Yamaha FZ6R - Proof That Fun Can Also Be Comfortable

By: Cameron C Martel

When Yamaha released the FZ6R to the public earlier this year I was quick to review it. I hastily found a brand new one, barely a week out of its crate, and went to work. Over the course of half a day I flogged the bike through corners, around treacherous terrain (bumpy roads, gravel, etc.), up and down hills, through the mountains, and then back into good old city riding. It as a memorable half day, as the Yamaha FZ6R would become one of my all time favorite casual motorcycles.

What is a "Casual" Motorcycle?

Unlike the Yamaha R6, which is a super-sport motorcycle, the Yamaha FZ6R has certain conveniences that make it appealing for new and experienced riders alike. It has a more upright riding position, with less lean to the handle bars. This makes it more comfortable to sit on and ride, and after nearly half a day of abuse and hard riding my back still wasn't sore. On the R6 my back would have been killing me within an hour.

Not only that, but it doesn't pack a 160 horsepower engine. In fact, though Yamaha has been very hush-hush about just how much power it does make, you will find that the FZ6R is rather slow in comparison to any 600cc+ super-sport. Then again, that's like saying that the Chevrolet Corvette is slower than the Ferrari F430. At no point should you think that the Yamaha FZ6R is a slow machine, as it will still complete a quarter mile in around 12 seconds, and it will still outrun just about everything else on the street.

Why I Love this Bike

Speed isn't everything for a rider like me. I know that the FZ6R can get up and go with the best of them, and while it may not be able to keep pace with the higher-strung 600cc super-sports, it is still able to put a new or experienced rider into a performance threshold far beyond anything they likely will have experienced before. Not only that, but it does so without being an incredibly uncomfortable.

It has the looks of a sport bike, with aggressive fairing and a side-mounted "shorty" exhaust. The custom color/decaling that is available really sets this bike apart from other entry-level sports bikes, and it's made very clear early on that this isn't the traditional entry-level sports bike- the days of the Suzuki Katana are long gone.

The FZ6R has the sound of an Indy car, though it's a little quieter and much more pleasing to the ear. It sounds like a bat out of hell when taking off, and when it comes time to slow down the big brakes will stop you faster than you can say "ooh, nice brakes". It's the most performance that a new rider, or even one that's had a few seasons under their belt, could ever want for in a package that's both attractive and controllable.

This is NOT your Grandmothers Sports Bike

When people hear "entry level" they immediately assume a tame, hum-drum motorcycle that might look sporty but conveniently falls short on performance. They expect skinny tires, feeble brakes, and a ratty sounding exhaust. That's what makes the FZ6R such a smashing motorcycle- at no point do you feel embarrassed when you pull up next to a super sport.