Jonesin for an R6

[OrangevaleFJR]

I'm getting a sport bike because I just have to go to the track!

R6 or R6S?

Anyone have experience with the "fly by wire" throttle of the new R6?

Are the improvements worth the significant increase in $$?

 

[yamaholic]

Depends...The R6 is a racing bike. The R6S is the streetable version of the 6 (still not to be confused with the FZ6 or YZF600 as the S is still capable of racing at the national level). Both can perform well above the skill level of most riders. Both will instantly hurt a new rider.

My vote is whichever has the best suspension...buy it. Sounds like the R6 has a better track oriented geometry and suspension.

BTW, I used to SMOKE R6's when I had a YZF600 on backroads. Sure the R6 was faster, handled better, and had better braking. Doesn't mean squat...the rider is everything when it comes to small displacement rockets like the R6.

God I miss that bike!

 

[Randy]

I'm getting a sport bike because I just have to go to the track!
R6 or R6S?

Anyone have experience with the "fly by wire" throttle of the new R6?

Are the improvements worth the significant increase in $$?

If it were me, I would go with the all-out R6, but, the R6s would be more than sufficient.

Unless you've been riding a Moto-GP bike, I don't think any other street bikes have had 'fly by wire'

Value is in the eye of the beholder. Are the improvements worth it? In my opinion, yes. Do you need the improvements for a track-day bike? That's your decision to make.

 

[sparky3008]

My only tribute to this topic would be money.

Since you are only going to use it for the track, and probably not going to race pro or anything. Do you need a new R6.

A lot of great used R6's from kids that bought em and crapped themselves and went for something else.

Why not let someone else bite the instant value loss and you get a great track bike.

R6 and such are known to have transmission issues and such I think around 3rd gear.

FWIW

 

[vectervp1]

I dont know about the whole fly by wire thing. It sounds interesting, but I've never used it. I dont like the look of the new exhaust on the R6, so I would go with the R6s. Besides, it's just last years R6.

 

[Randy]

I dont know about the whole fly by wire thing. It sounds interesting, but I've never used it. I dont like the look of the new exhaust on the R6, so I would go with the R6s. Besides, it's just last years R6.

Close - the R6s is actually more of the 2004 R6. They went back to a conventional front fork

 

[SpeedyR]

from what I've heard from talking with friends who have ridden the new R6, it will pretty much be a scalpel. Even for club racers they might have a tough time coming to terms with the handling. will you be faster on the r6 or r6s? depends upon your skills. I have done a bit of racing but my limits are internal, not the bike.

I had a 2000 and a 2001 and the R6's are a great bike. depending upon your skill levels, I'd probably opt for an r6s or better yet if it's track use you are looking at, find a good local racer who has a well set up 2004 or 2005 R6 and buy that. get one that has a good rear shock, and fork internals that have been redone. rearsets, clipons, race bodywork, etc.

it's much easier to just have a track bike and a street bike rather than converting back and forth.

gotta love those yami's!!

 

[exskibum]

*******!!! I'm jealous, and have one of those four hour erections over the R6 in the February Cycle World.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Well, I imagine the R6/R6s would be used for track, and street as I work only 13 miles from home, having a smaller bike would be handy for lane splitting. Also, I live a scant 20 miles from awesome Sierra twisties. Those would be too tempting to leave any kind of carver in the garage too long.

I imagine that I will end up racing in the long run. Let's look at my history:

I grew up skiing in Colorado - I was a competition downhill and GS skier

I play fast moving sports - hockey, soccer, lacrosse and my best skill for these sports is my running speed...

trend...I am comfortable with speed...except when riding a bike on the street...I need the track so that I can push it harder than I feel comfortable with on the street.

Then, riding skills is the key here. I have a friend that has a Ducati 748. An AMA racer, as a joke, raced him with a goldwing with his wife on the back and spotted him a lap. My friend got passed. It ain't the bike, it's the rider.

I figure Sparky's advice is good. If I end up a hot **** racer then I'll buy something a bit more on the cutting edge of technology, until I prove out, I'll save some dough

 

[exskibum]

I grew up skiing in Colorado - I was a competition downhill and GS skier

****! I had no idea about that similarity, Andrew. When do you want to meet at Kirkwood? I've got a pass at Kirkwood and am always looking for good skiers to ski with. Similar history as you, but older. Been skiing since I was 1 1/2, dad was a ski patrolman who taught ski mountaineering, spent my 20s as a ski bum in Steamboat Springs and North Lake Tahoe -- mostly bumps and free skiing -- 100+ days a year. In '81 when the construction industry went in the toilet, I went to law school and then came back to Tahoe -- even represented Squaw Valley Ski Corp and Ski Lake Tahoe for a couple years. I know EXACTLY what you mean regarding street bikes and skiing -- been riding since I was 12 or 13 and it's the SAME thrill and many of the same skills as skiing. So . . . when are we gonna go skiing together? The snow is GREAT right now -- skied yesterday morning and Wed. afternoon; will probably ski Sun. afternoon.

I may be old, but I don't look my age, and a youngster better be a really good skier if he's gonna kick my ass. That said, me at 25 would kick my 53 year old ass, especially if it came to doing it all day several days in a row. Still skiing bumps fast and hard and skiing the steepest stuff Kirkwood has to offer (which, if you're not familiar is a virtually vertical entrance off the cornice between the 10 and 6 lifts). Damn, but we gotta get together!

P.S., I'll still be jealous if you buy an R6.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I grew up skiing in Colorado - I was a competition downhill and GS skier

****! I had no idea about that similarity, Andrew. When do you want to meet at Kirkwood?

P.S., I'll still be jealous if you buy an R6.

I should take your name because I truly am an EX ski bum. I haven't put on skis since I was 28 (11 years ago). Skiing is like walking for me, and I am sure I'd do fine, but I am sorrowfully lacking equipment. I gave up after my last trip to Mary Jane and I skiid Derailer and Pine Cliffs all day with a fresh dump of champagne powder that was 18" deep at the beginning of the day, abd 27 at the end. It was such a perfect day that I decided that was my last day of skiing.

Strange, but true

 

[exskibum]

Surely, knowing what it's like to ski well at great resorts, with the great outdoors all around you (just like great roads and the outdoors), you are NOT done. I skied Mary Jane shortly after they opened it -- when I moved from Calif. to Boulder and made ski boots for Hansen while taking every day off to ski. (1973 - 1974, I think.) I have a little secret for you that you won't believe:

In the years you've been away, skis have evolved to a shorter "shaped" design. It IS cheating, esp. for someone who could ski a "straight ski" well. No ****! You won't believe it. The stability on a 185 (just about the longest length you can find) is astounding. The quickness and response is what you may have wished for on any day you weren't on your best form. First time I was on a pair I made a turn in a bump field where I got a little back with my hands, thinking my 205 Rossi 7s's would have body slammed me for it. Nope -- nearly seamless outside edge (uphill ski) carve off the tail -- probably few people could tell I missed that one. Pure grins.

Seems to me it's time for you to sample what kind of mountains we have in my native state (I'll concede your native state the best powder anywhere -- I always loved Colorado best, btw). I'll send you a pm with my phone number -- if you're at all interested in rekindling what you must know in your bones (it's like walking ot me, too, since I've skied since I could walk), let me have the pleasure of assisting you back into the sport. You will not believe how affordable it's become with $299 season passes to world class resorts nowadays (we can discuss the economic reasons for this weird marketing anomaly one day on the slopes).

Give me a call and let's get you back to what you know you loved. You won't regret it. I can get you a discount on a lift ticket at Kirkwood, so think about it. (Actually, I'd ask you to give me a call about riding, but I'm stuck on this side of the mountains for a few months yet -- farkling the crap outta two bikes. You have a P.M.