Yamaha R6, Great In The Hands Of A Skilled Rider

 Yamaha R6


The R6 has always been known for its powerful engine. In fact, the '07 version was the king in terms of overall horsepower, which was great in the hands of a skilled rider. On the flip side, the '07's narrow, peaky powerband made it slightly difficult for mere mortal riders to keep the tach pegged near the red where the real power is.

Yamaha R6

The Tuning Fork engineers understood that its bike needed a mid-range power boost, so they incorporated over 50 changes aimed at increasing engine power and durability, as well as reducing an engine's arch nemesis - friction. What kind of changes you ask? Subtle ones, such as the valve springs being manufactured out of a new material. Also, connecting rod bearings are now wider and made out of an improved alloy. These upgrades may not seem like much, but every bit helps when you've got four pistons furiously mashing up and down, spinning the crank at 16,000 rpm.

Yamaha R6

Yamaha R6

Yamaha R6

Yamaha R6

Propelling the now steadfast chassis forward is an updated 599cc liquid-cooled DOHC Inline-Four. Between the magnesium engine covers, the engine retains the same oversquare 67 x 42.5mm bore/stroke dimensions, as well as the same sized 16 titanium valves, but a compression boost to 13.1:1 (up from 12.8:1), helps increase mid-range and top-end power. The extra squeeze comes via reshaped pistons utilizing a domed piston crown.

Yamaha R6

Yamaha R6

One specific technological innovation that trickles down from the R1 is Yamaha's Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I). The system varies intake funnel length from tall (66mm) and short (26mm) position when throttle angle input is greater than 60 degrees and engine rpms are greater than 13,700. This means engineers no longer have to make a compromise between top-end and mid-range intake tuning, giving R6 riders the best of both worlds.

  

Yamaha R6, Great Taste Of Sportbike

Yamaha R6

The Yamaha R6 has always been a machine of few compromises, and that's why we've always loved it. It also explains why R6 sales now account for 51-percent of Yamaha's sportbike pie. But as Honda's CBR600RR showed in this year's Supersport Shootout V, a bike with compromises sometimes can edge its narrowly focused competitor.

Yamaha R6

Yamaha R6

Yamaha R6

Visually it's difficult to distinguish the new R6 from the old. Yamaha recognizes that since its major overhaul in '06, the R6 has become a rolling icon - best viewed at any angle. So instead of messing up a good thing, the Tuning Fork designers chose to make some very subtle tweaks that further enhance the machine's clean, yet edgy, look. And unless you have the two bikes side by side, it can be difficult to spot the changes.

Yamaha R6

Yamaha R6

Yamaha acknowledged the problem and the new black deltabox aluminum frame has been tuned for more rigidity in some areas, less in others. Despite the tweaks, the frame retains the same asphalt carving 24-degrees of rake, 97mm of trail and 54.3-inch wheelbase. Steering head and motor mount areas have been reinforced helping to make them more rigid. The main frame cross member has been removed and frame wall thickness has been slimmed by 0.5mm which helps to optimize frame rigidity.

Yamaha R6

Yamaha R6

The rear subframe is now made of magnesium (a first for a Yamaha production motorcycle) and weighs over a pound less then the cast aluminum design it replaces. A pound may not seem like much, but every little bit helps in the never-ending quest for optimum mass centralization.

Viedeo Review Of  Yamaha R6