anyone ride, ridden a thundercat?

[steveh]

Well im looking at this for my next bike, a thundercat 600, i know im stepping up from a 125 to a 600 but i dont see a problem, ridden 600's before and do have some respect as to there limits.
Im just trying to get some info on them, i know there fairly light and are around 96bhp.

is there anything to look out for? are they prone to any faults and nasties?


help greatfull


Steve.
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Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E.

[XS1954]

I went from a 125 to a cat and it was fine. My personal opinion of them it that you get a lot of bike for your money but mine just would not steer into corners. I found myself braking all the time even for shallow corners and never got around to finding out what the problem was.

Look out for gear box problems going from first to second. Mine was fin but a costly repair is required if it ain't right.

On reflection I should have gone for the Honda VFR instead but each to their own.

If you want one look for a mint condition one as there are plenty available and prices for them seem to have hit an all time low. It is a buyers marker for one of these.

On a whole I liked mine but didn't have confidence in it and sold it after less than a year and bought a brand new Hornet which handles 100x better. Take one for a test ride and see what you think but I would say take a VFR out as well and compare the two.

Good luck!
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You're a cock.

[Danny]

Wet weight : 212kg (claimed), but feels much lighter than it looks.

The power varies from 87bhp-97bhp, mine was 91bhp.

It's has less of an extreme riding position compared to other 6's, which makes long journeys much more comfortable.

They are pretty decent handling wise and very forgiving compared to an R6 or similar. (I can only assume Simon had a dud).

I paid £2400 for a mint 1998 'cat with under 10,000 miles and new tyres. There are some real bargains out there.

Check out these sites for more info:

https://groups.msn.com/yamahathundercats/

https://www.yzf600r.com/

[Villers]

Lets be honest if your looking at the 'sports six' your spoiled for choice!

The yamaha represents a different choice, everybody plumps for the cbr's or the gixers.

What are the reliability/running costs like on them danny?
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[The Tot]

As a uni student, what's insurance like as a rough estimate? I am seriously considering a thundercat after having a chat with a mate who used to ride one. I'll be going from an 11bhp 125 to a 6 like steve's intending to do. How will they handle the 33bhp restriction, that is if you had it done?

How frequently do you strip down the calipers on them? and what other things should a buyer look out for as well as the gearbox?

Cheers

Titot
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[hawkeye]

I'm looking at getting one as well as my NC. My mate (lufbra_paul) is selling his at the moment and he let me borrow it for the afternoon. Great bike, as has been said it handles much better than it should (although my NC felt like a twitchy race bike afterwards). Great engine - I think both Bike and Ride recently quoted it as 49lb-ft of torque. This one I rode just pulled from nothing in 6th!! The fairing it fantastic, I was sitting at 110mph on the A6 perfectly happily. My mate on his CBR600RR was hunched under the fairing hiding from the rain, whereas I was perfectly dry and happy. Pillion passengers have a luxury ride (for a sports 600)
- Ride's description as a 'pillion seat you could land a helicopter on' is pretty accurate.

Paul reckons tank range is about 160-180miles, but it has a fuel light as well. I'm trying to get the money together to buy his one as I know it's been cared for etc. Best practical everyday 600 I've ever ridden.
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'89 R/W/B NC30
'The car in front is... in my way'

[steveh]

sounds a nice bike, think its one i will deff consider buying if the price/bike is right, i like the maroon red, and the silver best, wich one is his?


Steve.
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Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E.

[Danny]

[strag]

The Cat is a great all round bike. Handling is very good, although not as sharp as the more 'focussed' sports 600, you would have to be a very good rider to out handle it! Use the link as posted above https://groups.msn.com/yamahathundercats/ to the msn cat forum, there are usually a few for sale on there and a wealth of info from the members.
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carbon bling

[ThunderSteve]

Hi.

I ride a CAT, and as the people above my post have stated, brilliant bike.

I use it every day, come rain, sun or snow. It is my ride to work, 32 miles in the morning, and 32 back in the evening.

Fairing is brilliant, comfy ride, and from full to the fuel light coming on = 162 miles.

Maintenance is easy, regular Yamaha service is about £120 ish. I've paid for it to be done, and have only now decided to do it myself.

What to watch out for:
Header pipes : look towards the oil filter from the right hand side, through hole in fairing. Corrosion and rust must be avoided. Same can be said for the bolts attaching the header pipes to the engine.
Fork seals : omg the thought of replacing them scares me.
Gearbox : bike not shifting into 2nd. Think it results in a few gears needing replacing, engine removal a must for that.
Fairings : check for cracks and raised decals (indicator area). I managed to drop mine and cracked the fairing there. Nasty crack, would need some pvc welding. Lesson I learnt, need some crash mushrooms.

Cannot think of other checks.

Insurance is good. Cannot remember the class, think 14, but roughly £470 TPFT. Thats what I paid as my SA license could not be converted when I relocated to the UK (waited to long to have it done, think max period is 1 year. Remembered to do the car license, but forgot bike, oops). Had to redo the license for a Full UK.

Brilliant bike though, I am not complaining

Good sites to visit:
https://www.yzf600r.com/ and the MSN group listed above
(think in my sig too)

Anyways, my input.

Steve

[Villers]

Im biased but for a bike you want to thrash everyday and not have it fall to peices I can't reccomend anything but the CBR600. Ive kicked the shit out of mine for the last 5000 miles without any problems. Its the only vehicle Ive ever bought that hasnt fell to pieces on me!


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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[tintin]

I had one as my first bike when I came back to biking about 9 years ago. Excellent bike, couldn't really fault it, only let down by the cheap suspension. Great engine, great brakes. Bike magazine did a recent article where they took an R6 and put it back to a similar state of tune toa Thundercat. This gave it more mid-range power and most of the R6 riders who tested both preferred the adapted version
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The older I get the better I was