Bye Bye R1

[CrusherCurtis]

I've got two buddies who've been talking about buying motorcycles since 2006. I've never been crazy about them, so I've always kinda said I would let one of them buy one first then get one. Wouldn't want to miss out on any fun. Last Thursday one of those friend told me he bought a 600 GXSR. I knew the time had come. By friday night I'd bought 2005 Yamaha R1, which is a 1000cc, with 13k miles. My uncle rode it home. By Saturday morning without help from anyone I was already flying around the South Side of Chicago. By Saturday afternoon I was in a motorcycle class. Been riding every day since. Rode about 45 minutes to Indiana Tuesday to take the permit test and failed (didn't read anything, thought it was going to be common sense). Got it up to about 130 on the way home (or so the odometer says its got some kind of special sprocket so I'm not sure it was accurate). I ride it like my e30 kind of slow around the city and fast on the highways.

What I want to know is, whats all the fuss about? I realize crotch rockets are Ferrari fast but honestly its not really that fun imo. I don't feel safe when I ride it and when its hot out its really a pain. The biggest benefit is that its a chick magnet if your willing to troll around for chicks all night.

What does R3V think, both riders and non riders?

Sorry for the cell phone pic, its the only one I have from the night I got it.
only mods are exhaust and sprocket. The po bought it new and put the stickers all over it, but was a total poser. Didn't race it or any think like that.

[mrsleeve]

Wait you picked a fucking R1 as 1st bike to learn on???????????????????


Whoa hope someone has some life insurance on ya and its paid up. There is a reason you dont feel safe on it, its your self preservation instints trying to save your fucking life that your ignoring you are like the stupid hot chick in a horror movie at this point. ITS WAY TOO MUCH BIKE for a inexperienced rider.

[E30_Pare]

I'm still to much of a waffleswaffleswaffleswaffleswaffles to ride a bike....

[ÜberslowETA]

If you aren't having fun then I suggest you sell in a hurry. Bikes like that are no joke and you sound as if you don't have respect for it....and if that's the case shit can get ugly quick. I've grown up riding and I am on my second GSXR, the current being a 1000cc. I absolutely love riding. I probably could never be without a bike again, but I have seen many bad things happen, and all those things are when you least expect it.

Again, my suggestion is if you don't love it, sell it.

[mbonder]

I've never ridden street bikes (although I've been contemplating one for a few years now), but I did ride a bunch of off-road bikes and quads when I was younger and I enjoyed it.

An R1 as a first bike though is a bit much, so be careful. That's not to say that you can't kill yourself on anything motorized, but the larger the engine the easier it is to go fast . Find a nice twisty road with plenty of scenery and enjoy yourself, don't overdo it and you'll have fun.

[trackjunkie21]

it makes me laugh that you are even contemplating this as a good idea.

[Zerrrro]

Its more fun on some nice curvy roads than flat out imo. Just make sure if you go riding out on country roads that you watch for deer. They might ruin your day in a car, but on a bike they'll ruin your life. Also wear a helmet, and stay out of blind spots. Most people don't actively look for bikes.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[randomsv650]

First of all: get your license, if you get nabbed on that thing, or worse, get in an accident, they'll throw your ass in jail. Motorcyclists, especially sportbike riders, pretty much have a bullseye on their backs. Dont give the fuzz more ammo towards us. The bike you're on is way too powerful for you, lets be honest :woowoo:

I4's are beat in my opinion, unless it's an S1000RR. That may be why you dont find it as fun. But save that sort of crazy riding for the track. 130mph on a road dodging cars is for squids. A car is a lot more forgiving at those speeds. One little screw up on a bike at 130 and you'll be smeared all over the pavement. Do you wear any gear?

I like sport bikes for the track. You really need to ride them really fast to have fun, otherwise they're boring at slow speed, they're hot, uncomfortable, etc.

This is what i ride as a daily commuter, and it's a blast every time. 255lbs, 43hp. Taps out around 100, but it's more fun bombing around hopping curbs at slow speeds and sliding the rear end out on pavement.

[randomsv650]

I'm still to much of a waffleswaffleswaffleswaffleswaffles to ride a bike....

[CrusherCurtis]

it makes me laugh that you are even contemplating this as a good idea.

^Oh no, I know its a bad idea. The only reason I got it was because it was a steal from a friend of friend. Otherwise I'd be on a 600. I rode my friends 600 and it was def easier to ride. A little narrower, not a responsive on the throttle and slightly lighter, having said that his feels just as fast to me.

[e30vert]

2 kinds of riders out there. Those that have been down and those that are going down.

Im the been down variety. :)

Have ridden street bikes for many many years and there is a sense of freedom that comes with them. That freedom needs to be given great respect.
Thats what the appeal is.
If your hand to eye coordination is exceptional and you have the natural instinct to leave yourself an "out" at all times then the R1 is something that you can master in a short time. Its not too much bike if you have those two things that I have stated.


Its great to be able to walk away from just about any car on the road for a sub 5 K investment. However, I did have a Lambo once give me a pretty good work out.

I ride the little brother to the R1.

[Varinn]

You bought the wrong kind of motorcycle. Theres a few reasons why, firstly a liter bike is a retarded first bike to own regardless of how much restraint you think you have. VERY FEW people can actually control the power when learning and end up binning it not by being a dink but because it leaves a small margin for error. Sportbikes in general are terrible street bikes, they're uncomfortable and over touchy for street riding. They have so much excess power you never get to tap into it fully and corner speeds are so high that a fuckup easily means death by telephone pole or tree. Where they excel is hopping on with your tshirt and shorts, unlaced work boots and an icon vest and cruising the strip to pick up bimbos.

If you want to have FUN on a bike you need to get into something else like an SV, street triple, or a KTM etc. There are plenty of fun bikes out there. Get out of the cities and plan for day long rides or more to hit a winding mountain road. You'll be able to ride the bike hard and have a blast without breaking 130mph. Dont get sucked into the squid shit worrying about loud exhausts, chicken strips, and "too hot for gear". Sell your R1 and buy something else if you want to enjoy riding, keep it if you want the "badass motorycle dude" image.

PS: I ride a 2009 GSXR750, so dont just assume I hate sportbikes. I love them, but they are impractical for street riding and given a do-over I would buy something else.

[Vedubin01]

if you aren't having fun then i suggest you sell in a hurry. Bikes like that are no joke and you sound as if you don't have respect for it....and if that's the case shit can get ugly quick.
Again, my suggestion is if you don't love it, sell it.

this x1000

[z31maniac]

The average R3V'r needs an R1 as first bike like I need a case of incurable Gonorrhea.

[blocke]

I did the same shit. Woke up one day and decided I wanted a bike. Never rode in my life. 6 hours later I own a gixxer. Had to have it delivered since I couldn't ride. Taught myself, had it about 1 year, no wrecks. Got rid of it cause it was too impractical and I did too much stupid shit on it.