. The Corbin is much firmer than the stock seat and spreads my weight out better, so I'm more relaxed and comfortable. Convinced, especially with my AirHawk, that I could ride this thing from tank to tank all day. Compared to the stock '06 R1 (which I've sat on) this configuration is a good bit more comfortable but not astonishingly so, so I think that the platform has a lot going for it.

Pipes are completely unbaffled and loud as sin. Frankly embarrassing in the wrong setting (such as a quiet rural town or country roads), but may even be useful on the highway. The CF cans are good, however, because soft luggage doesn't have to be offset from them (cool to the touch, most of the time).

The arrangement of the cans, however appears to have obscured the rear footpeg mounts and, as a result, the Ventura rack for this model won't work, which is a bummer. The RKA teardrop saddlebags are good fits, however, and their tailbag is a perfect fit on the little pillion and holds more than the Ventura sportpack that I had before. The thin Ortlieb bags are on their way, and if they fit my laptop and mount ok they'll probably replace the RKA's.

Good, bright headlights (possibly moreso than my 'Busa's), nice geometry for visibility (four side-by-side bulbs and two marker bulbs at the end -- four on at any given time). Adjustable levers give me good outside and inside hand positions. Instrument cluster is a trick blue and very compact and visible in all light. Double-bubble screen keeps the airflow decent and pretty much above my head and gives me a good peek at the instrument cluster, also.

On my third refill today I'm getting a solid 35mpg in really crappy mixed stop-n-go/high RPM riding, which is on par with the 'Busa. I'm guessing that it will do similarly when I find the sweet spot for highway cruising, yielding a run-dry range (with its reduced capacity) of ~220mi. Likes the rain and cold, starts up without a hitch (no fast-idle lever, just goes), runs my heated gear (~100w, gloves and liner) and its lights without a fuss, stem stand is the perfect place for the GPS.

RAM mounts are probably impossible on the bars, FWIW -- the plastic all around looks too constraining to support gadgets hanging off the bars, leaving the stem stand, your gear, and a tank bag (should you like them, I don't) for that stuff.

The seating position is almost exactly that of the 'Busa's for me, meaning precisely that the geometry could be different but the stresses on my body are the same. If you can stand a Hayabusa, ZX-14R, etc., then this thing will be your friend -- you have to train your back and keep those arms bent to live well on any of these, of course.

Biggest adjustment has been the change from the low-RPM grunt of the 'Busa to this thing. I thought the throttle cables were slack at first, for example, because there just wasn't the same oomph down low with the throttle cracked just a bit, but OTOH it didn't stall or jerk, so it actually took off just fine and without a struggle. After fiddling with my too-tight throttle for a couple of days, I realized what was different and loosened it up again.

So, there. She's a keeper . Give the sportbikes some love, when you can -- plenty of character and ride-ability, I assure you (could be 'cuz it's not a Honda, I dunno...).

[bizarro]

Well, I'll tell ya, the CBR954RR is a truly underrated bike and can be turned into an amazing ST bike. Just ask VIVID. Glad you're digging the new ride!  

[Paul B]

Great review.     Its reviews like this that push me more and more to getting a more sport oriented bike and mod it to fit me.

Paul B

[Albie]

Funny, I find the stock seat extremely comfortable. While I've never done a SS 1K on the thing, I've done a few 600-700 mile days on it and the seat was never an issue. Never even considered changing it. BTW, the 954 has one of the most uncomfortable seats I've ever had the misfortune to sit on. After 250 miles my ass was in agony on that thing. Of course as seat is an easy thing to change.

[mcoyote]

Funny, I find the stock seat extremely comfortable. While I've never done a SS 1K on the thing, I've done a few 600-700 mile days on it and the seat was never an issue. Never even considered changing it. BTW, the 954 has one of the most uncomfortable seats I've ever had the misfortune to sit on. After 250 miles my ass was in agony on that thing. Of course as seat is an easy thing to change.

I probably over-stated it -- with my long legs and not-insignificant weight an otherwise fine seat was probably not going to work. Whenever I slid forward (which is a good thing to do when doing the tight stuff) I just sunk right through and it pinched me pretty good. The new one is almost as narrow but also more level and more firmly packed, so the effect isn't so bad. I'm not great fan of Corbin, but they help.

FWIW, the worst two seats I've ever ridden on are the KTM 950's and my BMW K1200RS'. Both torture racks, even in comparison.

[bizarro]

Funny, I find the stock seat extremely comfortable. While I've never done a SS 1K on the thing, I've done a few 600-700 mile days on it and the seat was never an issue. Never even considered changing it. BTW, the 954 has one of the most uncomfortable seats I've ever had the misfortune to sit on. After 250 miles my ass was in agony on that thing. Of course as seat is an easy thing to change.

Huh, I found the stock 954 seat fine for 500+ mile days. Every ass is different.

[MarcS]

Can I sleep with your R1?

[st2sam]

Nice write-up.
I always liked the R1 and was on my short list before I bought my ZX14. The biggest drawback for me was lack of fuel range, but 220mi. untill empty means about 180-200mi. safely, plenty!
I'm glad your happy with her, great bikes that rack up miles well.
How about another up-date in 4-5,000mi. or so..........

[pushrod]

Sniff Sniff...
 
Its a beautiful thing. As I mentioned to Joe Cool (his handle on the last incarnation of the site), I think that version of the R1 is the most beautiful bike on the planet.
 
Agreed on the ergos, though I haven't straddled one w/ Sato rear sets. It was my 2nd choice. The R1 has more leg room, is way more handsome, and probably some stuff I'm forgetting. I love my Gix, but the R1 stands very tall in my book.
 
I'm betting you're not going back to the big GTs - just don't have the agility.

[mcoyote]

Can I sleep with your R1?

She's easy, there's no denying it, but even she's got standards (and she's already got a date).

[mcoyote]

And, before I forget, let me contribute to the elusive "fit and finish" thing.

I take this expression to mean "everything sort of fits and nothing looks weird and purposeless or asymmetrical." In this regard, the Yamaha is very, very good and edges the Hayabusa. The 'Busa had some crummy-looking (may have been just fine) welds in view, some busy-looking wiring and cabling, and a few teensy (and I mean small) mis-alignments in the fairing plastic.

The Yamaha has none of this in view, though it may have them under the hood. Its functional bits are exceedingly clean and organized-looking, and have just the right touch of high-tech, machined goodness. If you examine the (now in a box) stock shifter/rear brake assemblies, for example, everything visible is totally clean and tight looking, with just the tiniest casting imperfections in out-of-view areas.

The trade-off, if you will, is definitely more bits of flair and edginess in its bodywork. There are no large or especially bent shapes anywhere, and everything is arranged in careful layers and such. You could argue that it's busy, in comparison, and there's definitely more going on visually everywhere compared to the other superbikes, close seconds being the ZX-10R and 999.

Another example of this is the dash. It has no extra plastic to speak of, displays a lot of information clearly, and is organized in such a way that it's very difficult to confuse what's happening at a glance. The flip side is, if you wish, is a very space-age appearance that isn't very conventional looking. The two control buttons are (e.g.) on one edge, and the whole thing looks like something from ST-TNG.

[Mr Sunshine]

Hey check the bolts...is that thing ready for safety wire?  Its decked out like a track bike.

[mcoyote]

Hey check the bolts...is that thing ready for safety wire?  Its decked out like a track bike.

If it is, I'm not gonna tell you. I've done track days on my bread-and-butter bike ('Busa) before, never again. Nope, track toy is going to (if ever, which means never) be some salvage-title R6 with rattle-canned fiberglass bodywork and grafted parts from all over the west coast. I'm a poser, readily admit it.

ED: But, no, not drilled for safety wire . I wouldn't have bought it if it was.

[mustang066]

Good to know I'm not alone.  Previous owner changed the sprockets for more low-end response on this '04 R1 and pimped the lights front & back, but otherwise was stock when I got it.  I've added Helibars and grip heaters.  Tank and tail bags hold the necessities.  Looking for some adjustable rearsets that will give me a bit more room than stock, but not sure where to start on that front yet.  At 5'9" I'm not exactly cramped, but these knees are too old to keep quiet much past the four hour mark.  Double-bubble windscreen also on the list.  I find the stock seat completely comfortable, but that's me.

The R1 became the answer to the inevitable series of "what should my next bike do?" questions.  Priorities included very light weight, high maneuverability, great looks, more torque and HP compared to my old 600 without sacrificing comfort, and anvil-like reliability.  Bodywork a must to keep the chill off during those plentiful sub-50 degree morning commutes in Pugetropolis.  

Blatant rationalization, or simply a natural and logical conclusion?  At this point, I don't really care.

[Woody]

mcoyote,

Great write-up; I'll be interested in hearing your ongoing experiences with the bike.

I've been using the Ortlieb bags for the past two seasons on my Busa and I think you'll like them. Waterproof, and they have great capacity. The roll down top closure should allow you to carry the laptop and secure the top even if it sticks out above the normal side of the bag.

One thing I'm curious about; how does your insurance cost compare to what you paid for the Busa?

[mcoyote]

...One thing I'm curious about; how does your insurance cost compare to what you paid for the Busa?

Slightly higher, but only because it's two years newer. Same coverage. I have State Farm, so they go by record and displacement.

[JoelCool]

Great write-up.

I'm at 22,800 miles on my '05 R1 now.  I've had it since new in December '05.  Mine's mainly stock - with heated grips, heavier bar ends and ... um... well, that's about it I guess.  I wouldn't mind changing the screen so I could see the instruments a bit better but I guess I don't mind the stocker all that much.

The OE chain / sprockets lasted 22k miles.

Longest day I've done was something like 700 miles.  I have no doubt I could do a SS1000 on it since I did one on my old 929, and the R1 is more comfy for me than the Honda was.

The bike is just amazing IMHO.  Passenger accomodations suck - bad enough that I removed the passenger pegs - I see yours are gone as well.

The bodywork is quite interesting once you remove it.  It's clearly been carefully designed around light weight.  When it's unbolted it almost doesn't support its own weight.  Ya gotta be careful.

Just a few more thousand miles and I'll do a major service on it, including the first valve clearance inspection.  I'll post something or other on that once I'm done.

[mcoyote]

...I'm at 22,800 miles on my '05 R1 now.  I've had it since new in December '05.  Mine's mainly stock - with heated grips, heavier bar ends and ... um... well, that's about it I guess.  I wouldn't mind changing the screen so I could see the instruments a bit better but I guess I don't mind the stocker all that much...

Another thing worth noting is that this is the last year of the 5-valve engine. They've had the Genesis configuration in the YZF's, TDM's, etc. for something like 20yrs. Not precisely a collector's item, I guess, but nice to have in its own way.

[JoelCool]

Actually '06 was the last of the 5-valve configuration.  '07 is 4 valve.

Still, I agree - it's kinda neat knowing there's 20, not the usual 16.

[mcoyote]

Actually '06 was the last of the 5-valve configuration.  '07 is 4 valve.

Still, I agree - it's kinda neat knowing there's 20, not the usual 16.

Ahhh...the '06, that's right. The '06 was much like the '05 -- few changes. '07 has the 16v engine, the digital throttle, etc...

...which I'm glad I don't have to test for them, BTW.