On the subject of heat, the '09 has a knack for running a bit hot when the ambient temps are up. It's not uncommon to see the water temp above 215-degrees.
But hot stuff aside, the '09 is still a better streetbike. Not only is there gobs more midrange to squirt between cars or corners, but there's far less vibration out on the freeway.
When out of the city's confines the '09 again excels, as its meatier powerband and shorter gearing pay dividends in the canyons where one can keep pace and still be lazy with the shifter.
On the street the '09 nabs the victory, but to be a knockout we'd use Water Wetter to bring the coolant temps down and try some exhaust wrap and different cans to curb the heat.
Winner: 2009
Conclusion:
These bikes offer two different approaches to nearly the same result. Whether you like high-RPM horsepower or midrange grunt you'll have be the judge, but with these apples-to-apples results the two engines couldn't be more different. Which begs the question, what if the '08 had a +2 rear sprocket?
While the new 2009 R1 handedly won the comparison, the 2008 didn't go down without a fight. Each bike has its merits, as some might prefer the high-rpm hit of the older bike to the newer model's throbbing power delivery. Or others may buy the new bike because of its high-tech parts and the badass exhaust note.
Either rig is a great bike, but in the real world the big-bang bike has what it takes to rise above the past decade of R1s.
The new R1 is all new and all good, but it's so different it takes some time in the saddle to truly appreciate. Outright power is slightly behind the current literbikes and even the '08 for that matter, but as this comparo shows it's not all about the numbers. Where other bikes are spinning the tire on corner exits and threatening to wheelie over, the new R1 torques off corners and gets you to the next one without drama-it's simple speed.
The new R1 isn't perfect, but if put on a diet, fortified with some pipes and a fueling computer for more power this thing would rip. Then curb the exhaust temps and you'd have a knock out. So for now the '09 R1 is the best generation yet, but we're calling it first; look for the next version to be leaner and meaner-welcome to the big bang era!
Dyno Figures
SAE Corrected Wheel Power vs. RPM
Judging by the seat-of-the pants you'd never know the '09 is down on power compared to the '08. A closer inspection reveals that the new '09 R1 comes stock with a +2 rear sprocket. This gearing change significantly helps the heavier and less powerful '09 out chug the '08 on the street.
Based strictly on the numbers, the '08 narrowly edges-out the'09 in every category except the third-gear roll-on. While the newer R1 is 13 pounds heavier and makes 7 HP less than the '08 model, its shorter gearing enables it to keep pull the '08 until about 100 MPH.
Out on the road both bikes feel pretty even, with the '08 having the edge above 10,000 RPM. In fact, it's not until third-gear that the older bike can stretch its legs. Its high-RPM hit is strong, but catch the '08 in the wrong gear and you'll be wondering if it's missing a sparkplug.
In stark contrast, the '09 gets into the meat of its power more quickly, which means you can leave corners and pass cars without a mandatory downshift. This grunt is God on the street where midrange rules the roost. The '09 never feels slow, it just doesn't have the older bike's tenacity deep into the triple-digits.