The Yamaha YZF-R1 CHANGED EVERYTHING when it was introduced in 1998.

[@sinmrl]

Four minutes in and we’re talking about the metallurgy and materials science of the bike! This is what makes me happy!!

[@Jerbartolo]

I have a mint, original 1998 R1 (red and white) and on modern sticky tires it can hustle and hang on a twisty road with modern bikes. Truly my most favorite bike I’ve ever owned and will never sell it.

[@johnnysilverhand6045]

Makes me wonder how the modern bikes would fair on old tech tires. Probably really even the field

[@jmal1824]

i had one (red white 98') for 7 years.. best bike i ever had.

[@YouCantSawSawdust]

In the coin collecting world, where the word 'mint' originated, it refers to a coin that has never been in circulation.

[@MotoProspector-pv6wf]

I bought a 1998 R1 brand new when I was 18 for my first street bike. Obviously I was young and dumb. I saved every dollar I could to get that thing. At 44 I should probably buy the last model before they go extinced. Start riding superbikes with the first gen and finish riding superbikes in the last gen.

[@Turtle-RR]

Definitely should and if you ride hard upgrade the gears honda had a week 3rd that would grenade and personally know someone who busted ⚙️ and was reassembled out of time permanently damaging motor. Yamaha denied that repair and the dealer had to fix it. Last of the superbikes, a bitter sweet time to be alive. Or buy the 23 24 panigale v4s and ride it like you stole it.

[@Ian-bq7gp]

Try and get a crighton CR700 rotary😂

[@Ian-bq7gp]

The triumph daytona 675 was perfection in many ways, torquey, usable motor that had a wider usable power band, flickable on bendy roads. Such a great bike, im not surprised the 765cc triple motor is used in the Moto 2 GP. Even that is very fast but the brakes and handling is right up there with the top Ducatis and for sure they will be a future classic like the 750cc kawasaki H2 from the mid 1970s or the ducati 750SS of the mid 1970s and the 750cc MV Agusta brilliant 4 cylinder racing bikes.

[@laz1go286]

​@@Ian-bq7gpagreed, got a 2011 675 in track trim. I absolutely love the thing. Agile, torquey,superb chassis, so much fun, and the Jardine carbon exhaust under the seat unit is the cherry on top. Will never sell it. If I cannot ride it anymore, it will stand in my livingroom 😊

[@Andrei_K1G1K]

My amazing old 2000 GSX-R750 you had to keep it on-song between 10 and 14K and it gave you the best ever experience of your life...

[@markhoyer1736]

The 2000 GSX-R750 was one of the best sportbikes ever made.

[@S.G.37]

It certainly did. I was blown away by it in 1998 and lusted so much for it. Unfortunately I could not afford it at the time and had to settle for a 1998 YZF600R. I saved my money and got a 2002 R1, which was the first fuel injected R1. It came with a free trackday through Fastrack Riders at Willow Springs Raceway. I had such a good time with riding instructor Thad Wolfe, who was riding a 2003 FZ1. He wheelied past me on the outside of turn 3 and I could not believe it... Since then I've owned a Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 3 R1, but the Gen 1 had the most impression on me...

[@giveabighand]

In 1997 I saw a one-paragraph mention of the R1 in Cycle News (no photo). I went straight to GP Sports in San Jose and put down a $1000 deposit for the R1. They didn't even know about the bike or when it would come (but they took my money!). I was number 1 on the list for over a year. Finally the R1 came to the shop and I got the first Blue YZF R1 in Northern California. After breaking it in I got it safety wired and took it to a race at Sonoma with the AFM. For the race I was gridded on the outside of the fifth row, but when the race started, the R1 was so fast that I was the FOURTH guy into Turn 1.

[@nickrider5220]

In the 90s I could've bought any bike I wanted, it wasn't until the R1 that I had the combination of everything I wanted. It made me a bit of a hooligan, we were partners in crime ! The R1 was a big step forward, the Blade was a big 750, the 1100s too heavy, but the R1 was supreme ❤

[@avo_gato_sloth354]

This was awesome. This was a stroll down memory lane. Please do more on these prolific bikes. The gsxr, ninja, cbr, Ducati, etc.

[@davidbanks1193]

These conversations are wonderful-two experts whose areas of expertise perfectly complement each other. Rather than the bickering and insults that have become so commonplace, they discuss fascinating topics with knowledge, experience, wisdom, and humor. Thank you, thank you!

[@robertanderson6803]

i've been telling people this info about the REAL 1st gen R1s (98-99) for years! everyone thinks 'the 1st gen' is 98-02 but not *really.. in 2000 Yamaha made changes to the carbs and the upper fairing, which they claimed helped aerodynamics, essentially giving it a "bigger nose" the carb change was to "smooth out power delivery" which Yamaha will never admit to basically DE-TUNING the R1 for rideability. the *peak power may have been the same, but the curve was dramatically altered.. not the same bike. if you have a legit 98-99, it's scary and was from a time when things were raw and the rider had to ride the bike, not the bike AIDING the rider! good luck finding one though..

[@kirkerlinger2492]

Really enjoy these discussions with Kevin, thank you! Yes, a show dedicated to Mladin would be wonderful!!!

[@TriAngles3D]

This is Not an Action Packed motorcycle video... But it is a Serious Pack of very Interesting and Objective info.

[@mrdoodle8748]

Really enjoyed this video, so informative regarding the engineering behind that first R1. I have had three R1's, one 1st gen & two 2nd gen's. My current 2nd gen was a recent purchase & was a nut & bolt rebuild which I really enjoyed. I will never sell it, it's still a great ride & a bit more user friendly than the 1st gen which tankslapped me into a ditch at one stage. Please do more of these model reviews.

[@Purepresa]

I was a factory Honda rep in 1998…I will never forget riding up highway 1 in California in a group swapping the new 1998 R1, ZX-9, and of course a 1998 CBR-900rr….i wanted to love the CBR…but the R1 stole the show with all us! It changed everything like the CBR-900rr did back in the day.

[@goansunborn]

I still remember my mate came to work on his red and white one when it just came out. A lot of our crew had blades but the r1 looked so radical and mega Japanese. I have an 07 but the original is a classic

[@nickrider5220]

I wish more people would listen to these pearls of wisdom, fantastic, accurate information 👍🏻

[@Ian-bq7gp]

Yamaha QC, design and innovation was at another level compared to even honda, suzuki and those R1 and R6 engines were very strong, reliable and they finally sorted out the frames and geometry. The fazers came after, detuned R1 and R6 engines with far more basic parts bin bargain forks, brakes and those fazers were fast in their day but so smooth and amazing reliability with great longetivity. Well done yamaha for making engines that pushed Honda and Suzuki even if the GSXR1000 and fireblade hondas as well as Kawasaki getting behind in the design of their engines and gearboxes. I had no idea the casting tech with the aluminium castings were so advanced and ive worked in QC in a steel foundry and in several engineering shops on CNC machining work. That crossplane crank and 5 valve heads, exup valves were all new. Rossi was a true genius in his thinking as if his bike was an extension of his body. The electronic rider aids were so needed after those brutal bikes riders like Casey Stoner and Rossi had to cope with a few years earlier. No wonder Barry Sheene suffered so much with his dropping the bikes. And they were 750 2 strokes with tyres that melted and frames making H2 kawasakis seem like moped frames.

[@jimstenlund6017]

1st gen FZ1 actually came with premium suspension components, FZ6 did not.

[@Larpy1933]

0 seconds ago Sportbikes, eh? (Victoria, BC) In May 1978, I bought a new 900 SS Desmo from Keith Harte in Grimsby, Ontario. The word “sportbike” wasn’t in our lexicon back then. I learned to adjust desmodronic clearances. In ‘85, I bought a Cagiva 650 Allazurra. Thanks guys! This was incredibly good. Fantastic!!!

[@Larpy1933]

Wow! Just WOW! I’ll never own one; likely never ride one. This is an audio encyclopedia of sportbikes and everything related in that same galaxy. I learned _SO_ much. And little of it specific to the R1.

[@macc1370]

Wow, young guy here. I learned so much just now

[@maximillianvermontsuperbik2624]

Had my R&W 98, from 98 to 2022. Now on an 05. Keven's technical analysis is always superb.

[@donaldhipple4921]

I was disappointed that Yamaha didn't put the 90° crank in the R6. Awesome show. Thanks.

[@kd350]

Cross plane cranks give up top speed. The 600s never went five valve in the 89-90's either...no one has done a cross plane 750/600 4 banger. If it were so great, BMW, Kawasaki and Honda would have done it. Doesn't seem to hurt them in WSB, the flat plane 180 firing order.

[@leemckenna6809]

I found this conversation uplifting, and a good reminder of why I recently began racing my old 2002 R1 I've owned since new. The joy in wrestling a sliding, wheelieing, spinning, high torque /lightweight analog bike around a racetrack is gratifying in ways that riding an IMU equipped bike never will be. Speaking of wheelies and Buttonwillow...

[@magellanicspaceclouds]

Wow, should've started putting out this podcast earlier. Great episode. I love Yamaha.

[@RandallSoong-pp7ih]

Awesome. Thank you!! I have a 2005 R1 stripped down naked with higher bars(getting old). I love ❤️ me bike

[@EnlightenedSavage]

When I read the article when this bike was announced in 98 I said to myself that I will own this bike. Bought a 99 a little over a year later. Man I miss that bike. Every one loved how beautiful that bike was, every one. Even the Harley guys like it. It launched a bike craze that lasted for almost two decades.

[@vintagetrikesandquads4012]

Good stuff. I'd like a podcast on the GSXR 1000 too. I have a cherry 2001--the 1st year they made the 1000.

[@jfess1911]

Thank You. I really enjoy these podcasts.

[@thetomfrederick]

Hey there, mister, is that a pair of ray guns on your ears or are you just happy to see me?😂😂 More seriously, nice to see Cycle World available here on KZbin. I think I started reading the magazine around the time I got the ‘72 Z1. What a bike! But anyway, keep up the good work (BOTH of you), long time reader and now viewer.

[@BikeStandByMe]

There is no doubt that new technology makes it easier to go fast but some of us that grew up on analog bikes and like them just for that reason. At some point being the fastest guy out there doesn’t really matter. Having many older bikes there is not many things more fun than riding my old Rz350. It’s not particularly fast but it sure is fun.

[@ToddWright2]

I remember reading about Yamaha's "control filled" casting - it was really technical; great for an engineer like me.

[@phatsmitty]

Mark, are those Grado headphones? Had to ask 🙂Excellent documentary of bike evolution!!! We love to hear from Kevin and Mark!!

[@markhoyer1736]

Yes, Grados, customized with V-twin pistons for one of the magazines a few years ago. Good eye!

[@ray_s281]

Love the technical details, like the vertically stacked gearbox, etc.

[@Purepresa]

Kevin is amazing…I met him in Gill Mass in 1978 when I was 16 on my RD-400 Pure genius !!

[@cyclenut9992]

I worked for an aerospace company in 80s and into the 90s, we made the most intricate single crystal castings for the hot part of the jet engines. Interesting to hear how they were making their castings. Good info on the R1, makes me want to ride a later version with wheelie control, ha

[@paulblouin6955]

I was riding with a friend who had a new R1 which he modified. We were on some twisty road outside of Fairbanks. He was gone away from me. I was on a 1970 BSA Lightning. I was riding a little hard shifting and braking . He rode back fown to me and wanted to trade. I rode the R1 like a grandma, toodling along in third gear. I was going like twice as fast as on the BSA thinking that if it was mine , I would be going twice as fast as i was on his. If i fell off i would hit something farther from the road. What an amazing bike.

[@stevefowler2112]

I love these videos...I grew up on two wheels in rural Central Florida in the 60's/early 70's and earned my AMA Expert license in 125cc Motocross in '74 as a Jr. in H.S. and then raced in several of the amateur races at Daytona in '75 on a TZ-250...and then was off to engineering College and I never touched another bike until my FJ1100 in '84 and then again never touched another one until my 2010 BMW S1000RR and then once again never touched another one until my now 2024 Ducati Panigale 1000 V4R (a recently retired Principal Aerospace Engineer with a large American defense contractor's Missile Systems company.

[@vstrom650dlas]

These POD casts are interesting from an engineering standpoint and the technical improvements of motorcycles and many other modes of transportation is something to behold. I presently have a W800 and a new Eliminator which I got when I traded on a Ducati Monster. I've been on the street (on motorcycles) for 61 years now and owned some 52 different motorcycles from a 1963 Ducati 125 Bronco to a 2008 Yamaha FZ1. When I try to look back at why I purchased and then later got rid of my past motorcycles, speed and power were often what impressed me to buy, and excessive speed and power (for street use) is why I sold them. Now, at 74 years old, the bike's presentation, as in does it interest me from the standpoint of just plain looking interesting, has far more weight than how much power and speed the thing has. I now look for pleasing lines and how smooth it is to get from point A to point B. I used to try to go fast for maybe 25 to 50 miles at a time and now an afternoon of a couple hundred miles in the northern Michigan countryside just enjoying the serenity and sound of the wind makes me far happier than try to get there fast. To each his own but it would be nice to see some Pod casts that talk about the simple pleasure of working on your bike and then the appreciation of being able to enjoy your work without trying to break the sound barrier.

[@rearwheelslider]

We absolutely need a racing class with no rider aids. Everyone would watch.

[@KingBroleslaw]

Im on FB marketplace again… thanks…

[@Fireballsocal]

That photo of Don Canet wheelieing the R1 at 100mph was mind blowing to a 20 year old. Never got on an R1 but had 25K on a first gen FZ1.

[@theKGB65]

Whenever I get tempted to thin the herd, so to speak, all I have to do is go out on my old blue, carbureted, 2000 YZF R1 because when return home, I'm often thinking that I could actually live without my Hypermotard 950 S, 1299 Panegale S, or CBR 1000 SP and make that old Yamaha my one-and-only bike and still be happy. The way it sounds, shifts gears and handles... there's just something very special about it. The old bike I occasionally consider selling might be the one that I truly love the most.

[@leadsled8961]

MotoGP without electronics to control them would be a 1 lap race.

[@nunyabidness9257]

I was there, I remember the ‘99 R1 well.. I’d probably still have it but someone else wanted it more and stole it. What a bike.

[@wheelie63]

this was cool, thx Mark [ and Kevin ]....... i still have the '98 R1 [ in red and white ] and i also still have the issue of Cycle News that you referred to ! it was King of the Beasts....for a few years after....

[@SpiritintheSky.]

Yet another marvellous video in the esteemed series. Thanks so much, yet again.

[@T.S.-eo7my]

Owned a ‘99 in 2002. Perfect analog bike in every way except the shape of the aft portion of the gas tank, which would quickly destroy the rider’s sternum in a full tuck. Same thing that other’s experienced….everyone into motorcycles at the time thought the bike was strikingly good looking. Everywhere I rode, lots of compliments…particularly on the size, which was down right petite for a super bike of that day. Folks that I rode with got tripped up by the EXUP valve by where the bike sounded quiet and docile around town and parking lots, but opened up and growled like a demon when we got on the throttle. Really miss the Genesis motors all the way back to the FZR. ‘99 was also the first year of black wheels, which wasn’t trendy at the time. Lost it a corner due to my own inexperience, adjuster totaled it due to a small dent in the frame spar where the clip-on pressed into it. Miss that machine dearly, and would likely still have it otherwise.

[@XRM473]

I argue the 1992 Fireblade was the disruptive change that started the modern superbike. The R1 was second and also predated the superbike racing moving to 1000cc.

[@samuelgarcia9893]

Would you please put together a video about the BMW S1000RR and how it redefined the superbike class i n 2008?

[@MrCJ750]

I used to ride a 98’ R1 in 98’ and it would piss all over anything on the road. Full system, air filter, jetted and power commander with ignition advancer, she was fast as f#ck…💥🏁

[@patrickmalone9380]

Kevin is amazing read All his articles in cycle magizine made me think I understand engineering so interesting .love to know where can read more

[@briancorreia2923]

If you want to prevent oxidation why would you use a difficult to achieve vacuum rather than displacing the oxygen with another gas?

[@ianplayer3329]

Incredible machine 👌

[@TopSpeedTommy]

Although i love and race the R1, I cannot commit to watching a 50 minute discussion

[@84gssteve]

The R1 wasn't even the first Yamaha with a vertical trans. The TDM850 twin had it, but not for the same reasons. The big 850 twin had a 360 crank in the early years and such needed a couple balance shafts, which added a fair bit of length to the engine. The vertical trans cut length and add to that a drysump oiling system and inclined cylinders and it made for very strange looking engine. Damn reliable though with typical Yamaha refinement and reliability.

[@paulblouin6955]

I laughed at those initially. Slower than a Commando. It was more reasonable as an ADV bike than what is,available now.

[@patrickagan1071]

Best carberated super bike

[@buddysumner4022]

It’s a dam shame, I’m a kawi fan but I respect what the r1 was about and what it and it’s riders have won , it so said seeing theses bikes getting discutionued, and it’s all over theses woke bureaucrats and politicians righting and passing laws to kill the combustion engines out, it’s all a big con,

[@sippinga.wiskey5664]

I remember the ABS on my 89 K100RS. 😮

[@NudaMan]

lol every few years each brand made a radical bike it seems, 90’s Blades,98 R1,2000-2003 Hondas 929 & 954, kawasakis 2004 Zx10R

[@stewart8127]

Honda won world super bike in 2004 not Kaw

[@1999fxdx]

They were really fast.

[@markhall3434]

How about a discussion about Crank case sealing on multi cylinder 2 cycle engines. Didn't the kawasaki H2 use a press together crankshafts? Also why wasn't the 3 cylinder total balance perfection for a 2 cycle? Crankcase Stuffers etc. evinrude kept 2 cycle alive for quite a while, then gave up do to emissions of course.

[@stewart8127]

Evencrude.

[@kd350]

My '09 Last year FZ6 predated the FZ09's weld less vacuum die-cast frame construction with two permanent bolts holding it together by the steering neck. I'm a bit of a FZ/MT hater with their too long forks and squatted rear set up for wheelie squids...no center-stand, no feeling, no wind protection, huge mailbox exhaust spitting out ON the rear tire and asymmetrical LCD instruments with a nauseating LCD tach. No quicker than the six with all that extra displacement.

[@subaruwrx3381]

Ive found valve clearence checks on my 98 are a waste of time ..they are always spot on

[@briankalagher6687]

Good to know. How many miles do you have on yours? I think Yamaha says to check every 28K. The 99 I bought 20 years ago is just about to hit 55K and I have not checked yet. Still runs awesome!

[@markhall3434]

Front wheel drive Motorcycles? Like a FWD drive car, it pulls you around the corner? Less leaning maybe? Wouldn't the torque applied to the front wheel be countered by planting the rear wheel. Some intellegent mix of the two? Does the physics work or not?

[@stewart8127]

FZ 6 from 2004 was cast frame

[@joesutherland225]

Inert gases would eliminate the oxide problem .

[@ktkace]

K6 @ 169KG : PINNACLE

[@camerond8176]

Load pushes the tire into the ground and makes it stick.....................Doesn't matter HOW the load gets there, the load amount is what matters in the end. People love to pretend they have the special sauce for suspension geometry, when in the end the rider position has the most to do with motorcycle balance and load on the tires.

[@glennkearney3792]

I worked at bronze founderys in the 80s and sprews feeding below and vents allowing air and oxidation to release from the top of the casting. I don't think this is something Yamaha came up with.

[@douglasgrosch228]

is the concours 14 with its VVT any special motor ?? got most broadest torque curve - can you get into that motor /or zx14 motor ?? thanks

[@douglasgrosch228]

show on 90s vs 2000s vs 2010s bikes what zone they tapped out on bikes -no electronics just talent - -think bikes today are too refined ?? you think ? fun stalga cool factor -motors ect....

[@bananabrooks3836]

Americans who speak with alacrity, who knew...

[@TheInfantry98]

This bike is completely dead nowadays in 2024