The whether kinda sucked today so a friend and I jump in my car and did the usuall cycle shop tour on a rainy day. We hit a Suzi/Triumph/Kawi dealer then a Honda/Yamadog shop to hit the selection of helmets and to drool over the new R1. Well I had a random Busa hat on and one of the sales staff struck a conversation with me about the Bus' Vs The R1. Not necesaraly a all out performace thing just going over the differences of the two beasts. I happen to mention that I was aware of the problems the early 04' production R1's were having and the whole tone just changed!! He started to talk about the Suzi's cam chain problems and such. I asked him if he had came across any R1's that blew up. He mentioned a one came back to date since introduction of the 04'. Well, here's where it gets good. I happen to wander to the rear of the shop in search of the rest rooms and came apon the service area that was very open...... There it was!!!! Two 04' R1's sitting there engine-LESS and one that was all apart!! As I found the restroom the sales guy walked by. I had to hit'em with: huh, ya say just one came by!!! He just ignored me and walked away.
Later in the day we hit another Yami/Suzi dealer. They had an 03' and 04' both new R1's in stock. My bud and I were basically layin' under em' and comparing every detail, when I decided to sit on the 04' and pull it up to get a better look. Well, I push forward and no go.. Simple it's in gear... I pull the clutch in and push forward and no go... WTF!!! I click the shifter up one and get the thing in what I think is neutral and it finnaly rolls. That sucked!!!! I asked the service guy what the deal was and he said they never get it in gear since they gassed it up for a test run!!! He on the other hand unlike the sales guy at the other shop said they were nothin' but headaches and to get the Gixxer 1k if I were interested or wait till' next years R1 comes out.
Don't get me wrong, I'm defintly NOT knockin' the R1. I really like the bike and have always been a fan since 98' but what gives. I can't believe Yamadog's Yugo mentality when they released this years model.
Later in the day we hit another Yami/Suzi dealer. They had an 03' and 04' both new R1's in stock. My bud and I were basically layin' under em' and comparing every detail, when I decided to sit on the 04' and pull it up to get a better look. Well, I push forward and no go.. Simple it's in gear... I pull the clutch in and push forward and no go... WTF!!! I click the shifter up one and get the thing in what I think is neutral and it finnaly rolls. That sucked!!!! I asked the service guy what the deal was and he said they never get it in gear since they gassed it up for a test run!!! He on the other hand unlike the sales guy at the other shop said they were nothin' but headaches and to get the Gixxer 1k if I were interested or wait till' next years R1 comes out.
Don't get me wrong, I'm defintly NOT knockin' the R1. I really like the bike and have always been a fan since 98' but what gives. I can't believe Yamadog's Yugo mentality when they released this years model.