1997 Yamaha YZF1000R Thunderace review from United Kingdom

Zero faults.

By today's standards, this motorcycle is an old and heavy item. It never really was a popular bike with the bike journalists, always pulling it down, never showing it in the magazines.

Both the front and rear suspension can be adjusted by 3 ways - compound, rebound and damping, and when this is set up to suit the rider, it is an amazing piece of kit. In a rare article by Performance Bikes, they set up a Thunderace and were overtaking R1's on the outside of corners.

The engine is bullet proof, only needing oil and filter changes at specified intervals, spark plugs every blue moon, and valve clearances every other blue moon.

Once aboard and riding the Thunderace, it is remarkably nimble. I am 6 feet and 3 inches and even with the wife on the back, it is still easy to maneuver through town.

The national speed limit can easily be broken in first gear, and I am talking about the motorway speed limit here. 2nd will bring 100mph, 3rd brings 120 mph etc. There may be other newer bikes that easily beat that, but remember these bikes started out way back in 1996, 10 years ago, just imagine what bikes will do in the next 10 years compared to the so called dogs B's now.

Passengers are sat quite comfortably and are not perched on your shoulder like a parrot compared to other bikes.