Do a search it can answer some questions but for the most part the 02-03 R1's were solid and realiable with good performance.


Mine has 22k and runs ,starts like the first mile when I bought it March 7th 2002.

 

Almost 24k, and I havent even changed the plugs yet. Still as strong as ever.....tires and chains on the other hand.........

 

Do a search it can answer some questions but for the most part the 02-03 R1's were solid and realiable with good performance.


Mine has 22k and runs ,starts like the first mile when I bought it March 7th 2002.

:iamwithst
1-10-03(happens to be my b day too!!)
34000 miles and she runs like a champ!!!

 

Don't do it. Your 04R6 will out run the 03R1 on just about every road with curves. I used to own 99R1 and 02R1. The R6 and R1 are very different animals. Once you dial in the R6, there is no looking back. The R6 is alsp easier to dial in than the R1.

 

Don't do it. Your 04R6 will out run the 03R1 on just about every road with curves. I used to own 99R1 and 02R1. The R6 and R1 are very different animals. Once you dial in the R6, there is no looking back. The R6 is alsp easier to dial in than the R1.

what do you own now?

 

04R6.

 

what do you own now?

Duke owns a new R6 and used to own an R1 but wrecked it twice. Once on Angels Crest and on the willows race track. He is right about the R6 being faster in the curves Good memory A Duke?

Duke Is one of the most skilled and knowledgeable riders around. Fast to.

 

If you ride at 80% or higher on newer 600 you can take a litre on most twisties but you can whip a 600 at 40-70% throttle/effort on leisure rides.


Depends how you ride and how much of the time. I love 600's but would NOT give up a litre for a 600. Owning BOTH would be my only option.

 

If you ride at 80% or higher on newer 600 you can take a litre on most twisties but you can whip a 600 at 40-70% throttle/effort on leisure rides.


Depends how you ride and how much of the time. I love 600's but would NOT give up a litre for a 600. Owning BOTH would be my only option.

yeah, in my ideal world that's what I'd do (both), but i can't afford it. I ride all the time. don't own a car. mostlly ride in city and then out to backroads on weekends (sweepers, twisties, etc). I'm really torn about this whole thing. I'd like some more power on staright-a-ways, but also would *hate* to give up the handling of my R6...and would really feel bad if I decided that more power isn't nearly as much fun as nimble agility. i've heard numerous people say the R6 is a better track bike and the R1 is a better street bike. To date i havn't done any track riding, but may do some in the future...

so what ya'll think i should do?

-sedition

 

yeah, in my ideal world that's what I'd do (both), but i can't afford it. I ride all the time. don't own a car. mostlly ride in city and then out to backroads on weekends (sweepers, twisties, etc). I'm really torn about this whole thing. I'd like some more power on staright-a-ways, but also would *hate* to give up the handling of my R6...and would really feel bad if I decided that more power isn't nearly as much fun as nimble agility. i've heard numerous people say the R6 is a better track bike and the R1 is a better street bike. To date i havn't done any track riding, but may do some in the future...

so what ya'll think i should do?

-sedition

you gotta do what you feel is right to you.

I know thats no real advice but it is cut and dry


I have the luxury of owning both and while I enjoy the R6 AT times...no way in hell I would give up the 1

I can rip up a fair amount of corners on the 1 and have only found a very small handful of riders here that can match the R1's power to corner ratio.

those guys usually wind up getting owned in the straights and make SOME time back in the corners(this is out on the street)

On the track...I get wasted on the R1..straights..its deadly...corners...gotta watch that entry speed.

but on the flip side..the R6 is nimble as all hell...but tends to me to feel like it has a sudden drop in..and feels like it is gonna wash out on me.

solution:get a 70 series front tire and lose some higher speed stability.

trade offs man trade offs..what else can I say?:dunno

 

Buy the R1. Dial in the suspension. Ride the R1. Enjoy it.

I rode my '03 for 10 months(17,000 miles), and didn't have anything near a problem with it. Still ride it every so often.

Great wheelie bike. Cornering is what you make of it with what you have. (see suspension note above)

Great for street riding--I'll take it any day over a 600.

 

I'd say your best bet would be to ride one. If you know someone that you trust or can trust you take it for a quick spin like an hour :lol j/k well if you can cool

I've ridden almost all of the current 600's from 98 on but not the 03-04 R6 and although they were nice and light and blah blah its still amazing how you get use to torque and power from idle to redline vs 8k to redline. I get on a 600 and I'm like wow there is nothing from idle to around 8k but there is nothing like riding a 600 and banging through a few gears . I still loved the R6 the most although the Cbr 600rr and Kawasaki 600rr(03) are damn good too just not as fun or exciting IMO to ride as an r6 . I rode a 99R6 , a 00R6 for 1500 miles and an 02 R6 for about an hours time total. How different is the 03-03 R6 ? :dunno til I ride one but I can tell you if you dial in your suspension ,drop the forks, get good tires that lean easier (190/55-17 or a 180) you will not miss the handiling as much on a litre.

 

Do a search. This whole website is one big long term test for all R1 models. :lol......

 

i think the r6 makes a better race bike and the 1 makes a better street bike, i had a 99 r6 I raced and rode on the street and own an 03 1, the r6 at 90-100% is deff. easier to steer but you have to work a lot harder at keeping it in the upper revs, i live in flat and straight florida but do go up to T.W.O. and deals gap at least once a year, the r1 is just easier and more fun for me i can ride in 1 gear on most curvy roads and concentrate on my entrance speed and looking ahead to find any dangers, on the r6 if the exit was uphill and i got caught a gear high it just didnt pull well, i have an expert level ccs liscence, so im not a slouch

in florida its a no brainer the extra grunt and power of the 1 wins evertime

my only complaint about the 1 is its a little buzzy

i did love my 6 also and wrung its neck for 2 seasons of racing without a problem , both bikes have very good reliability history

depending on your age the cost of insurance could help make up your mind also, heres apic to tease you

 

thanks for the input everyone. i'll have to mull it over. one last question though, and i suppose this is *the* question...

which of the two do bikes do you think is more *fun* to ride?


-chr|s sedition

 

Thats a tough one and many variables come into play like which one do you have to beat more to have fun with? Which sound better to you with what exhaust ? Etc etc etc

To do wheelies you have to clutch on the 600 not on the litre but it depends if you wheelie and whats your technique. I bounce 600's and tug on the bars on the 1.


I love the sound of the Arata on the R1 and like a deeper bigger bore tone over the higher pitched 600's but love them both.

 

yeah, in my ideal world that's what I'd do (both), but i can't afford it. I ride all the time. don't own a car. mostlly ride in city and then out to backroads on weekends (sweepers, twisties, etc). I'm really torn about this whole thing. I'd like some more power on staright-a-ways, but also would *hate* to give up the handling of my R6...and would really feel bad if I decided that more power isn't nearly as much fun as nimble agility. i've heard numerous people say the R6 is a better track bike and the R1 is a better street bike. To date i havn't done any track riding, but may do some in the future...

so what ya'll think i should do?

-sedition

hey whats up Chis. I dont think ive seen you over here before. Buy the R1, you'll never regret it. unless you were talking about a racetrack or lived in an area that had roads like the Dragon, the r1 is only way to go. You'll never corner to a bikes full potential on a public road and Im not sure you would want to anyway. :bow

 

hey whats up Chis. I dont think ive seen you over here before. Buy the R1, you'll never regret it. unless you were talking about a racetrack or lived in an area that had roads like the Dragon, the r1 is only way to go. You'll never corner to a bikes full potential on a public road and Im not sure you would want to anyway. :bow

seen me here...prolly not. now SBW, that's a different story
thanks for the imput. what do you ride, BTW?

-chr|s sedition

 

seen me here...prolly not. now SBW, that's a different story
thanks for the imput. what do you ride, BTW?

-chr|s sedition

Ive got an 03. Its my second R1. best bike ive ever had. Ive had quite a few. wheelies, corners, looks awesome and puts a smile on my face everytime I ride.

 

lol...r1gladiator, I do have a lot more crashing experiences and good at it too, thanks God for keeping me in one piece.

chR1s sedition - perhaps the 03 is a very good bike for you since you only ride bike and don't drive a car. For freeway and commute, the 03R1 is great. The 03R1 turn and steer quickly at moderate speed, much better than the 04R1. The 04R1 turn and change line at mid corner as needed almost like the 04R6 at speed but not at slower pace. At moder pace, the 02-03R1 feels like a 600 for initial turn in, great mid range to get you out of trouble quickly on freeway or street. For cornering, 03-04R6 and 04R1 are superior to the 03R1 and just about any other brands.

I only ride on canyon and track. My previous comment induced by my riding habit and where I ride. If I only have one motorcycle and no car, 03R1 would be my choice.

Good luck in your decision.

 

The R6 probably does make a better trackbike, but unless you are racing, who really cares? The R1 is a whole lot of fun on the track, and unless you have a fragile eago, who cares if you get passed by some 600s? I just go to the track to have fun with friends and have the ability to ride at the edge of my abilities.

 

No recalls on the 02 (what I own) , so I suppose the same applies for the 03... As for full liter bikes the best low end I have ever felt except for maybe the (04) gix. But the chassis (IMO) is way more sorted on the R1. Drop the triple clamp a hair, take the time to adjust the suspension appropriately and the R1 is THE 'street'bike. The R6 is great but as I find on all 6 huns you have to ride them at their peak to get their potency out of them. The are wicked in corners though. I will say the mitsubish developed fuel injection on the 02-03's is the best I have ever felt in my life...incredible....and I say this with no Power Commander (just ordered). It schools Hondas fule injection, and I believe Suzuki is close in performance. IMO I found the 04 R1 fuel injection not as sorted as the 02-03 FI...IMO. I find the 04 R6 is good but had a (small) but noticable notchiness in on/off throttle modualtion, but this seems to be the case in all 6 huns, and even more so in the Honda cbr600rr (04)... If you are not concerned about the highest hp full liter bike out there, but appreciate very design (aestitic) minded bike, bullet proof motor (especially on 02-03's), and very durable (see martinc 85,000 miles (or was it km)), the 03 R1 is the ticket. I was a honda guy through and through before, but am sold on Yamaha and am keeping my this R1, which I bought pre owned. I will get other bike prolly but I will keep this as it rides incredible and the power and handling are totally purposeful for street riding. I have ridden almost everything else and my 02 remains to be the best rounded package for ME. Good luck and as you can tell I suggest you get the 03 R1...
peace
xDx

 

By the way ChR1s,
Most long term tests were on 02's not 03's that I could find. PM me and I will send you what I have in respect of 02 write ups which could be applicable for you. MCN has a good write up, which I have. Let me know-
Dylan

 

So I tracked down a silver/black 2003 R1 at a semi-local dealship today. went and checked it out this afternoon. If i get one, i want the lmtd edition blk/red one, but figured it prolly be a good deal to check out *any* 03 R1 before i put too much effort into find the one i might buy. i never *really* looked at up close before with the intention of owning one.

i think i'm sold on it. now i just have to sell my R6 and then find used 2003 red/blk that aint beat-up thanks guys. i'll report back at some point with the process. hope i don't end up regreat doing this!

-chr|s sedition
Boston, MA

 

You won't regret it at all. I agree with xdonniedarkox and Jin Ba Itai about it's Street worthiness but my impression of the 04R1 wasn't as expected.

I have ridden an 04r1 and really found it to be not much better in the turns and slower handling at below 40-50mph. The 04 is cool but lacks areas where the 02-03 shined. Don't get me wrong the 04-05 R1 is sweet and more powerful but needs to be ridden "600" style to be superior powerwise and a well set-up 02-03 r1 is plenty in an all around package for day to day no problem communication that will put a on your face everytime


BTW just a though I have 22k on my silver 02 and no noticable scratches. The silver hides them great. The blue and black ....well .....don't but are just as sexy.