04-06 shape R1`s? any good? how do they compare to other models?

[leanittiluloseit]

Hi guys, its been awhile, need to dig into the bucket of sbf knowledge, really stuck as to wether I should sell my 02 R1 for an 04. never really gelled with the 02 like I did my 01, except in the south of france on supercorsas, everywhere else I just dont totally click with it, so im thinkin do I give it one more chance and get it a full service (inc valves as its just hit 20k  ) and new tires as the bloody french sold me a duff set of diablos which have taken all the fun out of corners (first time pirelli have let me down  ) and chain and sprockets, orrr do I sell up buy an 04 preferably already sporting exhaust power commander and sticky rubber then spray it a colour I can actually live with  .
Basically just looking for opinions from some of you fast guys as to how they handle on road/track, esply in comparison to the 01 and 02 models or any other thou really. I know some of you guys have ridden all the models hard.
  As im just stuck, I have had some good momments on this bike, wheres it really impressed me, but iv not had it on track yet which im thinkin it may be better suited.
Keep in mind Im 10st 6 without leathers probs bout 11- 11 and a half fully geared. I like the odd mono, but mainly like a good front end with plenty of feel that allows for comminted silly lean angle  the 01 bike suited me to a T on the road with jus a click more compression damping on the rear. where as this bike I have the front preload all the way out just to get the sag in the ball park, iv also dropped the yokes 4mm and added some front rebound damping and its the best iv had it for my riding style....
Let the wisdom flow 

[leanittiluloseit]

........come guys! need some input!

[Legzr1]

Suspension is a matter of taste but having zero preload on the front doesn't sound right 

I've owned a 98,00 and 02 R1 and ridden a few 04's and I prefer the handling and motor of the 02.

The 04 sacrificed real-world power in the hunt for headline Rwhp - ideal on big tracks but pointless everywhere else.


Get your arse to the nearest NL or Hottrax trackday,have a talk with the suspension bloke there and get a personal set up for 40-odd quid - after initial set-up they're only a phonecall away from further advice.

Best money i've ever spent.

[pringleracing.co.uk]

the o4 r1 is the best bike on the market of that year no question..
i had a 05 zx10 then a 06 zx10 with 195 bhp..
laptimes on both
cadwell 1.36
olivers mount 1.52
croft       1.28
then bought a k7 gsxr 1000, had it 2 months and god rid as soon as i could
cadwell    1.37
olivers mount   1.53
croft    1.29
then bought a stocker 04 r1
cadwell 1.35
olivers mount   1.49
croft 1.26

it has less bhp but all the power is useable power, and the chassis is still to this day the best handeling bike...
now got the 08 r1 , handles as good but with a bit stronger engine, happy days
deffo 100% recommend the 04 R1

verry suprised you have no pre load on the front!!!
what static sag do you have front and rear ??????????????????
                      

[leanittiluloseit]

Cheers guys helpful stuff 
  for both.

Legz what was it exactly you prefered about the 02? did you do many miles on both??

And Pringle, cheers for that mate interesting stuff, what group do you ride in on track? im not familier with laptimes really. Have you ridden the earlier model R1s?

Oh and dunno off hand my exact static sag, did it last year. But yeah preload is all the way out at the front and its definately better than before. Much more sure footed. Had to soften the back too but not as much and and it wasn`t an issue before fiddling anyway.
 Not had this one on track but the best its ever worked has been in france on diablo supercorsa bsb jobbies. They have the grip to get it working perfectly 
actually got a vid from that trip somewhere, may have to dig it out...

And yes if I keep it legz ill deffo be getting a sorted set up done for me, sometimes I think someone has changed the fork oil to something abit too heavy. different springs perhaps etc.

Cheers guys keep it coming all helps 

[scooby]

And Pringle, cheers for that mate interesting stuff, what group do you ride in on track? im not familier with laptimes really. Have you ridden the earlier model R1s?

fast enough to know what he's talking about 

[leanittiluloseit]

thats all I need to know 

[Gaz]

And Pringle, cheers for that mate interesting stuff, what group do you ride in on track?

John McGuiness, Ian Lougher, Guy Martin...



 

[pringleracing.co.uk]

gaz!! jamie!!! stop it you will give me a big head and i wont get my helmet on


I have rode the older 99 and 02 r1s and although they are good bikes, the new gen (underseat exhaust) have a lot better handeling chassis with a well improved engine as well...

a well set up bike has a lot to do with things but there needs to be a good base there..
bhp means nothing if the chassis doesnt handle well.

the 04 to 08 r1s are a good all round package, power is down compaired to its rivals but all the power is usable and smooth, with a fantastic chassis to boot....
dont know what they were thinking with this new r1 but hey ho no one gets it right every time!!!
i think if somthing works that well dont drasticly change it  

I think your problems are steming from no pre load on the front!!   
measure the static sag front and rear and let me know what it is...
i am very sure it will be miles away!  I think you may be confusing softening the front by doing it the wrong way!!
let me know the sag 

[scream]

dont know what they were thinking with this new r1 but hey ho no one gets it right every time!!!
i think if somthing works that well dont drasticly change it 

is this the new r1 that had great success in racing last year?

[pringleracing.co.uk]

is this the new r1 that had great success in racing last year?

ha ha , i knew someone would pick up on that!!
the only ones that done well were the factory kitted bikes that had  thousands spent on tuning the engine... most superbikes only look like street bikes, engine casings are the same but thats were the engine simalaritys end....
they use adjustable wide track yolks, factory swing arm, even the frame is taken apart and has strentheners put in,  use factory subframe with tank built in (changes the gravity)... so looking at it, it looks the same but no where near the origional bike!!!!!

superstock is probably the best ones to look at and no , no one done owt on one!!!!

they dont even use the same sensors dash ecu loom !!

[scooby]

is this the new r1 that had great success in racing last year?

no   

[tight 5]

(changes the gravity)...

c'mon , even yamaha can't change gravity !
 

[leanittiluloseit]

 
measure the static sag front and rear and let me know what it is...
i am very sure it will be miles away!  I think you may be confusing softening the front by doing it the wrong way!!
let me know the sag 

Nah definitely did it the right way round, and it definitely improved things, just dont click with it like I have other bikes (except france with velvet roads! was in its element there).
Will measure the sag tomorrow if I get time and let you know anyway, as they were base figures I set them to, not specific to that model.
What would you say they should be? Im only 10 stone 6, and like to carry alot of lean and corner speed. Mainly just after a solid front end, but for our roads obviously
   But yeah appreciate all the input and advise, just what I was after!
Just ordered some of my fav rubber for it, maybe it will convince me to keep it, and if I find an 04 I like in the meantime Ill just swap the tyres back.
Shape they didnt do any colours that match my leathers

[Legzr1]

Legz what was it exactly you prefered about the 02? did you do many miles on both??

I have to defer to Mr Pringle but i'll defend myself by saying I had occasional rides on the 04/05 (probably totalling less than 100 miles!) while I owned the 02 R1 and did thousands of miles on that.

Don't get me wrong - the 04 is a good bike but I never liked the way it needed to be revved to get at the power - in comparison,the 02 is a grunt-meister.

The 02 also felt more 'together' - hard to describe,but it felt denser,more compact whereas the 04 felt stretched out as if it had a more longer wheelbase.

Just a feeling and purely personal opinion but I felt more comfortable on the 02 - decent shove from 4,000 rpm whereas the 04 needed double that.

Please bear in mind that this was all road riding where (imho) midrange power and composed hadling is king.

On track,where you can get to the extra power more readily it's obviously a different matter.

Both good bikes so you can't really lose.

You already have the 02 so invest in sorting the handling and suspension before getting rid and moving to an 04 which could well require exactly the same fettling.

I found the 02 a sweet handler and one of the first bikes that didn't lift and understeer if you so much as looked at the front brake lever.


Macca's input would be helpful here - he's riddena few 02's and owned the 04 using it on track and road so might give a different perspective