Last weekend I was finally able to get my dream bike, a brand spanking new Yamaha R1, which I part chopped my Sprint Triumph ST1050 for.
Getting into the Groove.
I’ve now done 400 miles on the R1 and am starting to get my head round it. This may sound strange but after riding a Sprint for 18 months I had really got into the sports-tourer way of riding.
A comparatively rare colour scheme, but hard to see why on this evidence
Contrasting Styles
Due to the Sprint’s geometry there was no point hanging off into corners so I simply sat there and tipped her in by active counter steering and puting my weight through my inside hip and foot. Sounds weird, but it’s very effective. Also, due to the weight of the Sprint you had to brake early, tip her in smoothly so the suspension didn’t overload and then put on the power after the apex. Given the Sprint’s power delivery you could do this lent right over and have a load of grip. Gear changes were something you did to stop your feet going to sleep given that the bike has a torque curve like Table-Top Mountain. So, all in all the Sprint was a comfy laid-back sports tourer with enough sports to mix it with the crowd.
The R1? Take me to court and call me ASBO man! What a laugh!!! It makes you want to be completely irresponsible, and that’s just while I’m running her in.
Why such a mental problem?
Why am I getting my head round it? To be honest, it’s like learning to ride a bike all over again. I’m having to reprogram my brain to tell it that things are happening faster than before. After a week’s riding and 400 miles I’m going into corners a good 10mph faster than on the Sprint. The R1 holding the speed through the turn and firing out the exit tap dancing on the gear lever in a vain attempt to keep the revs below 6,900. The bike’s geometry is different, bum up, head down, shoulders forward – makes it a doddle to move round on the bike.
This feels completely alien as the Sprint held me in place with it’s geometry. So I’m now having to learn how and when to move. Moving around felt really weird at first and I thought I was upsetting the bike too much. Now it’s starting to get better and I’m beginning to feel in harmony with the bike but definitely more work needed here!
So flickable
The weight. Hee, hee, hee, it feels lighter than my mountain bike. Chucking the R1 into a corner is easy. A slight movement of the bars and over she goes. Multiple corners are awesome and compared to the Sprint she is like a 400 the way she flicks from side to side responding to every movement in a poised, yet encouraging way. Mid corner she seems to be saying “Want to lean a bit further Mike? Go on you know you want to. See easy wasn’t it, now open the throttle.”
This leaves the acceleration. Okay, so the R1 gives 189bhp at the crank on full song and I am nowhere near the main power band running her in at 6,900 revs. But I know it’s there, waiting for me. Waiting to reach out for the horizon, rip it up and throw it behind me. I can’t wait! The R1 is a right gutless madam below 4,000 and she doesn’t pick up her skirt and start running until around 8,000RPM. (Gutless being a relative term!) So I’m stuck with a halfway house for another 200 miles. And that’s a good thing. Getting used to the bike and being able to fully open the throttle would take more self-control than I have!
Stunning looking bike in blue…
It’s surprising that there is still a lot to learn. Moving around more, different entry and exit points on the corners with more aggressive lines through them. Finally a healthy dollop of respect for the licence busting volume control on my right handlebar.
Well, as MeatLoaf would sing. 2 out of 3 ain’t bad
Words and Pictures: Mike