THERE are varying levels of fast. There’s fast, there's stupidly fast, and then there's just plain ballistic. If stupidly fast isn’t enough, then maybe you need an R1 -- a motorcycle that for so long provided the benchmark in the litre-class sports category.

First introduced in 1998, Yamaha’s menacing YZF1000-R1 picked up the baton from the Honda FireBlade and screamed off into the distance, ne'er to be seen again. That is, until Suzuki's awesome GSX-R1000 caught up and passed it three years later. Nowadays the latest Blade, the Gixxer K7 and even Kawasaki's ZX-10R are streets ahead on paper. So can the R1 still cut it among the best?

Design-wise, it is really a four-year-old bike. Yamaha last gave the R1 a full makeover in 2004 and it certainly needs another nip and tuck to match the appearance of its heavily botoxed rivals. Last year may have seen some nifty tweaks on the engineering front that brought about an amended frame, a new swingarm and revised suspension, but outwardly little changed. It’s wide at the front, surprisingly roomy for the taller rider and reasonably comfy for a sports bike. But where the bike falls short is that it’s missing the latest toys. There’s no hidden electronic steering damper, there’s no slipper clutch, there are no LED rear lights, and compared to the red-mist dash on Yamaha’s new R6, the R1’s blue-grey affair has much less appeal.

Its biggest sign of age, however, is the exhaust system poking out from under the seat. What was ‘de rigeur’ just a few short years ago has already become ‘passe’. Nowadays, we want (or so we’re told) mass centralisation, with GP-style exhausts tucked low down between the wheels, not extra weight high up at the back. So does this mean the R1’s handling is not all it should be? Not a bit of it. Even at the hairiest pace, it tips in to corners a treat and sticks to the road like day-old Weetabix.

If the revised R6 is like a little kid, running round pulling faces with its tongue sticking out, the R1 is like its chain-smoking tattooed uncle moshing to Iron Maiden. Its engine is just brutal. It’s a sheer powerhouse of acceleration, and smooth to boot. One of the benefits, of course, of a model that’s now four years old is that it’s been tweaked to perfection. With age comes experience, and over time every glitch has been ironed out of the big Yamaha's fabric, including the slightly rough fuel injection. Continual heavy use of the right wrist, however, will see the thirsty R1’s mpg drop below 30, and with the current fuel crisis, that’s not ideal.

In terms of performance, Yamaha enhanced the R1’s mid-range last year by dropping the unusual five-valve-per-cylinder set-up in favour of the more conventional four, and, combined with a fly-by-wire throttle and the glamorously entitled variable length inlet trumpets, the R1 is by no means old hat. Having ridden its cutting-edge competitors over the past year I have to admit I had forgotten quite how good this bike still is. I expected much less from it yet still ended up riding home from Fowlers like my house was on fire. There may not be an awful lot going on under 5,000 rpm, but hit 6,000 revs with the throttle pinned in first, then second, then third and you’ll begin to understand the whole R1 experience. As the front wheel rises, it’s a bit like take-off in an RAF Tornado -- the drive is simply enormous, all the way up to the 14,000 rpm redline.

A firm suspension set-up means every lump and bump is felt through the bars, but this, combined with a sticky set of Pirelli Diablo Corsas, also allows for unfeasibly confident angles of lean. And if things do start to go wayward there’s always the six pot callipers at the front for brick wall braking ability.

Getting on a bit it might be, but the R1 always has been and always will be an astonishing road bike. Many bike sales still come down to brand loyalty. And while the R1 doesn’t currently do enough to lure away any dedicated Honda aficionados, it certainly won’t disappoint the Yam fans who will still buy it in their droves.

Article written: June 10, 2008

The Yamaha R1 was kindly loaned by Fowlers of Bath Road, Bristol

OUR STEER ON THE YAMAHA R1

Engine: 998 cc, inline four

Power: 187 bhp @ rpm

Torque: 87 lb ft @ rpm

Transmission: six-speed, chain drive

Weight: 177 kg

Top speed: 182 mph

Fuel capacity: 18 litres

Seat height: 835 mm

by Jon Bennett