adowdell
08-11-2006, 02:46 PM
Warning: I'm not a journalist, but I tried to stay organized with the below and then realized it seemed like random rambling.
These are the impressions that I have. As background I've put over 11,000 miles on the old F2 ridden it for 2 years now. and have quite a bit of dirtbike/atv background before that. Not an expert or anything of the sort. This is just my random comparison of the 2.
Hmmm..... F2 to R1... Its extremely hard to compare really. I just bought the R1 about 4 weeks ago, rode the R1 around town about 3-4 times and once or twice down the local beltline and back (it needs a new tire before I go to awful far) then I hit the key with a lawn mower. Took a week to get the key into the lock smith, and now havea couple solid days of riding on it... My initial reaction is that they are pretty much uncomparable. The R1 has a much higher quality feel too it. maybe my cbr just has 37,000 miles and is getting alittle rattley, I'm not sure. On the CBR at 90 the engines buzzing, nay screaming(I have a +4 vortec out back)and you feel every bump in the road, the wind over your head kind blows your head around some unless you're in full tuck (extremely uncomfortable for me-you have to lay horizontal on the tank and manage to look straight up(forward)) and you have to actively be trying to maintian that speed. And when you untuck you can noticabley feel the change in speed.
Now the R1 feels completely solid, and you don't even feel the speed. at 100, it feels like the f2 at 55. I've not yet had chance, nor balls to bang the throttle wide open because at about 3/4 throttle and sitting upright it'll hike the front tire. Also would like to point out that first gear is waaaaay taller I think it ends at like 85 ish? but it'll run through the gears just about as quick as the CBR, except each gear ends about 45 mph later. The tank bulge is rather nice, and I think it's more comfy that the F2, but maybe a touch wider at the knees even though much narrower at the seat. The rear brake is positioned much lower, with the f2 I had to lift my foot to put it on top of the brake (yes it was adjusted as low as it would go) The R1, I simply move my toe over and it's right there. Brakes are waaaay better as well. Rolling at say 25 if I grab a handful of brakes it'll lift the rear tire instantly, the F2 i would have to lean waaaay forward and give ita pretty much all I had to get it to lift the rear. As for weight and such I would say that their weights are similar except when stopped at a stop sign you can leterally toss the R1 back and forth between your legs! The F2 you could move back and forth between your legs but not toss. I think that has mostly to do with where the center of gravity is. On th R1 is way low to the ground! oh, and it seems to be much easier to work on! The front bolt on the gas tank comes out, and the the tank hinges up (after removing the front seat-2 bolts) you can sync the carbs or do spark plugs without removing the gas tank and all that other happy crap. Rear seat comes off leaving I would say a rather large trunk, way bigger than I expected. Like I said the rear tire on my R1 is smoked read huge flat center section, so it's turning kinda slow right now, I ahve a 180/55 that I'm putting on it I bet it'll dive right inot corner after that. The seat is quite a bit higher, I could touch flat foot with an inch between my crotch and the seat on the F2, now I'm on Tip toes. oh, also the passenger seat is really high, I'm pretty sure the wife's entire helmet is above mine when I'm sitting upright and she's leaning forward. Also the digital speedo rules! Much better easier to take a quick glance and see where you're at! Also all fairing are pretty much connected with zues fasteners, 1/2 turn and it's out, but doesn't fallout, stays in the top plastic! No more losingfasteners!... um... oh, and it's eyepoppingly fast!:scared compared to the f2. Like I said 100 feels like 55 and you don't really notice it except for the trees and stuff quizzing by! It's so solid feeling! I've never ridden a newer 600 so I can't tell you if they feel this solid at speed. but If I had a newer 600 in the R1 chassis I would probably be happy with that power. But the R1 kinda fell in my lap for way cheap, so I suppose I'll make do with it instead of a newer 600 . I'm going to mostly use the R1 for commuting/daily riding and will probably never come close to using it to it's full potential. But that's better than letting the kid I bought it from do his squidly duties and kill himself. He already had no license (car or motorcycle), or insurance, and had to have the motorcycle titled in his cousins name to get plates for it.
I hope the reading wasn't that rough on those who stuck through it. again those are just my impressions. i can't wait to go riding again!:riding
Here's some pics of me finishing off the old rear tire! and stills of the 1998 R1!
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n53/neonsrt4/RightSideR1.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n53/neonsrt4/LeftSideR1.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n53/neonsrt4/LookinBackBurnoutR1.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n53/neonsrt4/BurnoutR1.jpg
Here are pics of the CBR
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n53/neonsrt4/CBRfromtherear2.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n53/neonsrt4/n16909741_31207460_5195.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n53/neonsrt4/n16909741_31207457_2756.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n53/neonsrt4/CBRMygarage2.jpg