I figured I would register and sign in and see what everyone is up to on the new 15+ R1 forum. I put a deposit on a 16 60th and now have to wait for next years delivery. Here is a little history of how I came to choose the R1 60th.
I'm just on the downhill side of 50 years old. In all my life I have never owned a inline 4 motorcycle. I've owned V4's from the Honda 80s including a 'Ceptor 700 tariff bike and previous a V65. I then went to a Hawk GT. Smaller and better handling machines appealed to me. A Ducati dealer opened up near me and I lusted after the 916-996 and in 2000 bought a 996 and quickly bought leathers and off to the track I went. Club racing lightweights and then poverty soon followed. I sold everything to pay bills. Next bike was a Ninja 250. People laughed but I was in the wind.
Fast forward and bikes have come and gone. Never did get to own a inline 4. I bought a ZX7R a year ago. It was old and cheap but it taught me that I was missing out on that inline howl and smooth manic rush of acceleration. Intoxicating and very different from my 2000 Ducati 996S I was able to snatch up on ebay a few years back. The Duc is madness and quite fun at track days but its old and not something one should beat on. I got rid of the ZX7 and wanted a track day bike with style. I found a 50th Anniversary R6 in like new condition. It only had 7k and most of that was a woman owner. I removed the lowering links, brought it back to stock ride height and added braided lines. It was gorgeous and it rode as well as it looked. I have never ridden a bike that instilled such confidence in flicking it into a corner. The Duc can be hands free in a corner but getting it there is work. The R6 is effortless. I couldn't wait for my next track day. On my next track day I was rewarded with crystal blue skies and cooler temps as it was September just this past month. My first session and I was blown away by the handling of this bike. It was so stable in transition from upright into full lean. Knee down corrections to tighten a corner were so easy. Wow I really love this bike!
The day ended and I was signed up to ride again a day later and decided to bring the Duc along as well. My buddy pitted next to me and we had a great day. I told him how much better the R6 handles compared to the heavier Duc's handling. I told him to take the R6 and see for himself as he has an older R6S at home he picked up salvage for a track bike that was still in the process of being set up. I told him that one ride on my R6 and he will get that bike ready.
I went out on the Duc and he on my R6. The session ended with red flags. I said out loud in my helmet, "Please don't let it be my bike." as I hoped my bud didn't crash it. but two corners later I saw it laying in the corner with its plastics littered everywhere. NOOOOOOOO!
Lucky for my bud he was OK. The bike on the other hand was totaled. I went home bummed but everyone told me that I could now get another bike. This opened the door for my thinking about a new R1. Then the 60th color scheme just shouted "BUY ME". Now I'm here after putting a deposit on a 16 looking to learn what I need to do to make this bike ready for its delivery.
Pipe, tune, brake pads, crash bungs, etc...
I hope this handles like my R6 did...
I'm just on the downhill side of 50 years old. In all my life I have never owned a inline 4 motorcycle. I've owned V4's from the Honda 80s including a 'Ceptor 700 tariff bike and previous a V65. I then went to a Hawk GT. Smaller and better handling machines appealed to me. A Ducati dealer opened up near me and I lusted after the 916-996 and in 2000 bought a 996 and quickly bought leathers and off to the track I went. Club racing lightweights and then poverty soon followed. I sold everything to pay bills. Next bike was a Ninja 250. People laughed but I was in the wind.
Fast forward and bikes have come and gone. Never did get to own a inline 4. I bought a ZX7R a year ago. It was old and cheap but it taught me that I was missing out on that inline howl and smooth manic rush of acceleration. Intoxicating and very different from my 2000 Ducati 996S I was able to snatch up on ebay a few years back. The Duc is madness and quite fun at track days but its old and not something one should beat on. I got rid of the ZX7 and wanted a track day bike with style. I found a 50th Anniversary R6 in like new condition. It only had 7k and most of that was a woman owner. I removed the lowering links, brought it back to stock ride height and added braided lines. It was gorgeous and it rode as well as it looked. I have never ridden a bike that instilled such confidence in flicking it into a corner. The Duc can be hands free in a corner but getting it there is work. The R6 is effortless. I couldn't wait for my next track day. On my next track day I was rewarded with crystal blue skies and cooler temps as it was September just this past month. My first session and I was blown away by the handling of this bike. It was so stable in transition from upright into full lean. Knee down corrections to tighten a corner were so easy. Wow I really love this bike!
The day ended and I was signed up to ride again a day later and decided to bring the Duc along as well. My buddy pitted next to me and we had a great day. I told him how much better the R6 handles compared to the heavier Duc's handling. I told him to take the R6 and see for himself as he has an older R6S at home he picked up salvage for a track bike that was still in the process of being set up. I told him that one ride on my R6 and he will get that bike ready.
I went out on the Duc and he on my R6. The session ended with red flags. I said out loud in my helmet, "Please don't let it be my bike." as I hoped my bud didn't crash it. but two corners later I saw it laying in the corner with its plastics littered everywhere. NOOOOOOOO!
Lucky for my bud he was OK. The bike on the other hand was totaled. I went home bummed but everyone told me that I could now get another bike. This opened the door for my thinking about a new R1. Then the 60th color scheme just shouted "BUY ME". Now I'm here after putting a deposit on a 16 looking to learn what I need to do to make this bike ready for its delivery.
Pipe, tune, brake pads, crash bungs, etc...
I hope this handles like my R6 did...