[R1ANDREW]

I am with rorlow on this one. Make it your own and the year will not matter. Here is my blood, sweat, and tears:riding

 

[WildCard Dan]

Like you said before the heat is definately an issue on the 04 and something to consider. Having said that I still love mine and with the conversion it's great.

Does the 04 cook your legs as bad as the 03 or is it the undertail the real heat source of the 04 + ?

 

[rorlow]

I am with rorlow on this one. Make it your own and the year will not matter. Here is my blood, sweat, and tears:riding

man everytime time I see your bike, I drool over all those tasty components, very well thought out machine, with some excellant high quality bits :bow

 

[R1ANDREW]

man everytime time I see your bike, I drool over all those tasty components, very well thought out machine, with some excellant high quality bits :bow

Rorlow
Thanks for the complement. You are still the man.

 

[Hoove]

. Plus you can spend the $1700 you save on gear and mods.

This is a good tip. You can get some good stuff for the 03 with $1700.00

 

[Ironman157]

Ok, I'm brand new to R1's (not cycles though) and I'm completely taken with the styling and the numbers of the R1. I've been searching and reading and searching and reading all over the net and thought you guys could just give me a straight answer on this. I know the numbers jump from 150 to 180 (some say 172) from '03 to '04 but I also read that the '04 lost some torque down low. Is this true, and if so, how noticeable is it? I don't intend to push the bike all that hard anyway, at least not for awhile.... Mostly in town riding and a few trips through the canyons.... I've got a line on a LE '03 (Red/Black flames) and and '04 in the Shift Red (my favorite!) both have about 8k miles on them. So which is the better bike? I can get the '03 for about 1700 cheaper. Thanks in advance, and please be gentle for this noob, at least I have good taste in bikes.

OH NO! NOt another 03 vs 04 post!
all the 03s will tell you to buy an 03, all the 04s will tell you to buy an 04.

I have ridden both on the track and have owned three r1s. The 04 is a better bike. awesome on the track and street. CHANGE THE GEARING. enough said. That will give it the same ump down low as an 03 but it will still rip more in the higher revs.

THe thing is that you can find an 04 for 7k this time of year. Don't let price be factor. now is a buyers market. there is no reason you should have to pay more than 7k for an 04. Shoot, here a guy just sold his 05 with 1,600 miles MINt for 7200. Good luck

 

[Purs]

R1Andrew, nice looking LE. There is one of those not to far from me that I could pick up pretty reasonably.

I love the styling of all the R1's I've seen, but there's something about the '04 that is calling my name. I've found a Red '04 local with around 8k miles that I think I get get AT or below 7k. It has a few upgrades but don't the details yet. I need to sell one of my classic muscle cars first so I can go over and have "cash in hand" before I start negotiating....

 

[R1 Rider RU]

Either way you will be happy I had, loved and lost an 03 R1 I also have an 06 R1. The 03 in my opinion has better suspension and better feel from the brakes in stock form. motor wise more thrust until 10krpm from the 03 but after that no comparision. so get the one you feel the best on and ride.

 

[AnonymousR1]

I've rode both 02-03 and 04-06 R1's. I must say - I prefer my 03 over them. I am thinking about an 07 depending on it's spec's / styling..

 

[BiZ]

Considering what your looking to do with your bike, I would suggest just factoring in your budget, and wave your dicussion on looks and what fits you best. If your looking to save money, the get the 02-03 R1, but if 1700 bucks is not a big issue to you, then go with the 04 If the 04 suits you better in looks and fit and feel.

I have posted my bikes, I owned a 02 R1, and then moved up to an 04 R1. I was inlove with the looks of the 04 R1.

As far as power, the 04 has more as many stated, but either model has more then enough for the street.

I do have issues with the heat underseat because of the exhaust location, but its not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the bike.

Good luck with your choose, you can't go wrong either way. That black with flames scheme on the 03 is one tough looking bike. As other guys stated too, with 1700 additional dollars to spend on mods, your in great shape, but again comes down to personal taste when choosing the model years your looking at.

the pics are of my 02 R1, and 04 R1. giving some props to my nephew, he loves motorcycles, and is in love with the R1, he was just as crazy about my 02 as his is about the 04. He definitely is a future yamaha rider once he gets old enough, he already has pocket bikes and I'm trying to convince his dad to get him started on dirtbikes!

 

[BiZ]

I've rode both 02-03 and 04-06 R1's. I must say - I prefer my 03 over them. I am thinking about an 07 depending on it's spec's / styling..

damn!!! that is one tough lookin bike, I ****ing love it!

I sure hope the 07 comes in all black, and will definitely be looking to see if they have sharper edge lines like that of the 02-03 R1's. those models in my opinion had the best rear end of all the R1's.

 

[KNEEDY R1]

Change the front sprocket to -1 and the 04 is a winner!:thumbup

 

[xdonniedarkox]

That tough... All mentioned comments are spot on. 04+ bikes can be had for a good price.

What Ron said is totally true.... they grow on you.
However if the new R1 is (as I hope) dope, then the ol' girl might be ready the next stage of her life, with a new owner...

 

[Wheels]

I've rode both 02-03 and 04-06 R1's. I must say - I prefer my 03 over them. I am thinking about an 07 depending on it's spec's / styling..

Best R1 - that is a oxymoron

all R1s are the BEST

Sweet ride AnonymousR1... Where did you get those headlight covers... I love that black...


I still have my 02... It's hard to say goodbye... As much as I love the 04-06 I still cannot get rid of my baby...

 

[AnonymousR1]

Thanks for the complements..

I got the headlight covers at www.scclearbra.com

 

[Wheels]

Thanks for the complements..

I got the headlight covers at www.scclearbra.com

Thanks:thumbup

 

[Purs]

man you guys with the '03s are making it tough to decide. and to top it off, now there's an '03 that's not to far from me that is a killer deal! decisions, decisions.....

 

[r1scooter]

I've had the pleasure of owning many R1's from '99 up. My favorite is still the 03, wish I still had it. I currently have an 05 with the -1 front sprocket everyone talks about, but it still doesn't really compare to the lowend power from the '03's. The 04-05 have more power on top, but god I get tired of having to lay the whip to it all the time just to get to the meat of the power band.

 

[sxlova07]

Does the 04 cook your legs as bad as the 03 or is it the undertail the real heat source of the 04 + ?

the main source of all the heat is the cat...its right near the your calf and ankles. While I had an issue with it when I went from my '03 LE to my '04. Now that I wear full leathers most of the time, I dont feel the heat at all.

 

[LoveTheForks]

03 R1. because I also have one. haha