No Reserve – 1998 Yamaha R1

Description

Additional photos are available here for your perusal.

The 1990s were defined by three sportbikes – the Honda CBR900RR, the Ducati 916, and the Yamaha R1. Honda’s CBR900RR started the revolution by being 76 pounds lighter than its lightest competition. Soon after, Ducati released the 916. It was technically competent with fuel injection and even an adjustable steering head angle, but it’s best remembered just for being one of the most beautiful motorcycles of all time. In 1998, Yamaha released the R1 and wiped the floor with everyone else – it was the lightest and most powerful literbike available and you had to work hard to find a dealer with one in stock. Almost 20 years later they’re still fantastic machines, so here’s your chance to relive the glory days with a first-year example of the breed.

The basic specifications are 150 horsepower, 419 pound dry weight, and a 2.96 second 0-60 time, per MCN. Those are all impressive numbers, but the design of the drivetrain is what made it all possible. Yamaha was able to make the engine/transmission much smaller by vertically stacking the transmission shafts.

Further space was saved by putting the water pump inside the engine cases. The packaging let Yamaha shorten the wheelbase and still lengthen the swingarm, which made the R1 feel like a 600cc bike but with 1,000cc power.

For more on the R1 and what made it special, check out this article on Sport Rider/Cycle World. Or for a buying guide geared towards used R1s (with notes like it’s “getting hard to find a clean one.”), check out this article on Motorcyclist magazine.

This example is VIN: JYARN011000008580. It came to Iconic as an import from Japan; prior history is not known.

The odometer shows 3,050 miles.

Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us replace the battery, the chain, the oil and oil filter, the brake fluid, and the coolant. We also washed the front brake calipers and installed new Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires with date codes of 2222 and 4422.

Olly did the work, he notes the following in his condition report:

Tire Years – Front/ Rear: 2022
Tire Life – Front/ Rear: New, 100%
Tire Pressure – Front: 36PSI; Rear: 38PSI
Brake Life -Front: 70%; Rear: 80%
Hydraulic Fluid – Front/Rear: Ok, New
Engine Oil – Level: Ok; Quality: New
Coolant – Level: Ok; Quality: New
Drive Chain: Ok, New
Low Beam: Ok
High Beam: Ok
Turn Signals: Ok
Tail Light: Ok
Brake Light: Ok
Plate Light: Ok
Killswitch: Ok
Horn: Ok
Battery: 13.16V, New battery
Test Ride: 6 mile test ride, bike operates as intended

Modifications:
Delvic exhaust.

Heated grips.

Swingarm spools.

Inside of the tank:

The sale includes one key.

Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:

Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Yamaha is offered on a clean Oregon title. Please note that as an import, this bike lacks certain compliance and emissions stickers that the state of California would require to transfer a title. Have any R1 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!