Ok, so here's the story. I've always wanted an R1, but couldn't ever afford to buy one. Meanwhile, I was driving my ZX-7R. My brother got the chance to buy the limited Champion Edition R1 and jumped on it. So now, he had one and I didn't. This was unacceptable. So when I graduated from college, I knew I'd have a full time job and would have a steady paycheck, so I went and picked myself out a brand new R1. On June 4, 2001, I ended up with a brand new 2000 that was red. I didn't really care what year it was, I just happened to get a great deal, because the 2001's were already out and this dealer couldn't get rid of it. So I got it for a GREAT price, 0 miles, full warranty, and never even had oil in it. Anyway, I loved it. It didn't handle as good as the 7R, but it had a HELL OF A LOT MORE POWER!! This bike was a stunting machine. I was doing all sorts of stuff on it, like: wheelies, standing wheelies, stoppies and rolling endoes. I was able to shift in the regular sitting wheelies and went probably around a mile for my longest ever. I know that isn't that special, but HEY, I was damn proud!! I learned most of that stuff here in Texas. They ride a lot harder here then in Iowa. I had obviously learned how to do wheelies really easily on the R1, and was shifting pretty good while still in Iowa. Also the occasional stoppy was done to spice it up. I thought I was doing good. I mean, I was better then anyone else in Iowa City, IA.
But once I got here in Dallas, TX, that just wasn't going to cut it anymore. So I got lots of hints and started to get crazy. I learned the rolling endoes in the first day I started trying them. They aren't hard, just gutsy, you gotta not be afraid to pull on that brake handle. The standing wheelies took me a bit longer to get. I still never was that good at them, when I finally got rid of the bike. But I could pull it up and ride probably 1/8 to 1/4 mile. They were a bit scarier then sitting wheelies. Anyway, so that is my story on this bike. I basically used this bike to teach myself all the stunts and stuff, and I didn't crash it once. I talked to some mechanics about the bike though and they said they thought the bearings under the triple clamp were starting to go out from so many wheelies. So that was just one more reason to sell it. The biggest reason was that being 23, single, and living in Dallas County, insurance was going to be $4,000+ per year for full coverage, which I had to have because of the bank loan. So I got rid of it ASAP. I do plan on as of now to get another bike next spring, but it will be something cheaper so I don't have to have full coverage on it, that is for sure. I ended up replacing this with my 3000GT.
Since I only had the bike for like 4 months, I didn't do that many modifications on it. Basically I did my own fender eliminater kit and changed the rear seat. My brother and I one day did both our R1's. We each bought a trailer wiring kit and got out the old dremal tool. He did most of the artwork on the fender. He got it really smooth too, I was impressed. And then Another friend and I wired in the kit. It wired the turn signals into the brakelights and we got rid of all of the mudflap and both signals all together. It looked really clean. Overall, I'd say we did a super job. Then later, once I got down here in Dallas, I bought a matching red rear seat. A friend of mine that works at one of the local shops here helped me put it on one afternoon. We had it on in like 3 minutes. It looked great. Like I said, I only had it for 4 months, but that doesn't mean I didn't drive it much. In that short time I went from 0 miles, to over 4,800 miles!! I averaged like 400 miles a week while I owned that thing. Think I cruised much? hehe.
Through the progression of ownership, I have succeeded in owning all major brands of Japanese bikes!! Of course from what I've owned, the Yamaha is the best, but that is an unfair judgement of which brand is the best; considering it was both the newest and most expensive. It all depends on what you want to spend and what you plan on using the bike for.