Yamaha FZ6 - Talk to me

[a3316534]

https://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sch/cn/v/v3/w478/1210597_400_300.jpeg

Thinking of getting one to replace my 'blade. Anyone got one? Anything to look out for? What do you love? What do you hate?

[henry hoover]

Would an fz1 not be a better choice after getting off a litre?
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Cbr600rr 2010 Sold
Zx6r 636 2006 sold
Gsxr 750 L1 current

[P.addy]

[a3316534]

Litres are boring. Pretty much the same as Paddy... Except I'm not so keen on the triple engine myself.

If there was an exciting 250-400 I'd buy that instead. These days they're parallel twins

[P.addy]

[Ben90]

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v519/Ben90/2014-09-06100316_zpsba900a5c.jpg

Love the noise at the top end as well as the burble at low speed even with the stock pipes, underseat exhausts, sexy frame. Dislike the slight vibes betwen 5 and 5.5k rpm and the clunky change from 1st to 2nd.

2007 and onwards S2s have redesigned clocks with an analogue tacho, much better than the big old round one.
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Yamaha FZ6 S2

[chickenstrip]

[JP7]

I had one for two years. It was nice, easygoing and comfortable to ride, and it had enough power. I could happily ride it for a long period of time without any problems. I thought it looked good and I loved the under seat exhausts, but in hindsight I would probably have preferred the half-faired Fazer model over the naked FZ6.

The main downside for me was that the gearbox was very notchy and clunky to operate, and it could get annoying after a while. I never found a way of improving that, and when I spoke to other FZ6 owners they said much the same thing.

The only problem I had with mine was a faulty throttle positioning sensor that was apparently a known problem on earlier FZ6 models, and a recall was issued by Yamaha. Despite buying it from a Yamaha dealer they apparently didn't bother doing the recall. The symptoms of this for me were the back wheel locking up when I was downchanging, and the engine stalling when I came to a stop. It was a worrying fault and I sent it straight back to the dealer who fixed it for me free of charge under the recall, and after that it never missed a beat.

Hope that helps, it's a decent buy and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[Tungtvann]

I've got one, great first bike for me but I'd want to be moving up from it, rather than down to one.

Really usable power, even for a clumsy noob like I was when I got it, never worried about popping wheelies accidentally or spinning the back wheel up. I'd eventually want a faster bike, but with that I'd have to be a lot more careful when pinning it back!

[ukdiceman]

I have the "S" half faired model, 2006 so not the S2.

I bought it in March this year with 9.5k on it, its now got over 15k. I've toured the West coast of Scotland on it, many weekends away, and many Sunday blasts. Easily 50mpg, getting 180+ to reserve, which I'm sure could be improved.......

It lacks little low down/midrange grunt, but get to 9k and it flys to 14k, which isn't surprising as its based on the R6 lump. Plenty enough power for me. The gear change is a bit notchy but you soon get use to it.

A new pair of PR3's improved the bike no end.

I really can't fault it, and think they are under rated, for me its turned out to be the perfect bike, making my next one a real headache to choose...... maybe the FZ1.

MCN's review sums it up quite well:

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/bikereviews/searchresults/bike-reviews/yamaha/yamaha-fz6-fazer-2004--current/yamaha/fz6-fazer/_/R-EPI-256

I've not ridden the S2, so can't comment on the difference.
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FZ6 Fazer

[Baffler186]

Same as above, the perfect bike for me. Under6 or 7K rpm it's docile, the lack of torque is actually handy in slow traffic as you can keep in 2nd gear and avoid the slight snatchey-ness of the EFI in 1st gear.

Higher up the revs and it really pulls well, apparently can get to 138 fairly quickly. In top gear it will sit at 7k rpm at 70mph.

Gearbox: clunks into 1st from neutral, and a little clunky between 1st and 2nd, but other than that it's really smooth and accurate.

There's very little underseat storage becasue of the 'zorsts, but never bothered me.
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[a3316534]

As to why let me explain my perception of bikes. There is no such thing as an upgrade or down grade. Every bike brings strengths and weaknesses. The 'best' bike is one with more strengths than weaknesses. My needs have changed, so my Fireblade has more weaknesses than strengths than it had before.

Anyone got an ABS model and tell how how they find it? Kicks in too much or too early? Never noticed it kick in? Kicked in when you thought you were going to bin it?

[Matt B]