First-Year Hot Rod: Modified 1998 Yamaha R1

When the 1998 Yamaha R1 debuted, it quickly dispatched the undisputed king of the streets, the Honda CBR900RR, with a lither frame, more focused suspension and roughly 20 more horses than the suddenly-underwhelming Honda. 1998 Yamaha R1 for sale on eBay At the top of most magazine comparison tests even today, it was arguably the…

Naked Ambition – 2001 Yamaha FZ-1

The Yamaha R1’s likeable cousin, the FZ-1 was known as the Fazer offshore.  With its smaller carbs stretching the torque curve, more compliant suspension, and accomodating riding position, the FZ-1 was a bit of a sleeper with 143 hp.  Some of that friendliness has been dyno-tuned out of this example from Michigan, with airbox delete,…

Collector Alert: 1998 Yamaha R1 with 4395 miles

1998 Yamaha R1 on ebay Ahh the Yamaha YZF R1…not just the bike that moved the motorcycle world beyond the legendary Honda CBR900RR/ Fireblade but also the template for pretty much every superbike that followed.   When it was introduced the YZF-R1 changed the expecation of what a street superbike could by packaging a power to weight…