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.
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: JYARN02Y0WA000252. The seller purchased this motorcycle over five years ago from a private party in Long Beach, California.
The odometer shows 39,541 miles. The seller has put roughly 6,000 miles on this example.
Maintenance:
Per the seller: “Being a race engineer for Yamaha US until 2021, I do all my own work. Oil change just completed, new jet kit installed, carbs rebuilt within the last 500 miles, forks rebuilt by an Ohlins track technician, rear master rebuilt, new lithium battery, steering head bearings done about 5,000 miles ago, wheel bearings about 500 miles ago.”
Modifications:
Öhlins forks.
Akrapovic exhaust.
520 DID chain.
Attack Performance rear-sets.
LED headlights, tail lights, license plate lights, tail-tidy, and undertail kit.
Billet cutch lever and pivot.
Aftermarket bodywork.
Not pictured: Ivan’s jet kit, Sprint adjustable steering damper, and K&N air filter.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tires with date codes 4121 and 2322.
The sale includes one ignition key and one tank release key.
Extras:
This sale includes the original toolkit, original passenger seat, passenger pegs, and Ivan’s carburetor tuning kit.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Chandler, Arizona, this Yamaha is offered on a clean Arizona title with registration current through October 2023.
Have any R1 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
