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George Williams
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Two Yamaha YZF-R1s

October 15, 2022 · in Automotive · · 16 · 1K

The Yamaha YZF-R1

needs little introduction to motorcycle fans, and has been featured in these pages before by my friend Richard McStay, indeed he says it's his favourite bike. Introduced in 1997, it featured a 1000cc engine in a frame the size of a 400cc bike.

It was a model missing from my collection, but released a kit some time ago offering two colour schemes, one red and white and one blue. I couldn't decide which I preferred so I built one of each.

Apart from the colour schemes other options include either a single or dual seat, and a side kickstand or a racing stand.

I figured that the owner of the red and white bike might be more outgoing and gave that one the dual seat, fitting the single seat to the blue bike. So much for my amateur psychology.


I've included some photographs of the build, if you're interested in more detail please have a look at my WIP over in the Automotive Group.

Speaking of groups, this will probably be my last complete build in that group as my good friend Spiros @fiveten has started a new Motorcycles Group. It's already created a lot of interest with several new projects started.

Thanks also to @johnb and @rory for their help and support during this build.

Some of the pictures here were taken in a fictional pop-up shop in the city in north east China where I live called George's Motorcycles.

Thanks for looking, all comments welcome, happy modelling, George

Reader reactions:
6  Awesome

12 additional images. Click to enlarge.


16 responses

  1. A wonderful duo, my friend George! Cannot think of anything better from a beautifully built Tamiya R1, other than two of them! Both schemes are equally appealing, each on its own manner. And it is really interesting that, though they are the same kits, the end results are pleasantly different! Your build thread was a joy to follow, indeed it was highly motivating! Your George's Motorcycles shop is such a great idea!

    Thanks a lot for providing such inspiration with your builds! Motorcycle modeling is such an exciting world.

    Well done!

  2. Thank you my friend Spiros @fiveten, your support and advice were an important part of the build, it’s what this great site is all about.

  3. Both are equally excellent, George @chinesegeorge
    On some images it is difficult to distinguish if they are real bikes or your builded ones.
    It was a pleasure to follow your thread, it will be very helpful once I start building my first bike in plastic.
    Well done.

  4. Thank you @johnb John, I’m looking forward to not only watching your Suzuki build but also seeing the progress on the new Motorcycles Group.

  5. Wow George I'm blown away at the detail represented in those two models. They look real in viewing your pics to me. Nicely done.

  6. Those are street bikes? They look race-ready. That looks like a lot of work but the results are fabulous. Let's see a pic of your shelf sometime.

  7. Quite a Dynamic Duo, George! I think I'm partial to the Red & White option myself but both schemes look great.
    I agree with John above, hard to figure if we are lookin at a 1/12th model or the real thing! Nice work!

  8. Beautiful work George, they are both eye candies and looks so amazingly real!

  9. Hi Bob @v1pro, you’re right, the real bikes are definitely eye-candy, thanks for your generous comments and for taking the time to look.

  10. Well done on not one, but two, really nice bikes, George (@chinesegeorge). They look just like the real thing.

  11. Thanks, George @gblair, I wish I had the real thing, just one would do, but I think I’m too old to do them justice now.

  12. Cheers for the mention!
    My favourite bike, and indeed my lucky bike! I’ve never ever crashed an R1!
    Two stunners there, glad you built both.

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