I hadn't heard of this around here but since I do not frequent the other R1 forums was wondering if anyone had or heard of engine failures in the 07/08's ?



From a local forum:
07-08 R1 Factory Motor Issues

Just a small update from what I've been told by the Regional Rep. for RideNOT in regards to my blown motor and other new R1's with similar issues. From what the Rep. told me, rods giving out on the 07's is becoming more and more prevelant and my bike was the 3rd one in 2 months with that issue. Apparently they produced some weak components and the rods are giving out which leads to one fucked up motor. That's for the 07's.....for the 08's the Rep AND the mechanic where I'm fighting for my warranty said they used some "sub-par" rubber fitting in the valve area? (my memory sucks) and basically they were rotting away causing the engines to seize. I asked if a factory recall was in the future since having your engine seize at 65mph can be quite hazardous to your health and they said not unless they get ALOT more incidents within a certain time-frame. Just some info. for the other R1 owners out there. My 07' had 3700 miles on it and it broke a rod which fucked the entire motor up internally so now I'm battling with Yamaha to "approve" my warranty after they analyze the pictures at the Manufacturer.


Note: RideNOT ( aka..ridenow power sports) is our local Yamaha dealer and since they have a monopoly on yamaha dealerships in and around Las Vegas we have no other options but to deal with them. They are well documented for there substandard service and mechanical ability.

my guess is its only partially true. I think all the r1's have had a motor failure / thousand units produced.. but I strongly feel this is the norm of any motorcorp .

I think they once had oil issues like the honda did.

I have owned five new R1's , and I have had problems with all of them.( ironically I have had zero problems with my current Ducati)
I still think the yamaha's are as bulletproof as any mfgr out there.
in fact I wholesaled the last R1 because I thought I heard a internal problem It was a 07, this story has me thinking I made the right decision .

I totally understand that there will always be small percentage of failures. Which IMO is an unfortunate but an understood part of life and it really can be frustrating when that percent lands on your number. Up until my 07 I had almost a total lack of failures with Yamaha products (28years worth), BUT I lost the clutch on my 07 with 2k miles on it, then there was the whole 07 ECU fiasco. So was just wondering if there was any "word on the street" about engine reliability issues.

conrod #3, Yamaha's achilles heel for a long long time. Carillo's with ARP hardware solves it nicely.

I totally understand that there will always be small percentage of failures. Which IMO is an unfortunate but an understood part of life and it really can be frustrating when that percent lands on your number. Up until my 07 I had almost a total lack of failures with Yamaha products (28years worth), BUT I lost the clutch on my 07 with 2k miles on it, then there was the whole 07 ECU fiasco. So was just wondering if there was any "word on the street" about engine reliability issues.

I know you know what's up. lol
I was in doubt of the other people because a yamaha service would not admit a problem if there was one if his life was on the line.
so I am guessing it is only partially accurate . plus I think the motor is used on a few other models I would think if it were a real problem it would be real hard to hide .

after reading juniors post it reminded me of the #3 cylinder thing. so forget what I was saying about the oiling problems.

of all the three local dealers in my area there have been zero 07-08 problems that I know of .

This is the first I have heard of it... I have had no issues with mine, but again there is less then 2k on the clock./... lol

I tried to find the article I read recently, but I can't seem to find it. :rant

Anyway, the article was pertaining to some 08 R1 engine failures. It was a specific part that was failing (not con rod #3 as previous problems) apparently was caught on factory test models mid-run and the part was redone on remaining motors built.

That being said, there are at least 6 07 R1's locally, and I have not seen any mechanical failure. Obviously, all the 07 ECU's needed replaced with the lag issue, but that was a software issue and not a mechanical issue. I assisted in getting 4 of those replaced and solved the problem with each bike.

There is one of the bikes that continues to just die from time to time while riding. We put a PCIII on it and full exhaust system after first oil change. Personally, I think the PCIII is bad, but he is in the military and won't take the time to bring it by for me to look at.

My clock is running close to 10,000 miles and not 1 mechanical failure to date. Several other 07 R1's with thousands of miles also and no problems.

As previously stated, there are going to be a small percentage of failures just from mass production process.


Ride safe.

This is the first I have heard of it... I have had no issues with mine, but again there is less then 2k on the clock./... lol

your bike is 2 years old, and you have less than 2k miles on it.... :duh

:lol :lol you have been on that hardley way to much Rhett!! :mock

your bike is 2 years old, and you have less than 2k miles on it.... :duh

:lol :lol you have been on that hardley way to much Rhett!! :mock

It's called two bikes and two kids in three years.... :lmao Newborns and 2 year olds need a lot of attention so they don't end up in the news someday. :lol

:lmao and i thought i had a full plate with a new wife immigration and job hunting... :lol i have it easy compared to that!!!

:lol might have to sell the big toys and get little ones to keep the kids busy

Ya get this one that happened tonight... :lmao


How do you ruin a perfectly good steak dinner?

Have your 3 year old sitting next to you puke all over her and you while eating dinner :lmao

p.s. I'm not selling anything :lmao

I had a problem with my 2008 r1. After about 1155 miles on the bike, one day i was riding then i heard a loud clunking noise then i lost power. I had to basically keep starting my bike from light to light. Until i got back to the dealer then they said that i can't ride it until it gets fixed. They had to take me home. Yamaha did replace the engine with out any money from me so i am happy. I just hope it doesn't happen again cause it was scary.

Also this was my first Yamaha ever so after that happened my friend that i was riding with owned a GSXR750 and he said " I told you that Suzuki was better." I was pissed and scared because like i said this was my first Yamaha. But I love the way they ride. Plus like someone said before the problem is probably not unique to only Yamaha bikes.

It's unfortunate that your friend was there and got to rub your nose in it about purchasing a Yamaha, but if you ride long enough you will see this happen with every brand. :fact

Hopefully, next time it will be someone else you can say "see you should have got a Yamaha". :lol


Ride safe.

Also this was my first Yamaha ever so after that happened my friend that i was riding with owned a GSXR750 and he said " I told you that Suzuki was better." I was pissed and scared because like i said this was my first Yamaha. But I love the way they ride. Plus like someone said before the problem is probably not unique to only Yamaha bikes.

Don't worry when your friend's frame cracks after a hard landing wheelie, you can say see you should have bought a Yamaha :lol

Don't worry when your friend's frame cracks after a hard landing wheelie, you can say see you should have bought a Yamaha :lol

not likely to happen on the 750.

Also this was my first Yamaha ever so after that happened my friend that i was riding with owned a GSXR750 and he said " I told you that Suzuki was better." I was pissed and scared because like i said this was my first Yamaha. But I love the way they ride. Plus like someone said before the problem is probably not unique to only Yamaha bikes.
Your friend is a genius! :fact :lol

Don't worry when your friend's frame cracks after a hard landing wheelie, you can say see you should have bought a Yamaha :lol

Suzuki recenty recalled the 05/06 frames, you have to take it intot he dealer, they put a gel ont he frame that reveales any stress cracks. If none, then install some bracing and if so, frame gets replaced :)

Every manufacture has it's qwirks, glad everyone's is getting fixed. Plenty of 07/08's around here, never seen 1 in the shop for that :thumbup

I never had and issue, but Im like Rhett, 2800 miles in 18 month....

Suzuki recenty recalled the 05/06 frames, you have to take it intot he dealer, they put a gel ont he frame that reveales any stress cracks. If none, then install some bracing and if so, frame gets replaced :)

Suzuki should hang their head in shame on this bs. Took them 3-4 years to acknowledge there was any type of problem. Just another reason I would never own their inferior product. :fact

Also they are not covering bikes that have been crashed with broken frames on the track or on the street. Nor are they covering bike that have crashed because of broken frames. Nor are they covering bikes that the frame broke in other places other than around the steering stem. Basically they are still saying there is not a problem even though the public sees them breaking time and time again. :no


Ride safe.

Yeah I know, we had quite a few in here around 06 with broken necks, everytime they sent a Suzuki rep to look at it they would say it had been previously crashed or stunted.

I'm glad they are finally doing it but damn, like you said, 3-4 years later? Come on,y ou know they knew about it before. Most people crashed that had their frame broke, HELLO!!! I know it almost impossible to determine what happened first though

the direction of the fracture will pretty much tell you which happened first. failing in compression at the bottom would indicate a crash, in tension at the bottom would indicate the frame popping from a dropped wheely.

Altho I very much doubt that the sales reps had the engineering/metallurgy training to say that with enough authority for it to stand up in court.