03 R1

[borntorace]

So i just wadded up my R6 and im looking at buying this 03 R1LE. i was wondering if anyone had any info on them? i know some about them but i was just wanting to know more. ive never been on an R1 but im wanting to step up to a bigger bike then my R6 so anything would be helpful. thanks

[Jane Honda]

Wow, sorry to hear about your get off, man!!! I hope you are ok, and not injured badly. I don't know much about the R1, but there is a forum dedicated to just R1's. Why are you looking into going from an R6, to an R1 after a get off? (just curious is all)

[kneedragger26]

Do you realize what u just said......

Let me see if I understand. I wrecked my 600cc motorcycle and now I want a 1000cc motorcycle......

[TOM-CAT]

I have to admit that my first thought was the same as all of you.

But in all fairness we don’t know the whole story or any part of the story, really. He could have been mowed down by 90+ year old Bertha in her Buick for all we know!

So borntorace, what are you hoping to gain by going the route of the engine upgrade?

[Summer4ever]

I just wrecked my 03 R1 LE a little over a month ago... what do you want to know about them? I know about crashing them...lol. I only owned it for two weeks, but I put 1,500 miles on it in those two weeks... I'll tell you one thing... the speed can really creep up on you. They are so SMOOTH that you don't feel like your going that fast...until....

:crash:

[borntorace]

So heres the thing. The wreck is a long story but the whole time I had my R6 I was wanting more power. This is the way I've always been though. On my dirt bikes I jumped from a YZ 125 to a CR 500 bored 40 over and had been all hopped up. It took a little getting used to but im glad I did it. I've been around a lot of different people with R1's and I've aways been a huge fan of those bikes. The way I see it is it will take a little while to get used to the power difference but just cuz I've got it doesnt mean I'm going to jump into doing the same tricks and stuff as I was doing on my R6. I plan on getting used to the bike for awhile before I decide to test my limits.

[Jane Honda]

Ive just graduated from a '02 YZF600R to an '06 R1 and couldn't be more pleased. I have had liter bikes in the past, but have been on the 600 cc bike for the last 4 years. After what Id read about the R1 and what everyone was telling me, I expected to have a very unmanagable bike with this insane amount of uncontrollable power on my hands. Then Karen had her crash on her R1 shortly after getting it, and that did little to boost my confidence. But I have wanted an R1 since those things hit the assembly line many years ago.
I got the bike, and am absolutely impressed at how forgiving it is, how managable the power is, and how smooth it is to ride. I would agree with what Karen said about how the speed can creep up on you pretty quickly if youre not paying attention, but I would contribute that to how smooth the bike really is. The bike does have that extra 400 cc's to get you out of (or into, depending on how you ride) a tight spot if you need it. But like you mentioned, just because its there, it doesnt mean you HAVE TO use it all the time. You are ultimately in control of that throttle.
Now, Im sure that there are several design diffrences between an '03 and '06 model, and I have never personally ridden an '03 model, but in my opinion, it really is a great bike, and I have absolutely no regrets.
Keep us posted on your search. :thumbup:

.

[Matt]

On my dirt bikes I jumped from a YZ 125 to a CR 500 bored 40 over and had been all hopped up.
Not to change the subject but I was just wondering who built the motor in it?

[borntorace]

in the 96 CR 500? im not sure. it already had the mods done when i bought it. but it's had a lot of stuff done to the engine and carb. there's not much on it that's stock. i personally havent changed much of anything on the bike except for i changed some stuff on the carb and put some racing stuff on the bike. filters, oils, stickers, etc... i ride with other people that have 500's, 250's and such, and i havent came across a dirt bike that has as much power or that is as fast as mine.

[borntorace]

Thanks for the help everybody. i bought the bike and its awsome.

[dansrc51]

Sorry I added to this thread so late. The R1 your buying is not an LE. I just wanted to clarify so you didn't get talked into paying more. they were just a different paint scheme in 03. when I went to Laguna in 03 to watch WSB there were quite a few. I actually have one sitting in my garage now. They are more rare then the standard R1, but Yamaha has done quite a few paint schemes in the last three years. They are a fantastic bike, and in my opinon, better in some ways then the 05/06. I say this because I am a big fan of torque and acceleration. The 06 handles better, but the 03 has loads of low end torque, and if your interested, I can show you the mods we have done to my brothers (sitting in my garage) there are some good tricks if your interested in keeping power on par with the newer bikes. example, we have power commmander 3 with custom map, akropovic exhaust, steering damper (which we still have it new in the box) and some bling parts. pm me if I can help.

[Jane Honda]

Thanks for the help everybody. i bought the bike and its awsome.
Very nice!! Cant wait to see it!

[borntorace]

Thanks Dan. Yeah my cousin used to have an 03 and he said he loved it and that it had more torque then his 05. I will def take you up on that offer. Im always looking to find out as many ways as possible to mod my stuff. The first thing Im getting for it is a power commander I've already looked into it, and it already has a micron race exhaust on it.