There is no need to introduce the 1998 Yamaha YZF-R1 4XV to anyone who holds a motorcycle licence even less so if they are reading a magazine called Fast Bikes! This groundbreaking machine arrived 25 years ago (yes, really... 25 years ago!) and set the blueprint for the modern sportsbike.
A vertically-stacked gearbox, 17-inch wheels, inverted forks, monobloc brake calipers, long swingarm and more power than you could ever require - Yamaha got everything right when it designed the R1, and since then, all sportsbikes have copied the formula. But we are talking about a bike that is now a quarter of a century old, fed through carbs, and lacking anything in the way of electronic assists... does the R1 still feel special to ride nowadays? Special enough to pay in the £4000£6000 bracket required to get a good one? That's the thing about the R1 when you ride one, you will be amazed, because it feels, handles and performs just like a modern bike. And it looks far, far better!
Esta historia es de la edición October 2023 de Fast Bikes UK.
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Esta historia es de la edición October 2023 de Fast Bikes UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
DAN LINFOOT THE WORLD AT HIS FEET...
The racing world is full of characters who generally like to keep themselves to themselves, and I respect that. However, some of these people have a great story to tell. I'm incredibly fortunate to be friends with a few, have access to many more, and through my role with the award-winning podcast Chasin' the Racing, I get to sit down and chew the fat with some amazing individuals, so I wanted to give you lovely bunch a peep through the keyhole and an opportunity to get to know a bit more about some of these 'people of interest'.
ROSSI'S RANCH - LA 100KM DEI CAMPIONI
It's not every day you get the invite to trade paint, drifts and stories with Rossi and a bunch of world champions, but that's how life played out for the Neave twins a few weeks back.
RATING RUBBER...
We love a tyre launch, and especially ones of a sporty disposition. So when Michelin dropped us a line about not one, but two additions to their range, we didn't need our arm twisting to get stuck in and see what they're all about...
2017-2021 SUZUKI GSX-S750
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Ten years ago, I found myself a part of the maddest, baddest, and arguably most illegal motorcycling I've ever a put my name to.
BACK TO THE FUTURE - KTM DUKE 990
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A CUT ABOVE
Four years on from the revolutionary release of the RCV-inspired Fireblade, Honda's given its flagship sportsbike a masterpiece of a makeover.
Steve Parrish
I'm fresh back from the South African Classic TT races and Christ, it's still bloody raining over here.
Christian Iddon
Well, my last column was all about just how I'm going to be the most prepared I could ever be for the season ahead.
SHOEI X-SPR PRO
I'll cut to it... when it comes to my kit, I don't mess around - especially when it comes to helmets.