Yamaha YZF-R6
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The Yamaha YZF-R6 is a sport bike, produced by Yamaha as a 600 class from 1999 to 2020. From 2021, production availability is limited to a non-homologated race-only specification in most global markets, causing race organizers to realign their engine eligibility criteria to encourage other manufacturers having larger than 600cc displacements to enter road-race competition from 2022.
Race organizers wanted to provide scope for alternative machinery to move away from established tradition of the Yamaha R6 being the dominant marque in Supersport racing. A similar motorcycle currently in production is the YZF-R9. This motorcycle is widely considered to be the R6's successor but this has never been officially stated by Yamaha.
History
The Original
The YZF-R6 was introduced in 1999 as the super-sport version of YZF-R1 super bike, and as a companion to the more street-oriented YZF600R sport bike, which continued to be sold alongside the R6. The motorcycle featured Yamaha's completely new engine design capable of producing over 108hp (81kW) while stationary. The R6 was the world's first 600 cc production four-stroke motorcycle producing over 100hp (75kW) in stock form.
2003 Redesign
The YZF-R6 has been revised several times since its introduction. Starting in 2003, the R6 became fuel injected. It also received a new headlight design that was more reminiscent of its bigger brother the YZF-R1.
2006 Redesign and the "tachometer problem"
The 2006 model year was a significant upgrade with a new engine-management system featuring the YCC-T ride by wire throttle and a multiplate slipper clutch. The 2008 model incorporated the YCC-I variable-length intake system to optimize power at high engine speeds, a slight change in exterior bodywork for better aerodynamics, and an improved Deltabox frame design.
In 2006, Yamaha advertised that the R6 had a redline of 17,500rpm. This is 2,000rpm higher than the previous R6 model and was the highest tachometer redline of any 2006 production four-stroke motorcycle engine. The true maximum engine speed was limited by the ECU to 15,800rpm. In February 2006, Yamaha admitted the bike's true engine redline was more than 1,000rpm lower than what was indicated on the tachometer and had been advertised, and offered to buy back any R6 if the customer was unhappy.
2017 Redesign
In 2017 the R6 received improved aerodynamics with styling inspired by the 2015 R1, as well as its 43mm inverted front fork and front brakes, new rear shock, a new aluminum fuel tank, magnesium subframe, ABS brakes, riding modes, and traction control. The new aerodynamics are claimed to reduce drag by 8% over previous models. The engine is unchanged, with rear-wheel power still at about 120hp. Body is similar to MotoGPs 2005– YZR-M1.
The 2017 update comes with an OBD port. Unlike previous models, this R6 does not have the same diagnostic mode option. To retrieve the diagnostic codes, an adapter that plugs into any OBD-II scanner is needed.
The R6's History in Motorsports
Chaz Davies helped Yamaha to win both the riders and manufacturers title during the 2011 Supersport World Championship season. The bike also won the super-sport category at the 2008 North West 200 Races.
Specifications
| 1999–2000 | 2001–2002 | 2003–2004 | 2005 | 2006–2007 | 2008–2009 | 2010–2016 | 2017-2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | DOHC, 16-valve, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, inline four-cylinder | |||||||
| Displacement | 599.8cc (36.60cuin) | 599.4cc (36.58cuin), titanium valves | ||||||
| Bore × stroke | 65.5mm ×44.5mm (2.58in ×1.75in) | 67.0mm ×42.5mm (2.64in ×1.67in) | ||||||
| Compression ratio | 12.4:1 | 12.8:1 | 13.1:1 | |||||
| Horsepower | 73.7kW (98.9hp) @ 12,500rpm (rear wheel) | 79.7kW (106.9hp) @ 12,500rpm (rear wheel) | 86.0kW (115.3bhp) @ 13,000rpm (claimed) | 88.2kW (118.3bhp) @ 13,000rpm (claimed) | 93.4kW (125.3bhp) @ 14,500rpm (claimed) | 94.9kW (127.3bhp) @ 14,500rpm (claimed) | 91.0kW (122.0bhp) @ 14,500rpm (claimed) | 87.1kW (116.8bhp) @ 14,500rpm (claimed) |
| Torque | 57.2N⋅m (42.2lb⋅ft) @ 10,500rpm | 59.2–60.2J (43.7–44.4ft⋅lb) @ 11,000rpm | 60.6N⋅m (44.7lb⋅ft) @ 11,750rpm | 60.5N⋅m (44.6lb⋅ft) @ 12,000rpm | 59.4N⋅m (43.8lb⋅ft) @ 11,500rpm | 58.7N⋅m (43.3lb⋅ft) @ 10,500rpm | 57.5N⋅m (42.4lb⋅ft) @ 11,500rpm | 61.7N⋅m (45.5lb⋅ft) @ 10,500rpm |
| Fuel system | 37mm carburetors | 37mm Keihin CV Downdraft w/throttle position sensor | Fuel injection | Fuel injection w/ YCC-T | Fuel Injection w/YCC-T and YCC-I | |||
| Ignition | CDI | Digital DC-CDI | TCI (Transistor Controlled Ignition) | |||||
| Drivetrain | multi-plate clutch, 6-speed #532 O-ring chain | multi-plate slipper clutch, 6-speed, #525 O-ring chain | ||||||
| Chain and Sprockets | Front Sprocket: 16 teeth Rear Sprocket: 48 teeth Chain: 116 links, 532 Pitch | Front Sprocket: 16 teeth Rear Sprocket: 48 teeth Chain: 116 links, 532 Pitch | Front Sprocket: 16 teeth Rear Sprocket: 45 teeth Chain: 116 links, 525 Pitch | |||||
| Suspension | Front: fully adjustable 43mm telescopic fork Rear: fully adjustable monoshock | Front: fully adjustable 43mm telescopic fork, 130mm (5.3in) of travel Rear: | Front: 43mm telescopic fork w/adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping; 120mm (4.7in) travel Rear: | Front: 41mm inverted telescopic fork w/adjustable preload, separate high & low-speed compression damping, rebound damping; 120mm (4.7in) travel Rear: | Front: 43mm inverted fork, 3-way adjustable; 120mm (4.7in) travel Rear: 4-way adjustable; 120mm (4.7in) travel | |||
| Tires | Front: 120/60-ZR17 Rear: 180/55-ZR17 | Front: 120/70-ZR17 Rear: 180/55-ZR17 | ||||||
| Brakes | Front: 2×295mm floating disc | Front: 2x298 mm disc Rear: 220mm disc | Front: 2x310mm floating disc Rear: 220mm disc | Front: 2x320mm hydraulic disc Rear:220mm hydraulic disc | ||||
| Length | 2,100mm (81in) | 2,020mm (79.7in) | 2,040mm (80.3in) | |||||
| Width | 700mm (27.6in) | 690mm (27.2in) | 700mm (27.6in) | |||||
| Height | 1,120mm (44.2in) | 1,090mm (42.9in) | 43.1in (1,090mm), 2011: 43.3in (1,100mm) | 1,150mm (45.3in) | ||||
| Seat height | 810mm (32.0in) | 830mm (32.8in) | 820mm (32.3in) | 850mm (33.5in) | ||||
| Wheelbase | 1,400mm (55.1in) | 1,380mm (54.4in) | 1,380mm (54.3in) | 1,370mm (54.1in) | ||||
| Rake, trail | 24°, 86mm (3.4in) | 24°, 97mm (3.8in) | 24° | |||||
| Fuel capacity | 17L; 3.7impgal (4.5USgal) | 17L; 3.8impgal (4.6USgal) | 17L; 3.7impgal (4.5USgal) | |||||
| Dry weight | 181–183kg (398–404lb) ('99) | 181–181kg (398–399lb) ('01) | 176kg (388lb) ('03) 392lb (178kg) ('04) | 180kg (397lb) | 180kg (396lb) | 181kg (399lb) | ||
| Wet weight | 200kg (430lb) | 193kg (426lb) ('01) | 188kg (415lb) ('03) 190kg (419lb) ('04) | 192kg (424lb) | 189kg (417lb) | 189kg (417lb) | 190kg (419lb) | |
| Performance | ||||||||
| 0 to 60mph (0 to 97km/h) | 3.0–3.35 sec. | 2.8 sec. | 3.0 sec. | |||||
| 0 to1⁄4mi (0.00 to 0.40km) | 10.97 @ 201.46km/h (125.18mph) 10.97 @ 204.56km/h (127.11mph) | 10.80 sec. @ 206.49km/h (128.31mph) | 10.67 sec. @ 210.49km/h (130.79mph)[citation needed] | |||||
| Top speed | 253–257km/h (157–160mph) | 253km/h (157mph) | 260km/h (160mph) | |||||
| Fuel economy | 6.19–6.17L/100km; 45.6–45.8mpg‑imp(38.0–38.1mpg‑US) | 6.4L/100km; 44mpg‑imp(37mpg‑US) | 7.0L/100km; 40.1mpg‑imp(33.4mpg‑US) | |||||
| CO2 | 154g/km |
Notes
- Road Racing World
- Descriptions of all Yamaha R-series bikes up to 2008 models
- Road tests of every Yamaha R6 model since 1998