2004 Yamaha YZF-R1

I’ve got a real soft spot for the Yamaha YZF-R1. It doesn’t matter if it’s the very latest, all-singing, all-dancing R1M, or an original 1998 jobby, the thought of throwing my leg over one, fills me with delight. I have always considered the R1 a cool motorbike and in 2004, when this model came out, I wasn’t alone, because it was the best-selling sportsbike of that year... and for good reason. Not only did the new Yam come with a new engine, but they’d tilted it forwards, allowing room for an extra brace across the top, which apparently increased the Deltabox frame’s rigidity by 200%. This particular bike belongs to a friend of ours called Dave. Now, Dave is a bloody nice chap, but he’s also a bit strange, and he’d taken it upon himself to fit his R1 with some pointy bar ends and studs on the nose cone (I have no idea why, but that’s Dave