The new 2004 R1 is supposed to blow the opposition away and has received top reports in the sport bike mags. It's all a bit more pointy and a bit less bodywork - the fairing being just a few plastic panels to hide the whirry bits. Posh lights, but they're those bloody blue things which make you think you're being chased by plod all the time. What wanker thought those up?

Handling? Like an R1 only a bit less so, if you follow. Sharper steering, turns better particularly at speed. Motor's a shade buzzy and plenty noisy - sounds like a jet aircraft when it whizzes past. Dunno how Yamaha got it through the noise tests but if you fit an aftermarket pipe be prepared for less noise!

Engine is a monster. Yamaha smoothness prevails and despite the scary top end it retains a good dollop of grunt. Banzai nutter screaming revvy horsepower can make you shut the throttle and think about buying a nice Honda VFR, if you're of a more timid disposition.

It looks very nice though, absolutely the best looking bike out there at the moment. Yamaha have definitely taken over from Ducati in the design stakes, now the 999 or whatever is such an old dog.

Can't say the same for the steering damper though. Looks like a refugee from the 1985 Suzuki parts bin. Probably best to throw it away and fit a proper one.

Oh, and John's just ordered a WP shock, so that says something about the original. To be fair, all standard forks and shocks are built to a price so it's no surprise that a bike with this power will benefit from something a bit better.

Luggage-wise, you're not going to get a great deal under that pillion seat. Just make sure your supplier doesn't fit the alarm under there. You can just about fit the tool kit and a puncture outfit, and perhaps a phone if it's very small. At least it'll all be kept nice and warm!

General conclusion from 3 bods who rode it are bloody good bike. Steering is a big improvement over the earlier models and the bike can be hustled much more easily now.

The only real downside is due to the fairing minimalism and underseat exhaust - the seat and tail area generally get bloody hot in warm weather and a lot of engine heat is directed on to your legs, spoiling the fun for daft designer looks. OK if you're staying local, but a nightmare if you've 400 miles of hot France to cross! The problem is bad enough to make you change to Suzuki ....

What a beautiful looking bike JtP has bought himself. This is the first 2004 R1 I have seen in the flesh. It looks like Yamaha have really thought about this in a big way and have come up with a masterpiece. Everyone would have read how good this bike is in the press, but until you ride one properly on roads you know yourself, then forget all that and be open minded.

Today I had a go on Johns R1. It has a high screen fitted and that is a plus straight away, but as soon as I sat on it, the seat felt narrow and it felt like the seat is also low and soft. The reach to the bars is perfect and just like my Blade, with a nice short tank, so you effectively look directly down the forks, making you feel confident with the steering and having the feeling that the front wheel is very close to you. This is something I just did not get on the Gixer 1000, which feels very long and my arms aren't exactly short!!

The clutch was nice and light, the gearbox a bit notchy and wouldn't go from 2nd gear to 3rd gear sometimes, but it is new.

The front brake lever was set a bit high for my taste but could not be tilted down any more due to the hose banjo pressing against the fork leg, but by Christ are the brakes good and I soon got used to the lever where it was.

The steering is great, the engine is a peach and I loved it. The bike even matched my leathers nicely, which of course is all important at Box Hill on a Sunday afternoon. Thank God I don't go there.

This is a bike that makes me seriously consider defecting from the Honda camp, but I wouldn't buy one and this is why. All things (not that many, mind) listed below are things that annoyed me where my Blade doesn't.

The seat is narrow, and after a considerable amount of miles you would (I did), keep needing to slide a little further back on the seat to get comfortable. Numb bum synodrome.
The seat is low and so too are the foot pegs, but I felt cramped, my knees started to ache after about 10 miles. I stand 5'11", of average build and not exactly with long legs either. I guess you could get used to this, but be careful tall people, this bike perhaps is built for smaller people in mind.
I also noticed a lot of buzziness coming though the footpegs and bars, more so than the Blade, which is renowned for buzziness through the bars.
The mirrors worked brilliantly, but the buzziness (better add this word to my PC's dictionary), makes them vibrate a bit, so the rear view is somewhat distorted. The last bike I noticed this problem on was my Y2K Blade.
The rear suspension is crap!! How could I say anything else after experiencing my WP shock??

Now, those of you reading this and thinking I'm talking rubbish, could be right, but I'm looking at this bike as one which I would want to happily do a 5 day trip to the Continent on and about 1500 miles and still feel comfortable, but I just don't see it, not for me anyway. However, on the way back, Mark had a ride on it and he looked much more comfortable than I felt, probably because his legs are a few inches shorter than mine. Who ever said size doesn't matter!!