R1 @ 25

[SS427 Camaro]

Just where has the time gone. Seems like yesterday that I got my first sight of one of these……

[Dog Star]

Crazy isn’t it?

I’ve had an R1 continuously since March 2000, got two at the moment.

The yellow one I’ll keep forever.

[Twolane]

Mine is a mere 22 years old.

[waiteu2]

Twolane said:

Mine is a mere 22 years old.

It certainly doesn't look like it!
These age tremendously well.

[ChocolateFrog]

Cracking looking bikes.

Early 2000's R1, a 90's Fireblade and a Suzuki K5.

Not sure which Kawasaki you'd have to complete the set though.

[2GOOD]

Bought a brand new one in the summer of 98 from George White in Swindon, my mate wanted the Red/White so got it quite quick, where as I wanted a Blue one which didn’t arrive until the end of June. So I stuck it in the garage until the 1st of August (S plate). I think S311BHR is still out there somewhere.

[SS427 Camaro]

2GOOD said:

Bought a brand new one in the summer of 98 from George White in Swindon, my mate wanted the Red/White so got it quite quick, where as I wanted a Blue one which didn’t arrive until the end of June. So I stuck it in the garage until the 1st of August (S plate). I think S311BHR is still out there somewhere.

That’s interesting, do you have any photos of them ?
And yes, the blue ones sold out very quickly, as @ the time, the white / red was thought to be too brash. We think that the sales split was 60 - 40 in favour of the blue. Fast forward 25 years and it’s the White / Red which is more sought after.

[Twolane]

waiteu2 said:

It certainly doesn't look like it!
These age tremendously well.

Yes its still in reasonable shape even after 42k miles.

[2GOOD]

SS427 Camaro said:

That’s interesting, do you have any photos of them ?
And yes, the blue ones sold out very quickly, as @ the time, the white / red was thought to be too brash. We think that the sales split was 60 - 40 in favour of the blue. Fast forward 25 years and it’s the White / Red which is more sought after.

Only mine

[SS427 Camaro]

2GOOD said:

Only mine

Looks stunning !!
How long did you keep it for ?
Looks like it was last used in June 22.
It has an interesting MOT history, hence the still fairly low miles.

Edited by SS427 Camaro on Friday 7th April 23:01

[cherryowen]

2GOOD said:

Only mine

Stunning.

I was with a mate back in 1998 at WSBK Donington, and there was a paddock area reserved for Ducatis between Redgate and Craner. The hundreds of Dukes in this "paddock" were largely ignored as there were two red an white R1's parked along the fence adjacent to it!

[scunnylad]

Crap photo, bought new early 1998. Saw one on display the previous year at the Bol d'or and it was just wow.

Sadly it died 3 years later in the gravel trap at Coppice,Donington Park

url]|https://thumbsnap.com/Q6dQAagZ[/url]

[SS427 Camaro]

scunnylad said:

Crap photo, bought new early 1998. Saw one on display the previous year at the Bol d'or and it was just wow.

Sadly it died 3 years later in the gravel trap at Coppice,Donington Park

url]|https://thumbsnap.com/Q6dQAagZ[/url]

What a shame. Can you recall it’s Reg number ?

[SS427 Camaro]

scunnylad said:

Crap photo, bought new early 1998. Saw one on display the previous year at the Bol d'or and it was just wow.

Sadly it died 3 years later in the gravel trap at Coppice,Donington Park

url]|https://thumbsnap.com/Q6dQAagZ[/url]

What a shame. Can you recall it’s Reg number ?

[Biker's Nemesis]

Ive had every 1000cc Yamaha 4 stroke superbike since 1988, before that it was their 2 stroke pangers. So, yes, where has the time gone.

[Rob 131 Sport]

SS427 Camaro said:

2GOOD said:

Bought a brand new one in the summer of 98 from George White in Swindon, my mate wanted the Red/White so got it quite quick, where as I wanted a Blue one which didn’t arrive until the end of June. So I stuck it in the garage until the 1st of August (S plate). I think S311BHR is still out there somewhere.

That’s interesting, do you have any photos of them ?
And yes, the blue ones sold out very quickly, as @ the time, the white / red was thought to be too brash. We think that the sales split was 60 - 40 in favour of the blue. Fast forward 25 years and it’s the White / Red which is more sought after.

It’s interesting how tastes change. Back in the day (I couldn’t afford one anyway so it’s largely irrelevant), I massively preferred the blue colour.

Now I absolutely adore the Red and White and am not
keen on the Blue. An absolute icon. The speed block Yellow / Black version trumps them all.

[scunnylad]

SS427 Camaro said:

What a shame. Can you recall it’s Reg number ?

R76 GPU

Bought it from a place called Locks, in north London

[trickywoo]

Found a good article for superbikes 25 years before the R1 - scroll down https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/1973-s...

The rate of progress has definitely slowed.

[Walter Sobchak]

I bought a 1998 one back in 2010 as I’d always wanted an original, kept it for a bit then sold it for £2k, wish I’d held onto it now!, really decent bike to ride considering it’s age, felt so much sharper than the equivalent Fireblade which feels like a bus in comparison!.

[andySC]

I bought mine brand new from Carnell’s in Doncaster in Feb 2000 for £6995. It was the white/red/black model & I distinctly remember it being delivered in the van & me being in awe of the thing as it was wheeled out of the back. It would be the Mark 1.5 I suppose so revised paint/decals & maybe a few minor tweeks. I bloody loved the thing. Ride it to France (Antibes) a few times, lots of trackdays, IoM TT & burning through a tank of fuel after tea on a summer’s evening. I had it jetted & a beautiful GYTR exhaust on it that sounded amazing, it certainly felt potent & even more so after the tune. Kept it for 2 years & about 12000 miles & a mega deal on new a RSV Mille R meant we went our separate ways. Best bike I ever owned & great time to be on a sports bike (I was young & daft, fuel was cheap, traffic was lighter, less Gatso’s & no dash cams !)