MOTOFOODIE

It’s raw. It’s intuitive. It’s the last of the “all-rounder” R1 model before it morphed into the pure track-focussed generation that arrived in 2015.

With radical looks and a phenomenal engine that sounds like a rhythmic V4, the 2013 Yamaha R1 in the WGP 50th anniversary livery is the most rideable and easy to live-with R1, as it occupies the “sweet-spot” between zero-electronics, non-crossplane 2008-era R1s and the infinitely complex electronics, full-blown racetrack focused new-generation R1 which is packed with so many adjustable parameters and functions, great for a pro-racer – but mind boggling for the average rider. 

The 2013 R1 is a simple motorcycle to use – a lovely road bike with bags of midrange torque, minimum suite of electronics, clean dash displaying relevant info with a gorgeous analog rev counter ❤️, easy to change riding modes, traction control etc and a traditional physical key to lock/unlock the motorcycle, fuel-tank and rear seat.

Why build a Yamaha WGP 50th Anniversary Livery ?

To celebrate 50 years of success and initiation of Yamaha motorcycles in Grand Prix racing, Yamaha launched 2000 units of the 2013 R1 in the WGP 50th anniversary livery.

Minus the livery, there is no difference between the stock vs special edition motorcycle.

Engine:

Powered by a 180bhp inline-4 engine with a crossplane crankshaft, the power delivery is incredibly smooth and oodles of mid-range torque makes it a joy to ride on the public roads.

On a constant throttle the 2013 R1 is nice and smooth but crack it open and you get a ferocious acceleration with a beautiful engine note – unlike any other motorcycle out there.

Handling:

The R1s have always had great cornering manners and the 2013 R1 is no exception – superior chassis dynamics, a magnesium sub-frame stitched to a full-adjustable suspension makes this a “cornering ace”.

Electronics and Technology:

Compared to the current generation of sportbikes, the 2013 Yamaha R1 has a minimal suite of electronics that include:

• 7-level Traction Control System:  Non-IMU based, simple system of sensors to keep an eye on front and rear wheel speed, throttle position, RPM – but it works remarkably well!
• Ride-by-Wire Throttle System called YCC-T (Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle)
• Electronic Fuel Injection and Variable Intake System called YCC-I (Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake) which is a variable intake system that broadens the spread of power. The fuel injection system provides optimum air/fuel mixtures for maximum power and smooth throttle response.
• 3 Riding Modes

Riding Modes:

The 2013 R1 has three riding modes – A, Standard and B. 

• A-Mode: Full power and the most aggressive & fun riding mode
• Standard-Mode: the equivalent of the “Road-Mode” – smooth but responsive throttle
• B-Mode: the equivalent of “Rain-Mode” – very lousy and no fun to ride

Suspension:

I found the suspension to be plush and comfortable – more street-friendly and not stiff like a race-bred motorcycle. The OE front and rear suspension on the 2013 R1 is fully adjustable.

Brakes:

The brakes on the R1 are “not great with a wooden-feel” – nowhere close to what a motorcycle of this power and size needs to have. Even with the steel braided lines the braking bite is not enough and it’s a struggle to get the bike to a halt. 

Engine Braking:

Plenty of engine braking from its V4-like characteristic engine + minimal electronics, means it easy to back in to corners, too 🔥 and on the street its a powerful tool to compensate for the poor front and rear brakes.

Seat Comfort and Riding Position:

Rider’s seat is spacious but with limited padding, so short distances are manageable, but the long rides needs to be spaced out with breaks.

It is a spacious motorcycle to sit and ride, even for taller riders there is a lot of leg-room. Riding Position is aggressive for a sports bike (compared to the Honda Fireblade, Suzuki GSX-R1000 and the BMW S1000RR) – A combination of the big-fuel tank, footage and handle position lurches the rider forward, putting an extra strain on the wrists. 

Pillion Comfort:

Does not exist – The pillion seat is very small, with massive exhaust end-cans underneath – which get very hot. Getting onto the rear seat is quite a trek 😬

Seat-Height and Adjustability: 

With a seat-height of 835mm, it’s designed to accommodate everyone , but may not be the most comfortable for shorter riders. However the 2013 R1 comes with a removable rear shock spacer and adjustable front fork height that allows the rider to lower or retain the seat-height.

City Commute:

Best enjoyed when on a cold day or night with no traffic – the R1 is a sizzler and hates the slow-moving traffic. The combination of a hard clutch, aggressive riding position and ability to heat-up makes it an unpleasantly hot motorcycle to commute.

Touring:

Ignoring the aggressive riding position, the R1 is a really lovely road bike to tour with bags of soul and lots of mid-range.

While the rear seat is useless for a passenger, its extremely functional – comes with 4 under-seat loops to mount a slick tail-bag luggage like the Kriega US-series dry bags.

Mileage and Full tank Range:

The R1 is a very thirsty motorcycle with an absent of a fuel-gauge translating to a constant game of fuel light paranoia.

• City Mileage: 7-10 kmpl
• Highway Mileage: 12-16 kmpl
• Full Tank capacity: 18 litres (Fuel Light comes upon finishing 16L)
• Real world full tank range: 180- 250 kms 

While the R1 runs ok on normal fuel (91 Octane), everything seems more elegant and zen with 95-Octane petrol.

What I love about the 2013 Yamaha YZF-R1 WGP 50th Anniversary Edition:

• Engine: the crossplane engine is a “work of art” – so easy to ride across the entire rev-range and sounds nothing less than a full-symphony orchestra 🥰
• Handling: Sublime!! the R1 steers, corners and handles impeccably 
• Instrument Console: I am a sucker for Analog dials – love seeing the rev-needle climb-up and down. Overall clean, informative, easy to toggle.
• Looks: This is the best-looking R1 in my opinion – the dual projector headlamps with DRL and the RAM-air intakes – such a classic, elegant design ❤️
• Spacious Motorcycle: Loads of leg-room and seat-room, translate to accommodating riders of all statures

What I dislike:

• No Fuel Gauge: While the Instrument Cluster is top-notch, the lack of a fuel-gauge seems like an oversight which I cannot understand
• Heat Management: Over the generations, heat management on the R1s has been poor – the radiator fans DO NOT START till 100 degree Celcius ☹️ + coupled with poor radiator design that directs all the hot-air onto the rider
• OE Battery: The OE Yuasa battery is such a kill-joy with poor longevity. Best to swap this for a Lithium-Ion battery.
• Heavy Clutch: The 2013 R1 is plagued with a heavy clutch and a weird, non-smooth clutch engagement till 3000 RPM known as clutch-lurch – primarily on the 2009 to 2014 R1s. Didnt face this on the 2008 R1 I owned.

Conclusion:  

The 2013 Yamaha R1 is the last-generation of road-friendly super sport from Yamaha. 

It’s very easy to ride fast or slow and corner, with the most legroom of any of the 1000s of the day.  The crossplane crank motor offers plenty of grunt low-down, making it a much better “road bike than many of its rivals & the latest-get R1s” – not to mention offering the best soundtrack, too.❤️

Special thanks to Krishna for trusting me with his beloved R1 🤗

Follow his super-detailed R1 journey and updates on Instagram and TeamBHP

Wish you all a great, successful and happy 2024 🤗