“I haven't ridden the bike long enough to give a deeply informed opinion but one things for certain it's a very focused bike which for an experienced rider is effortless to ride, you just feel at one right away. This bike will let you go to places you haven't been before all the while looking after you with all the electronic aids. It makes all the other R1's feel heavy and an effort (I've had 3 later models) and they felt good at the time, this bike is just so far ahead of it's previous incarnations.
Personally I think in the flesh the bike looks stunning, I went for the red, the controls are all within easy reach, you have the usual modes for different conditions but I would have thought the manufacturer would have disabled the sub level functions when riding as this takes your eyes and mind off the task of riding, most sensible people wouldn't play around when riding but take away the temptation. The seat level is really high for a shorty like me so I've taken out the padding on the seat to allow me to get more of my feet on the ground, I bought a second seat off the internet for this there are load out there because a lot are being made into race and track bikes.
Forget tootling around town, this is when this bike is at it's worst but then it wasn't made for that so if you just knock around towns and cities and you are stopping and starting in traffic all the time buy something else it's terrible at low speed (20-30mph) but then get on a nice country road and open it up it's breathtaking. 6,000rpm in 6th is about 100mph and it's just raring to go,
It tops out at 13,500/14,000rpm although I'm told it has a soft limiter in 6th problem is it really starts to sing at 8,000 and above so if you're on the road watch your licence. The track mode rev counter only starts at 8,000rpm so that tells you what this bike was designed for really..................the track, I can't wait !!”
“Great bike with a tonne of power. Very responsive however if you live in town this isnt the bike for you. Very, very jerking at low rpm due to the nature of the engine (crossplane) always feathering the clutch to keep it smooth.”
“An amazing machine everything I dreamed of and more. Treat it with respect and it will reward you with hours of fun. Still getting used to the bike after 6 months of ownership.”
“The bike as mode settings which totally change the way it performs. In the standard setting it is more than capable of doing what I want & in the B setting it is great if the roads are a little damp as it reduces the way the power is delivered, however in A setting the bike turns into a hooligan & can be very difficult to ride quickly on bumper roads as the front wheel comes up at every opportunity when accelerating through the gears.
Overall..... Love it!!!”
