What the radical superbike gave us

AN INFAMOUS REVEAL

In Milan on September 15, 1997 the R1 was unveiled with Scott Russell in a silver suit and just two words: 150bhp and 177kg. Life was never the same again.

A SPORTING DYNASTY

The choice of ‘R1’ was deliberately simple and powerful. A whole family (of Rs (R6, R7, R3) followed…

TWO TT LEGENDS

David Jefferies notched up his first win aboard the V&M bike in 1999’s F1 race and there was glory for John McGuinness in the same class in 2004.

‘BLUE SPOT’ CALIPERS

Iconic four-pot brake calipers appeared on the mid-90s Thunderace but it's the R1 that cemented their iconic status.