Dont mean to bring back old posts, but i was just reading up on what everyone thought of an R1, and i just had some input....
Im only 17 (almost 18) and i work for a yamaha dealer near Dallas, Tx. A lot of people were saying there isnt much of a power difference except for top speed and with another person, i totally disagree. I always have to ride bikes on test rides, etc. I know it sounds ridiculous, but i feel a lot safer on an r1 than on the r6. The r6 is a lot lighter, yes thats good, but when your turning at slow speeds and stuff, its a lot easier to tip over. the added weight of the r1 helps balance it. The r6 also has no steering dampner, and the light weight makes it less stable at high speeds than an R1. The first bike I EVER rode was a 2005 kawasaki ZX10R. It was ok, but i definately like the R1 better.
Im not trying to start anything in here, but my opinion, NO bike is going to kill you, its the rider that doesnt know how to properly use it that kills himself.
Im looking for an R1 right now, i dont care about the speed, i will probably never go over 80mph, but the r1 just seems easier to control, balances easier, feels more stable, etc. Go the speed limit, obey all laws, use uncrowded streets until you learn how to ride good, NEVER get overconfident.