The Ultimate R1? | Dream Rides With The Yamaha YZF-R1 SP

[@TheScortUK]

Had the 08 R1, was a lovely bike, did 14k in 2 years, and the Brecons were like a second home to me on that bike! Used to do 150 miles to the tank, even when being thrashed - all day comfort, and a right missile when needed, and was fun right on the end of the tyre scraping sliders. Sadly, being in my late 20s at the time, I rode like a prat on it, and it just fed that way of riding! 110 in 1st (indicated mind), and 150 just felt like you were cruising at 70. A riot, and one of the maddest bikes I ever owned

[@Obliviono]

R1 04-06 are one of the best looking sportbikes ever, in my opinion.

[@Terraceview]

It refuses to age.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Proving the thing I've been saying for a while, that graceful curves don't age when pointy jagged over-styling gets old in 2 years.

[@Obliviono]

@@exothermal.sprocket Specially in that Lava Red, it looks so nice.

[@williamfischer3990]

I’ve noticed watch Dream Rides from the beginning that Chris references the Honda SP1 often. This R1 takes that flashy and soulfulness of a European bike but with the phenomenal reliability and finish of a Japanese machine. What a couple of bikes those two are.

[@hellfire08]

I thought it was the “budget bike battle” r1 for a second 😂

[@dreamcrusher112]

not enough gravel rash

[@cjhmotorsport7553]

@@dreamcrusher112 🤣🤣

[@dhamarhafiz]

Me to😂

[@flibbertigibbet6200]

Had an 04 lava red with 4k mls like new. Dropped a tooth or two and really brought the bike alive. I had gsxrs and 1000rr blade of the same era and this was just a slight level above and looked the nuts.

[@ianclose123]

In that colour it's possibly the most beautiful bike that ever existed. I'm proper jealous.

[@T595955i]

I love all the newer "big bang" R1-M models but, that '06 R1 SP is the most beautiful Yamaha R1 ever made, in my opinion, and the one I'd always wanted but coudn't reach to (price tag was considerably high). I agree that this is the peak of the "screamer" R1 models. This SP is not one that you'll often find in the used market, if ever. If you've got one and thinking "grass is greener on that other side"... make sure to think twice, at least to keep it. Thank you Chris, BikeWorld and 'TheBikeSpecialist' for these videos, I love these and keep revisiting them while waiting for the next one, please keep them going.

[@BikeWorldTVshow]

Thanks!

[@R_iggy90]

This is actually my dream bike I had a blue 05 which I never should have sold.

[@FreddyKings87]

Have the honour of owning 2005 R1 raven. An absolute missile. No traction, no abs , a hoot.. true definition of a beautiful beast. Glad I'm alive 😁

[@rideroll9609]

That is why i got VTR Firestorm with low down torque. You dont need to rev it up high rpm. And the sound of it is just epic(could see at my channel). Old bikes got character.

[@iceninja46]

Iv'e got an 04 R1, a bit tatty fairing but mechanically, pretty good. Great bikes...😎

[@eamonblaney5368]

People forget McGuiness won a TT on an r1 in 2004. Nori Haga was usually near the front of wsb fighting with bayliss, toseland and corser a lot of the time also...

[@davew8841]

The SP is a beauty alright, I'd love to own one. I have something similar to ride in my 2007, red/white R1. I've owned it since new...17 years...and it's got 80000kms on it now. I've crossed Australia a couple of times on it. It wears Ohlins suspension these days and has long since been dynoed to suit the Yoshi exhaust and filter. I do preventative maintenance on it, and have replaced many of the little things that wear with time. Including that stator rotor with the dodgy magnets that fall apart! It's a pleasure to ride, and its resale value is not much for those km's, so I don't think I'll ever sell it now.🙂

[@davidebbs2797]

Without doubt my favourite edition of the R1 dynasty. Thank you for the trip back to 06 Chris and Bike World 💪😎

[@andybowen1981]

Boom first comment! In my opinion the most ‘beautiful’ bike to ever come out of Japan. Had it all from a time when bikes were still ‘proper’ bikes! Always wanted the Cherry Red version 2006 R1. Incredible looking machine.

[@ogofog9120]

ZX-7 for me

[@TheScortUK]

@@andybowen1981 come on now Andy - what has your Misses told you about being first.... It's not big nor clever 😂

[@timrodierides]

Great video. I love the idea of a limited edition being 500 for the UK market. I think Yamaha was lucky to sell 50 R1s last year!

[@Showmetheevidence-]

Great series... Cant skip these videos cos I'm so keen to see what's on the list each time.

[@VFactory-vl5fi]

I think Chris is one of the best at what he does, but I just cannot believe he said that about the CP4 engine and how it never captured the hearts of people the way that “flat 4 banger” did 😂. The Big Bang/CP4 is literally one of the most charismatic engines out there.

[@colonelclaw]

One of the most beautiful sports bikes of all time

[@exothermal.sprocket]

2005-2006 R1 was my favorite year for styling. I have never gelled as much with the styling ever since, no matter the version. In the USA it was YZF-R1 LE, and came in yellow color with some pretty good graphics.

[@shadowred1980]

I had the normal 06 R1, brilliant bike.

[@n.elliott9122]

Here in the States they were also $18,000 and came in the yellow and back livery. I remember them sitting on floors for so long that they would discount them down to $12,000 US to sell them.

[@clintvosloo7694]

Suzuki fan here. . always admired the earlier R1s for that smooth quality

[@TrulyUniqueOne]

Had an 08 r1 now got a 1000 k6 suzuki would eat it for breakfast

[@Captndarty]

The 97 R1 was the classiest and best looking. They tilted downhill thereafter. That being said I still prefer my 05 ZX 10 over any bike since.

[@letsgoforaride7328]

K5 gixxer 1000 next please 🙏 😅 blue white ❤❤

[@blacklombax]

I have a '08 R1, what a machine

[@Terraceview]

I miss mine, above 8K rpm it was quite special.

[@urbanstrencan]

Legendary bike that we lost this year in Europe do to regulations 😢😢😢 Chris great video keep it up 🤟💪💪

[@racingp]

I have one that I bought new in 2006 when I was 21. In Spain, 8 numbered SPs arrived.

[@jsworks5826]

Please test the 2004 zx10r

[@sverremoe4087]

I still see the zx12r in the back 🙈🙉 have a ride chris

[@dgw4150]

Ive got a mint 2006 Raven R1 and im never parting with it 😊

[@Terraceview]

Ahh.. please?

[@lioncross1849]

Same

[@TriAngles3D]

Today you can buy computers on 2 wheels... But up until the late 2000s you could go to a motorcycle dealer and purchase a motorcycle. Keep up the dream rides Chris.

[@TheScortUK]

Erm... Computers have been around for donkeys - they become quite mainstream in homes in the mid-late 90s with the Pentium/Pentium 2 era. Discounting the likes of the BBC, Acorn Electron and whatnot before, as they were quite geeky

[@brucegonsalves7348]

Or you can ride a tractor of the past I know what I would choose

[@TheScortUK]

@@brucegonsalves7348 exactly! These techno-phobes really need to get a reality check, they seem to think the bikes ride themselves, when in reality, most have systems that compliment the rider and allow you to get a lot more out of the bike; without needing the skills of a WSBK rider. They also need to get over themselves, and the claims that modern machines are taking skill away from riding - I've ridden early to late 2000s machines in anger (600 screamers and litre bikes) and I'm just as crap now as I was then 😂 The new tech hasn't helped that fact, and I have had loads of fun on both; but knowing newer tech has your back, is a huge boost

[@TriAngles3D]

@@TheScortUK Excellent points. Techno-Phobes? Really? I am a mechatronics engineer. I design and build this stuff at MST level. But I like to think that riding is not all about ride modes. Traction control on a 600 is just plain silly and ABS that magically turns ON on ADV bike is dangerous. Tech for the sake of tech is marketing BS. So many seem so impressed with tech. And, don't get me started on the latest cars. There has been a significant up-tick in accidents with the responsibility of the driver outsourced to all this silly tech. Despite all the tech people still have the unique ability to wrap their Tesla around a tree or not recognize bikes and run over them.

[@Alien590]

Id still rather go for the OG K5 GSX-R 🚀

[@TheScortUK]

OG? Original Gixxer...?

[@chicblair]

ha ha ha ha 😅😅​@@TheScortUK

[@Terraceview]

I've owned both and they're both great but this R1 is like a Swiss watch, beautiful to look and work at.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Suzuki would have been a more burly mid-range torque. The 5-valve R1 was a top end powerhouse.

[@Terraceview]

@@exothermal.sprocket Like a 600 on steroids, beautiful engine.

[@jamesastbury15]

We need a budget bike battle between bike world and 44 teeth!

[@johneley5680]

Guys I Have the 1999 R1 red white and black Twenty five years plus now I'm 64 years old & she is 25 plus Lucky lucky me 😂😂😂😂😂 Still riding fast & hard. Happy days

[@sugarrfree]

Thank you Bikespecialists for lettin Chris ride that beauty. 💪💦💦

[@Balafoutre]

The best motorcycle ever made!!!

[@stuwhite1969]

It came with a special tool kit too! Wonder if this one still has it

[@nickrider5220]

They were really good, comfortable, maybe not the most special like some, a very useable machine. It wasn't a homologation special though.

[@ashleybatt6667]

R dad had a 1999 blue r1 fresh out of fowlers Bristol ❤

[@thetonetosser]

Hope you done a track video on those Ducati Supermono's you had up for sale?

[@maamajhigouri1207]

Absolutely beautiful! machine 😍😍😍

[@senor-fa-von-dia]

and you can buy this exact one for £18,499

[@simonclifford72]

Have an 08R1. Last of the screamers. Have owned a 99R1 06R1Sp #522 and 08R1 😂😂Awesome bikes. Ridden the 99 & 06 at the track. All were and are more modified from stock. And ridden like there stolen!!! 😂

[@mickl8212]

I had an 05 R6 in Lava Red. Undoubtedly the best bike I ever owned. But it was that capable as a bike, it was boring at road legal speeds, so I sold it. 100mph in 1st, 125mph in 2nd. Crazy bike but no good for the road.

[@mattgilbert666]

I know it's not quite an R1... but I just got (today as I write this 13/11/2024) picked up a 1997 Yamaha Thunderace with the exup 1000cc engine. No rider modes, no abs, no traction control... just you, 5 gears and a red line of 11.5K

[@wristcandy5451]

A musical instrument that you can ride

[@morri03]

I had the R1SE with the yellow and black speedblocks. Looked great but needed 9,500rpm to really hustle.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

YZF-R1 LE.... I believe it was.

[@morri03]

@ that’s the one

[@worldtraveler8613]

Still my fav r1

[@stefanhansen5882]

Stunning bike! The R1 will not be street legal in Europe, as I understand it. How about in the US and Australia? Is it only in Europe we will not be able to ride the 2025 model?

[@Greddi]

R1 and mt10 will still continue selling outside Europe

[@stefanhansen5882]

@Greddi Time to move from Europe.

[@brucegonsalves7348]

I think you’re telling a few pork pie mate there gear box is pretty crap most did 4 and 5 gear where they would jump out at full noise and they have a magneto problem as well when you need to replace it we have catastrophic failure of it disintegrating other than that yeah pretty good bike. I’m just fixing the dogs on one of them right now.

[@Peteeften]

04-08 is rare to have gearbox problems. They even last quite good on track. Older models atleast 98-00?? Had quite usually broken gearbox.

[@BikeWorldTVshow]

“Pork Pies”? What, are you 4?

[@AdrianDoggett]

The R1 came out in 98

[@Terraceview]

Indeed, it was shown in 97 maybe they mistook that.

[@AdrianDoggett]

Don’t mean to be trolly but this so called bike expert said in the RG 500 episode was an inline 4 cylinder ( which I think they have edited out) so many more mistakes I could mention. Not such a bike expert me thinks if you don’t no you’re onions you will get found out

[@rodneyhull9764]

good words

[@thegamingshatt4758]

This is the bike the solidified my need to get my bike license, of course they then went to the cp4 which I hate the sound of

[@stichupman]

No way the cp4 is one of the greatest sounding bike engines ever along with v-twin and v4.

[@TheOriginalCoda]

Valid opinion, each to their own.

[@thegamingshatt4758]

@stichupman sorry but screamers and triples are my sound of choice

[@stichupman]

@thegamingshatt4758 I like most but they are my preferred choices. I owned many 4 pots and they've all been great.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

CP4 sounds great until about 6-7k rpm. Then I don't like the sound up top.

[@jsin22366322]

Nah. I had 5vy, 4c8, and a 2cr. The 2cr hands down, is the best r1.

[@muhammadzain7299]

Loved it

[@marks3620]

That’s Japan bikes for you.

[@SeanRidley-g7z]

Stock Ohlins ain't all that. A ktech cartidge front standard fork and Ktech shock in a standard R1 would be a better bike.

[@georg3ist]

gsxr 1000 k6 next one..

[@markoarkaina8656]

Absolutely stunning. On an unrelated note, how much can I sell a healthy kidney for?

[@Treker-yv7nz]

Be Moto don’t answer the phone and the cost of a multi bike policy is no cheaper than insuring individually.

[@simonclifford72]

I had #522

[@philhitch1924]

Your forgetting Suzuki k5 k6

[@ENLSN77]

There's a coveted one of these in my LBS. Sign on it says do not touch and 'not for sale'. Many of us are waking up to these simpler bikes.

[@JohnBrookes6128]

Is it me or does the screen look like Darth Vaders helmet shape?🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Tckskater411]

Like using an rpg to hunt a deer with the roads these dudes are on 😆

[@Asadov777]

I have this bike 541

[@nikoschaitas1378]

When Yamaha had balls.. Their new bikes dont excite me at all.

[@jeremycanning8934]

Going up in value, to me, that's missing the point of having a motorbike

[@KnutKnutzen-h2i]

Why do people in Great Britain always have to drive on the wrong left side of the road? I expect a crash every second.

[@formallynamed85]

It’s a shame the r1 is dying off for a three cylinder 9 yuck 🤮

[@exothermal.sprocket]

It's a shame you can't keep motorcycle classes in perspective. It's not "for a three cylinder". It's simply a 190 horsepower bike that's going away (in Europe anyway), not being replaced by anything.

[@n.elliott9122]

Those one of the auction site here in the United States with 26 original miles on it and it's sold for $17,000.