Talk to me about Thundercats

[dragstaar]

Hi all!

You may remember, I lost my bandit during a fight with a lampost. may she Rest In Peace.

Now, I am looking to replace my baby, least of all so that i can retain my NCD that I worked so hard to build up (only 2 years worth mind, but that means a lot to a 22 year old).

I'm looking at the Thundercats, they look quite tasty. i know they dont have as much oomph as some of the other bikes out there, but I've always really liked them.

Are they any good though?

I'm going to become a weekend warrior to begin with, so this means that the bike will have to be able to sit outside come rain or shine, and will only be ridden on weekends. My Bandit was perfect at this, She rotted at the collector box, but not much more. Now I know that I cant expect the bullet-proofness of a Bandit, but do the Thundercats take neglect well?

What Are parts like?

Are there any particular known issues, and any particular years or models I need to avoid?

Hit me. I want to know all things thundercat!

[J4mes]

I've got one.

It's a 1997 on 19K, cost £1300.

2nd gears go on them, but apparently nowhere near as much as they do on the R6 (according to the interwebz), probably due to a different riding style.

Downpipes rot, but don't they all?

I love mine, I get about 50MPG despite being a novice rider and not being very conservative with my fuel, it's pretty rapid and I can't see it being any slower than any of the other 600's of the era, think it has a touch over 100bhp, and more torque through the whole rev range than the R6.

Come in great colours (mine is red and white) but to be honest, other than the yellow and silver ones I wouldn't have discounted any of them.

Riding position is quite different to the CBR, wider bars and more upright, but it's comfortable for commuting, long distance and for flying about on.

As a new rider mine was £113 TPFT to insure. Parts seem on par with any other bikes really - looked at downpipes, fork seals, chains/sprockets etc. Brakes are awesome when in good condition, but can be a nightmare to bleed.

Shameless picture:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/jim01uk/Bike/2011-08-13135030.jpg

[0l0dom0l0]

They weren't massively popular because yamaha launched the r6 which was 'look at me' so they got forgotton about.

Great bikes, everyone I've spoken to that's had one has said they are fantastic.

Engines are strong apart from second gear, which will fail due to abuse rather than mileage. Brakes are good etc.

Overall for what they sell for these days, you can get a lot for your money. Build quality on the old yammys was good too, so should take the abuse well.

Just keep it clean, give it a wash to get rid of the salt and it will last
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CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[dragstaar]

Thanks for the replies guys!

When you say second gear fails, what exactly does that mean?

And how easy is it to fix and how much does it cost to fix, if I buy one and second gear goes on me?

Is it an easy fix?

[J4mes]

It means it falls out of second when you select it, I think it's a sign of it being smashed through the gears. It's not a cheap/easy fix, think it's easier to buy a s/h engine than it is to go inside and change the gears.

Best way to check is on the test ride, spend plenty of time going from first to second at high revs and see if it does it at all - if so, walk away.

Good source of info https://www.bikersoracle.com/thunder/forum/

[Nick 50]

[Koltu]

Damn you for posting that picture!! Looking at these rather than Fazers now...very very nice!!
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CBT: DONE! Theory : Passed, DAS - 12/13 Jan, Mod 1 Pass! Mod 2 Pass! Bike Honda Hornet 600

[weasley]

We did this not long ago, so I'll just post the link rather than wax lyrical all over again!
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[daemonoid]

Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!
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current: ducati monster 750
past: hyosung gt250r, bajaj pulsar 180, hyosung gt 125 comet
@thomasgarrard | www.straitjkt.com | www.racingseven.com

[pits]

I hear that they are on the move, and that they are on the loose, take one out, feel the magic, feel the roar.

HTH
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Stinkwheel: You have no right to free speech
00:32:08 Blau Zedong: yes, i am a massive CB400 fan and collector
00:33:00 Blau Zedong: the CB400 is my favourite road bike

[weasley]

See, told you.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Walloper]

Mine looked like this but the it had a Gold coloured Micron can.
They do roar. Nice IL4.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[0l0dom0l0]

[junglejim]

I remember when these came out and a friend of mine who'd just passed her test, bought one.
I thought it was great.
Seeing them now, it strikes me how well made they were.
I mean I've seen quite a few on the road and in dealers and considering how old they are now, I haven't seen even one I could describe as a heap, which is more than you can say of a lot of other 15 year old bikes,

[AL-]

Nice bikes. When I was younger I remember my dad owning the bigger Ace, which was also a nice bike, headlights were terrible though from what I recall

[dragstaar]

So whats the consensus then

If i do come across one that is all okay except a dodgy second gear. Should I haggle it down by £400, or should I just walk.

Because it seems to me that if it is literally replacing the second gear cog, then its not something that could end up being a money-pit. So if I factor £350 into the bike price for that would people advise me to still go for it?

This issue with the second gears, was it not a factory recall then? I'd have thought something like this would have been?

[weasley]

The main issue with the actually-not-that-common 2nd gear thing is that to repair it is engine out, crankcase open, so it's pretty labour intensive. It's not a recall, no.

If you can stomach the time/effort/cost of the gearbox work, then haggle it (assuming you can prove to the seller that their bike has a problem and it's not your club-footed gear changing ).

Go and poke around in the Yamaha Thundercats forum - the peoples there are very friendly and knowledgeable and you may even get someone who'll help you out with buying/fixing etc.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Kickstart]

[c-m]

I friend has one for over two years, which I helped service, and rode with him through Europe.

Good solid bikes. Excellent fuel economy, very reliable.

Capable of being an everyday bike, with DB screen added for weather protection.

Top speed is well over 130mph+, tank range is good, and the riding position is comfortable.

I found the Thundercat extremely bland though, and they are very common around this area.
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Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[0l0dom0l0]

[c-m]

The 2nd gear problem isn't as widespread as it's made out to be on the thundercat, R6, ZZR, ZX9R etc..

Just buy the best condition Thundercat you can. I'd not want the hassle of fixing of the 2nd gear if it was already broken, so i'd move on to the next one. it's not as if Thundercats are hard to find.
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Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[weasley]

Not sure if you're too late for this one.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[dragstaar]

That is a neat and tidy cat! but just waaaay to far out from me. I cant travel 139 miles.

But thank you for pointing me in its direction.

I can't believe a 13 year old bike can look that good!

[evoboy]

I think all the Yamaha's of that era are understated bikes.

Try looking for TRX850's aswell. Most parts on it are the same as the 'cat, but with a vtwin/para twin engine. Cost about the same for me to insure as a 'cat.
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[Walloper]