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Motorcycle Daily reviews the new FZ6R
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February 16, 2009 at 7:55 pm #2544MattParticipant
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/13february09_yamaha2009fz6r.htm
I won’t summarize the report for you (it is a fun read during a boring work day), but I’ll add some personal thoughts:
-I looked one of these over three days ago in the dealership. It is surprisingly good looking in person. The level of fit, finish, and polish makes for an incredibly attractive bike. I found it to be much more attractive in person than similar bikes. In particular I was taken by the quality of the switches and bits you have to touch to operate the motorcycle. Purely personal I know (everything about motorbikes is), but it felt classy to me.
-Despite what Yamaha says, calling this a starter bike is a bit much imo. The engine, while being tamer than an R6 is still a 600cc inline 4, and can easily get the rider into trouble. And the bike weighs a considerable amount (due to a steel frame). I’d only really consider this a first bike if you are *really* comfortable at the MSF or have dirt bike experience (even then, this thing weighs close to twice what many dirt bikes do).
-Steel frame. Not good for weight, but great for price and lateral flex. If you are a track day junkie, lateral flex isn’t for you. But out on real roads, where bumps occur mid corner, lateral flex helps make the bike comfortable and the all important “forgiving”.
As competition to the Ninja 650 and SV650S, I think this bike is an even less ideal first bike. But, compared to those two as a second bike, I think this has a lot of potential.
I look forward to seeing these on the road. If anyone has ridden one (or does) I’d love to hear how the detuned I4 actually compares to the 650 twins for ease of use.
February 16, 2009 at 10:39 pm #16544MattParticipantAlas no, I didn’t risk sitting on it – I try to sit on as few bikes that I can’t afford as possible. For the record, I tend to fail at that miserably at that
The seating position looked to me to be very similar to the SV650S and the Ninja 650, or even a VFR; very much what I think of as a sport touring position.
Feet are high up compared to cruiser, but they aren’t nearly as scrunched up as a modern super sport. The guy in the photos is really crunched in with his upper body, but her really doesn’t need to be (look at how much bend he has in his elbows).
Also, the guy in the photos is 6 foot 5. That makes most bikes look smallThere really aren’t many sporting bikes that’ll handle a 38″ inseam that aren’t based on dirt frame (KTMs come to mind, nothing else really).
February 17, 2009 at 2:53 am #16546Jon D.ParticipantThe FZ6R has a seat height of 30.9 inches, so not really a short bike. Yamaha also re-tuned and redesigned the powerplant vs. the FZ6, which gave it a milder manner in comparison. Beautiful bike but now carries the looks of a crotch rocket without the attitude. Probably make someone a very fine intermediate bike. Ride safe and God bless. Jon D.
February 17, 2009 at 9:58 pm #16572Rab (not logged-in)GuestThis is Yamaha’s answer to the recently introduced Suzuki GSX650F “fully-faired standard”.
Full Fairing, Steel Frame, Inline 4 cylinder engine re-tuned for more low-end torque; same MO as the GSX650F.
‘ Don’t know about the FZ6R, but the GSX650F is a really easy bike to ride and goes round bends like it runs on rails.
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