Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128199
Jamie James Productions Yamaha YZF-R1 "You can wrestle an alligator for awhile," By NEALE BAYLY '; W PHOTOS By KEN PITTS ith the outside temperature a : crisp 27 degrees, Jamie James' response to my question, "Do you think it will be too cold to ride?" brought an instant smile to my face. And, as I made my way over to Jamie's place to take my ride, I thought, "What a wonderful way to describe riding a sub 4001b. motorcycle that kicks out around 145 horsepower at the rear wheel." As one of the Jamie James Productions strips the bikes to the frames to make all of the modifications. When It all goes back together, it's really something special. 32 FEBRURY 5. 2003' C Y c I ... neVirs most down-to-earth and approachable people I have ever met in my life, Jamie has been just as pleasurable to spend time with as his incredible bike. In fact, I could probably write a couple of stories just about Jamie and his long and successful racing career, but for the moment I will stick to his "baby": the Jamie James Productions Rl. On arrival, I climbed into my leathers and swung a leg over Jamie's immaculate R1 for the first time, making a mental note of where Jamie wanted to meet for photos. Between his Louisiana Cajun drawl and my English accent, we already had some amusing miscommunications over directions prior to the ride. Beneath me, the bike purred away through the Acropovic pipe, the only thing giving the engine's "nonstandard" state of tune away being the uncharacteristic low hum. With significantly different cam timing, this bike sounds very different from a stocker with a pipe, but more on that later. Clicking into gear and easing out of Jamie's gravel driveway, I headed out down a nice, potholed country lane peppered with damp mud and tight decreasing radius corners. This, of course, was just what I needed for my first ride on a limited edition, $23,500 Superbike. Needless to say, the first couple of miles were spent with my jaw, as well as some other parts of my anatomy, well clenched as I made my way toward a more open highway. Having ridden a 600 Supersport over to Jamie's place, it took a few moments to get used to the heavier steering input on the big 1000, but by the time I hit the open road, this had all disappeared, and I was feeling a little more relaxed. The bike is actually very easy to ride under these circumstances, and, with its taller gearing and broad power band, it is not intimidating, other than mentally. Short-shifting through the sixspeed box, I made my way along a nice, smooth piece of highway, heading for our photo rendezvous. Running legal speeds in top gear, the engine was barely turning over and provided instant forward progress at any throttle position. A few miles up the road, I rounded a turn to see a long straight stretching away through the deserted North Carolina farmland. downshifted to second and nailed the throttle. Holding it wide open, I shifted right before redline and repeated the process. The JJP R1 inhaled the road, sending the surrounding countryside into a green and brown blur as I tucked in behind the full fairing. Backing off after hitting the redJine in fourth (152mph for those of you not in law enforcement), I slowed down, decided to recommence where I had left off in the breathing department and rolled on down the road as if nothing had happened. Of course, it felt like one of those dreams when you are walking through the shopping mall and have forgotten to put your trousers on. My mouth was dry, my pulse racing and imaginary policemen lurked behind every tree. Wow!