New R6 17.5K Redline Bogus

[ionbeam]

Power is torque x RPM

I will offer another solution to (horse) power:

HP = (Torque * RPM) / 5252

At higher RPM torque begins to fall rapidly. Even though HP continues to rise, the rate of acceleration drops significantly with the drop in torque. Even if the little screamer continues to increase HP it is only academic because it is 'empty revs'.

[Note the divisor 5252 -- this is why HP and Torque always cross ~ 5k RPM on dyno runs.]

Alan

 

[markjenn]

This just posted on one of the R6 forums...

- Mark

--------------------------------

Say, I just read an on-line version of a bulletin that is being sent to dealers about this issue with the 2006 YZF-R6V.

That is, Yamaha Motor Corp. is offering to buy back any unsold 2006 YZF-R6V models on a dealer's floor if the dealer doesn't want them, as well as offering to cancel any as of yet undelivered 2006 YZF-R6V models that the dealer is waiting for, if they so choose.

(Myself, I couldn't imagine a dealer not wanting to get this model with the way demand is for it, tach issue or not.)

That's not all.

Customers who have already purchased a 2006 YZF-R6V will be receiving a letter that basically gives them a choice of:

1) Signing a form that says the customer doesn't want the bike anymore due to dissatisfaction with the tachometer discrepancy.

They will be allowed until March 15 to sign and get the form back to Yamaha Motor Corp. for reimbursement of buying the bike. [A later post says that the reimbursement includes all shipping, PDI, taxes, etc.]

(You sure don't see that everyday.)

2) Deciding that the now-out-in-the-open tachometer error is not a big deal and they'll keep the bike.

Also, the predelivery and inspection (PDI) literature will be changed, instructing someone within the dealership to explain the tach error to any future customers.

 

[Warchild]

Mark, what R6 forum did you pull this off of?

Linky, please?

 

[markjenn]

Mark, what R6 forum did you pull this off of?
Linky, please?

WC,

https://www.r6messagenet.com/forums/showthr...t=72702&page=29

- Mark

 

[lotecredneck]

Mark,

Here is a copy of the letter to both the dealer and also to the customer.

February 10, 2006

Dear Yamaha Dealer:

Re: 2006 Yamaha YZF-R6 Motorcycle RPM Limit

The 2006 YZF-R6 was introduced with a red line limit of 17,500 RPM as indicated on

the tachometer. After testing production units, we have determined that the actual red

line limit is approximately 16,000 RPM, resulting in a tachometer error of roughly 9%.

This has no affect whatsoever on the performance of the motorcycle.

However to ensure your satisfaction and that of your customers, we are offering to

repurchase any 2006 YZF-R6 that you have in stock and waive the cancellation fee for

units you have on order, if you choose. We will also offer to repurchase any unit that

has been delivered to the customer. A copy of the letter sent to the customers is

included.

For all future YZF-R6 sales, we have developed an addendum to the PDI instructions to

make customers aware of this tachometer error.

If you choose to have any of your 2006 YZF-R6 inventory repurchased, or to cancel any

future R6 orders, please contact the Yamaha Order Desk at 1.800.xxx.xxxx.

Yamaha must receive notification of your returns or cancellations by March 15, 2006, or

we will assume that you have decided to keep all units in stock and on order.

Our goal is to ensure the satisfaction of both you and your customers, now and in the

future. We would like to sincerely apologize for this error and any inconvenience it may

have caused you and thank you for your continued support of Yamaha.

Best Regards,

Dennis McNeal

Vice President

Motorcycle Operations

This is the customer letter:

Yamaha Motor Corp

February 10, 2006

Dear Yamaha Customer:

Yamaha introduced and marketed the new 2006 YZF-R6 motorcycle with a red line limit of

17,500 RPM, as indicated on the tachometer. After testing production units, we have

determined that the actual red line limit is approximately 16,000 RPM, resulting in a tachometer

error of roughly 9%. This has no affect whatsoever on the performance of the motorcycle.

We are extremely confident that, despite this error, the R6 will more than satisfy you in every

way. However, if you are not satisfied with your motorcycle because of this discrepancy, we will

repurchase it and will reimburse you the entire purchase price, including any setup fees, taxes

or interest that you have paid in connection with your purchase of this motorcycle.

If you choose to have your 2006 YZF-R6 repurchased, please check where indicated below,

sign this letter and return it to Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., Attn.: 2006 YZF-R6 Buyback,

6555 Katella Ave., Cypress, CA 90630 in the stamped envelope provided. Yamaha must receive

this letter indicating this choice by March 15, 2006, or we will assume that you have decided to

keep and enjoy your motorcycle.

Our goal is to ensure your satisfaction, both now and in the future. We would like to sincerely

apologize for this error and any inconvenience it may have caused you, and also to thank you

for your continued support of Yamaha.

Best Regards,

Dennis McNeal

Vice President

Motorcycle Operations

Yamaha Motor Corp

I would like Yamaha Motor U.S. to repurchase the 2006 YZF-R6 that I recently

purchased.

Acknowledged and agreed:

Signature:

Printed Name:

Date:

Contact Telephone Number:

Vin Number:

Best regards,

Tony Orihuela

Yamaha Sportscenter

BTW, what's the next planned ride?

 

[markjenn]

Tony, thanks for posting the letters and thanks to Yamaha for stepping up to the plate. My faith is restored.

Currently noodling on a Mississippi River tour from the headwaters to New Orleans, probably in Sept. I'll let you know and maybe I can stop in and say hello.

My FJR continues to amaze.

- Mark

 

[Bounce]

For those choosing to keep the bike, will the tach be properly calibrated at no cost to the owner?

 

[sparky3008]

I think Yamaha is going way over board here. Why not just do a recall and have the tach fixed?

Ford had serious financial problems because of the 6.0 diesel and the buy backs because they just flat out couldn't fix them after many tries.

I would hate to see Yamaha have a financial or similar problem because of something so simple...

 

[Randy]

can someone answer this? does the bike actually indicate 17,5K when it's really only at approx 16K or does it never hit 17,5 indicated? reason being, it's my understanding that 17.5K is the mechanical limit of the bike that can be obtained by installing an aftermarket ECU.

 

[JSimon]

Randy, according to the motorcycle daily article, the tach reads 17,500 but the engine is turning 16,200 when the rev limitter kicks in.

I think it's cool that Yamaha is making the offer to repurchase any bikes based on the "tachometer error." I'm just annoyed about the whole issue, even the wording of their letter agrivates me, especially the sentence "The 2006 YZF-R6 was introduced with a red line limit of 17,500 RPM as indicated on the tachometer." Does it bother anyone else how they appear to be passing this off as though it's just the gauge that isn't reading correctly?

The February Cycle World referrences the 17,500 RPM limit on it's cover, the Yamaha advertisment just inside the cover references the 17,500 limit as well. The thing that agrivates me is the letter refers to the problem as a tachometer error, there is more to it than that to me. Yamaha advertised the bike to be something it was not and the letter they are sending consumers IMO doesn't sum it up. The issue here isn't so much a performance issue, it's a credibility issue.

Maybe it's the deviant side of me although I'd be willing to bet they knew the true rev limit was lower than what they had advertised and they purposefully tweaked the tach to read higher that what it should be. That's not an error, that's a lie.

John

 

[MrVvrroomm]

Mark, what R6 forum did you pull this off of?
Linky, please?

'06 R6 buy back

 

[Randy]

Another 'buy back' article - a bit more editorialized

 

[markjenn]

I think Yamaha is going way over board here. Why not just do a recall and have the tach fixed?

Because the problem is not the tach, it is the actual RPM limit enforced by the rev limiter. Yamaha advertised that the bike rev'ed to 17.5K, not that the bike indicated 17.5K on the tach.

They're being mealy-mouthed about it now, with some Clinton-speak of saying that the bike "has a redline of 17.5K indicated", but that's BS - it's like advertising that a car has XM radio when it doesn't, and later saying that they meant "XM radio capability".

They're tap dancing now because they have to, but their buy-back offer is completely fair and I applaud them for it. On other forums, people are being encouraged to intentionally abuse their bikes before returning them, but I think this is mean-spirited. Yamaha is boxed into a corner legally and this is the best way out.

A lot of folks seem to think that Yamaha should just fix the bikes to rev an actual 17.5K, but they're not getting the fundamental issue here - the engine isn't capable of turning 17.5K, at least now with acceptable levels of reliability and with a warranty. Yamaha may not have a true 17.5K production engine for showroom bikes for years. Rossi's M1 doesn't rev that high.

- Mark