Alright, so I finally got around to doing something I’ve wanted to do for ages with my old 2001 Yamaha R1 – really see what she can do, top speed wise. It’s been sitting around looking pretty, but bikes like this, they need to stretch their legs, you know?
Getting Ready
First things first, I didn’t just hop on and twist the throttle. That’s asking for trouble. I spent a good Saturday morning giving the R1 a proper once-over.
- Checked the tires: Made sure the pressure was spot on. Old tires get sketchy fast, but these were still decent. Gave ’em a good look for any cracks or weird wear.
- Lubed the chain: Dug out the trusty chain lube and cleaner. Got all the old gunk off first, then gave it a good coating. Adjusted the tension too, felt a bit loose.
- Fluids check: Oil level was good, topped off the coolant just a touch. Brake fluid looked okay, not too dark.
- Quick wipe down: Mostly just got the dust off. Doesn’t make it faster, but feels better riding a clean bike.
I also made sure my riding gear was in order. Leather suit, gloves, boots, decent helmet – wasn’t planning on testing the tarmac hardness that day.
Finding the Spot
This was the tricky part. You can’t just do this on any public road, that’s plain stupid and dangerous. I needed somewhere long, straight, and most importantly, empty. Took me a while, actually. Drove around scouting a few places I knew from back in the day. A lot of them are built up now, more traffic than ever.
Eventually, I found this long stretch of old access road out in the middle of nowhere. Hardly anyone uses it anymore. Went out there early Sunday morning, sun was just coming up. Perfect. Almost zero chance of cars, cops, or critters jumping out.
The Actual Run
Okay, gear on, bike warmed up. Heart was definitely pounding a bit. It’s been a while since I really pushed a machine like this. Rolled onto the road, took a deep breath.
Started easy, just cruising to get a feel for the surface. Felt okay. Turned around at the end, gave it one last look – clear as far as I could see.
Right, time to go. Dropped the clutch, not a crazy launch, just smooth and fast. First gear, second, third… that R1 engine just pulls and pulls. It’s amazing how quick this old bike still feels. Tucked in behind the screen as much as I could. Fourth gear, fifth… the wind noise was intense, even with earplugs. Everything starts to blur a bit on the sides. You gotta stay focused straight ahead.
Shifted into sixth. The acceleration starts to slow down, but it’s still climbing. The speedo needle was climbing steadily. I glanced down – saw it pass 160, then 170… Kept the throttle pinned. It felt pretty stable, actually, testament to Yamaha’s engineering even back then.
Held it there for a few seconds, saw the needle nudge just past 175 mph on the clock. Maybe it could do a tiny bit more, but honestly, that felt like the limit for me and the bike on that road, on that day. Things happen way too fast at those speeds.
Rolled off the throttle gently, let the bike slow down gradually. Pulled over at the end, heart still hammering away. Big grin inside my helmet though.
The Result
So, the clock showed just over 175 mph. Now, I know old speedos aren’t always dead accurate. They tend to read a bit high. I didn’t have a GPS tracker on me this time, maybe I’ll do that next time for a more precise number. But honestly? Doesn’t really matter. Seeing that number on the dash, feeling that raw speed – that was the point.
The old girl’s still got it. It’s raw, it’s visceral, nothing like the newer bikes with all their electronics. Just you, the engine, and the road. Was a good day. A reminder of why I fell in love with these machines in the first place.