BRUCE’S BLUFF…

The world was a lot simpler 12 years ago, and so too were Yamaha engines. It’s mad to think this was the last conventional inline four R1 produced (2007-2008), and as big a fan as I am of the cross-plane generation, I wonder what could have been for Yamaha if it’d pursued a more conventional route for its flagship sportsbike? It was a thought that crossed my mind as I slipped the clutch of this ‘07 model and unleashed the plentiful drive of the motor that became exponentially more exciting with added revs. It felt lively enough, the fuelling was faultless, and if only the bike had facilitated a shifter, I’d have been a pretty happy chappy. That lack of such basic tech was a metaphor for the bike’s vintage, hitting the scene at a time when mobile phones were for making calls and traction control was the preserve of MotoGP riders. A lot changed in just over a decade, as this bike reminded me with every glance. There was no colour dash, no multitude of rider modes to switch between, and not so much as a hint of ABS to get frustrated about. It was, for want of a better word, basic. But basic isn’t always a bad thing, as the Yammy reminded me from the outset of our joyride and I became reacquainted with a model I’d last ridden and raced in the National Superstock 1000 championship in 2009. I’d learned a long time ago the potential of this machine, which

I was now being reminded of as I calved my way through corners, slowly but surely banishing the OE fitment tyres’ slick and grip-less chicken strips. I felt at home on the spacious, long and predictable Yamaha that felt sure-footed at lean. Admittedly, it wasn’t the sharpest handling of bikes on the market, but god only knows what kind of abuse, adjustment or lack of servicing its suspension had been subjected to over time. I figured the same about the brakes – spongy at the lever and lacklustre at the disc end of things, and stopping the bike eventually, but in no real hurry. New pads and a bleed of the system would transform the bite of the Brembo master cylinder and its novel six pot calipers. Another thing that would’ve made this bike so much better was jettisoning its Datatool alarm, which made the starting process beyond frustrating. Niggles aside, it was a nice bike to ride and proved plentifully powerful for the typical road-going shenanigans we were indulging in. Would I buy one? Most certainly.