| When Yamaha released the FZ6R to the public | | | | that the FZ6R can get up and go with the best |
| earlier this year I was quick to review it. I hastily | | | | of them, and while it may not be able to keep |
| found a brand new one, barely a week out of its | | | | pace with the higher-strung 600cc super-sports, it |
| crate, and went to work. Over the course of half | | | | is still able to put a new or experienced rider into |
| a day I flogged the bike through corners, around | | | | a performance threshold far beyond anything |
| treacherous terrain (bumpy roads, gravel, etc.), up | | | | they likely will have experienced before. Not only |
| and down hills, through the mountains, and then | | | | that, but it does so without being an incredibly |
| back into good old city riding. It as a memorable | | | | uncomfortable. |
| half day, as the Yamaha FZ6R would become one | | | | It has the looks of a sport bike, with aggressive |
| of my all time favorite casual motorcycles. | | | | fairing and a side-mounted "shorty" exhaust. The |
| What is a "Casual" Motorcycle? | | | | custom color/decaling that is available really sets |
| Unlike the Yamaha R6, which is a super-sport | | | | this bike apart from other entry-level sports |
| motorcycle, the Yamaha FZ6R has certain | | | | bikes, and it's made very clear early on that this |
| conveniences that make it appealing for new and | | | | isn't the traditional entry-level sports bike- the |
| experienced riders alike. It has a more upright | | | | days of the Suzuki Katana are long gone. |
| riding position, with less lean to the handle bars. | | | | The FZ6R has the sound of an Indy car, though |
| This makes it more comfortable to sit on and | | | | it's a little quieter and much more pleasing to the |
| ride, and after nearly half a day of abuse and | | | | ear. It sounds like a bat out of hell when taking |
| hard riding my back still wasn't sore. On the R6 | | | | off, and when it comes time to slow down the |
| my back would have been killing me within an | | | | big brakes will stop you faster than you can say |
| hour. | | | | "ooh, nice brakes". It's the most performance that |
| Not only that, but it doesn't pack a 160 | | | | a new rider, or even one that's had a few |
| horsepower engine. In fact, though Yamaha has | | | | seasons under their belt, could ever want for in a |
| been very hush-hush about just how much power | | | | package that's both attractive and controllable. |
| it does make, you will find that the FZ6R is rather | | | | This is NOT your Grandmothers Sports Bike |
| slow in comparison to any 600cc+ super-sport. | | | | When people hear "entry level" they immediately |
| Then again, that's like saying that the Chevrolet | | | | assume a tame, hum-drum motorcycle that might |
| Corvette is slower than the Ferrari F430. At no | | | | look sporty but conveniently falls short on |
| point should you think that the Yamaha FZ6R is a | | | | performance. They expect skinny tires, feeble |
| slow machine, as it will still complete a quarter mile | | | | brakes, and a ratty sounding exhaust. That's what |
| in around 12 seconds, and it will still outrun just | | | | makes the FZ6R such a smashing motorcycle- at |
| about everything else on the street. | | | | no point do you feel embarrassed when you pull |
| Why I Love this Bike | | | | up next to a super sport. |
| Speed isn't everything for a rider like me. I know | | | | |