New to the forum this week and thought I had better say hi.
Learned to ride in 96 and got a yam 600.
Been riding an R1 ever since 98. (98 and 99 versions of the 4XV, and yes they are different!). Done over 66,000 miles on these two R1s.
The 98 bike didn't survive its first year but the 11,000 miles it did were fantastic apart from the last few metres in a foreign land when braking on wet leaves resulted in a low side that became high side.
I highly recommend not getting launched up into trees on a river bank. Glad I didn't have to swim with the fractures.
I ran the 98 bike on stock settings.
I had the stock suspension setup on the 99 bike and I have tweaked it myself several times over the years to compensate for the state of the roads and my weight changes. Tyres also last longer on a better setup.
I like to let the bike flow and carry corner speed (the exact opposite of what most car drivers do grrrr) and I am still on the original brake pads and discs!
I seem to have a twin that goes to Box Hill that I might meet one day. (same bike, helmet and leathers apparently).
I discovered this at a petrol station when a guy on a tourer arrived with pillion and asked how did I get here so quick? We saw you at Box Hill when we left, and now you have just paid for your fuel.
Hmmm but I have not been to Box Hill in ages so cant have been me!
A friend has also seen the "twin" elsewhere.
It wasn't me officer! Yeah really.
Might get a 2015 R1 so I don't look like the twin. </joking>Mostly a road rider these days due to circumstances.
