Yamaha Yzf-R1

YAMAHA YZF-R1

SERVICE

BEST USED BIKES

YEARS SOLD: 2002-2006 (second gen.) MSRP NEW: $10,299 ('02) to $11,299 (’06) BLUE BOOK RETAIL VALUE: $3895 ('02) to $5875 ('06)

BASIC SPECS: The YZF-R1 of the preYCCT (ride-by-wire) era is powered by a liquid-cooled, 998cc, DOHC inline-four. The Genesis engine features five valves per cylinder, EXUP-valve-equipped exhaust, and introduced a stacked gearbox. Yamaha made the switch from carburetors to fuel injection with the R1 throttle bodies employing a simplistic, yet very effective, CV-type flat-slide secondary throttle valve for smoother response. It produced 134 hp at 10,800 rpm on the Cycle World dyno and weighed 412 pounds without fuel.

WHY IT’S DESIRABLE: Yamaha’s second generation cat-eyed liter-class bike featured an updated Deltabox III frame and chassis based on the YZF-R7 superbike. This translated into agile handling backed with an abundance of midand top-end power. The 2004 model year brought an underseat exhaust, ram-air intake, radialmount brake calipers, steering damper, and fresh styling. While quite capable as a trackday weapon, the R1 was a top choice among its peers for general street duty.

THE COMPETITION: In 2002, Honda introduced a new CBR954RR, and while Suzuki’s brutally powerful GSX-R1000 won FITS track shootout at the time, the R1 didn’t disappoint. “It’s the best-balanced of these three and a damn good streetbike, maybe the best for most back-road aces,” we wrote. The 2004 debut of the Kawasaki ZX-10R rewrote the class rules with unmatched power and weight. Suzuki then countered with the significantly updated 2005 GSX-R1000, a bike still seen by many as the apex of Gixxer development.