Description
Please note: This listing comes from the Legendary Sportbikes Collection. The project was started to preserve and celebrate the golden age of sportbikes, a period the seller describes as “the transition from dual shock, air-cooled, two valve naked or bikini fairing bikes into single shock, liquid-cooled, four (or five) valve fully faired machines.” We will be creating a dedicated Legendary Sportbikes page as more of the collection comes to auction. Stay tuned!
Click here for an VINData Motorcycle History Report on this 1999 Yamaha R1. 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. Over 20 years later they’re still fantastic machines, so here’s your chance to relive the glory days.
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. 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.
Manufactured December 1998, this example is VIN: JYARN02E0XA002459. The seller purchased the bike six and a half years ago and states, “Bought from the daughter of the original owner who passed away. She had a 1999 ZX-9R and they loved to ride together. After he passed she kept the bike for a while but realized she wasn’t going to ride it and decided to sell it.”
During his ownership the seller has covered approximately 200 miles. The odometer shows 4,581 miles.
Maintenance:
The seller states that he has “installed a new battery and cleaned the carburetors.” The seller also had one of his technicians perform a safety inspection. He notes the following in his condition report:
Modifications:
Zero Gravity windshield, frame sliders.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Dunlop tires which have aged out.
Cosmetic Blemishes:
Currently located in Bloomington, Indiana, this Yamaha is offered on a clean Missouri title. Have any R1 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
