2009 Yamaha R1 Review: Big Bang for the Road
Monday November 2, 2009
A few months ago, I track tested Dunlop's Sportmax Q2 tires on a fleet of flagship literbikes including the Honda CBR1000RR, Suzuki GSX-R1000, and a bike I was riding for the first time, the crossplane crankshaft-equipped 2009 Yamaha R1.
Flash forward a few weeks, and I found myself picking up a Yamaha R1 back home. On city streets, canyon roads, and superslabs, I put the R1 through its paces. I even managed to alternate between the 2009 model and my buddy Greg's non-crossplane 2008 R1 (which allowed me the distinct pleasure of giving him a hard time for his antiquated bike.)
What did I think of Yamaha's latest big bad literbike after riding it through these varied conditions? I touch on the highs and lows in my 2009 Yamaha R1 review.
Related:
Photos © Brian J. Nelson, Basem Wasef; click for Yamaha R1 Review
Basem.
I’m a litte surprised…..I thought you’d like it more. I say that because you tend to review from the ‘guy on the street’ point of view as opposed to the big mags that spend – I think – too much time on the track
It is however, far & away, the prettiest of the Japanese litre bikes.
Spies sure liked his!
Cheers!
Pete,
The R1’s not a remotely bad bike by any stretch of the imagination, but somehow I was expecting more. The crossplane crankshaft does set it apart, but its shortcomings are also hard to ignore– even on the street.
The CBR1000RR and GSX-R1000 offer stiff competition– nearly perfect sportbikes, in my opinion. Up against those benchmarks, the R1 sometimes looks better on paper than it does in the real world. Instrument testing and track time might put it at or near the top of the heap, but I think seat of the pants impressions are far more relevant to most riders.
Basem