Yamaha FZ6R

Good bike – I loved my FZ6R. Such an underrated bike. They go for cheap on the used market. The only issue is the rear brake is probs the worst I have ever encountered. God it's bad. Locks up way too easily. Show details

Amazing big little bike – 2014 model, purchased early this year with less than 1000km on the clock. Perfectly mannered at any speed.. Factory suspension a little lacking through bumpy cormers. Its the less common non lam's aproved. They are as suggested the same motor as the r6, though it is more than just a fuel commander required to get the fz to r6 spec. Besides the… Read more

suspension, brakes, air filter and fuel command system, theres also exhaust and the costly expense of needing to have the r6 tuned cams.. An awesome little bike that due to power and weight outperforms many larger tourers/sports bikes.

Ive recently upgraded to racing exhaust, power command system, air filter & dyno tuned..

Now running max power 78.82 hp @ 9.83rpm max torque 46.05@ 8.37 rpm..Looks smooth over the range on both.

Have noticed a drop 8n fuel economy.. From 300km/tank to 260kmish.. ( maybe im just riding it harder)

Wouldnt like to try the restricted version..

amazing bike – its is an amazing bike, really good seating position, easy on your back. plenty of power when derestricted. not as fast as a R6 even thought they have the same engine, that's because it is detuned for confort. but power can be retreived with a power commander unit. lovely handling and comfortable ride. also its LAMS approved  Show details

Best beginners bike for many reasons – Initially started with a 300cc bike ignoring ALL the advice from riders around me who suggested 600cc bikes are better to start with. The points they made was 300cc seems powerful for the 1st 1 week only, which was so true. There was also that "cool factor" which most riders can't help thinking about, and soon realise the bigger bikes who… Read more

stand next to you in traffic seems so much cooler and better. (not to mention the sound).

To be completely honest, I do care about how I will look when riding around in public and yes I would spend a little extra to buy an AUDI over a Hyundai - if you know what I mean.

having said that, if you are the type of person who absolutely do not care about what you will look or feel on your bike, then definately start with a smaller bike is fine.

but if you do consider yourself and do wanna look good but can not go to a full powered bike, then this is the only choice you have.(or a kawi 650)

Also consider the AUS learners term is 3years on LAMs, save the time and money to get a 600cc

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The pros:

1. looks very nice

2. sounds good

3. enough power on freeways

4. Long service interval

5. Not many around (especailly the white one)

6. Very comfortable on long rides

7. Adjustable seat height

8. Very forgiving if you make a mistake.

The Cons:

1. May fee a bit heavy for beginner riders

2. takes more fuel then the 300cc (obviously)

3. No slip on exhausts and full systems cost over 1k (only the custom option is the cheap option)

4. alot of ppl will ask what bike is it..

Adventure touring comfortable bike – Economy is awesome, light between traffic when lane splitting. Fun and comfortable. Still a quick bike and easy for upgrades to personalize. 2014 model worth buying and retains its value. If your after a bike that can commute to work and enjoy on weekends. This bike with keep you wanting to ride each day rain hail or shine.  Show details

The perfect beginner / commuter bike – Got my FZ6R about a month ago with 87Kms on the clock, effectively a new bike. So far I am loving it, the power delivery from the four cylinder engine is amongst the smoothest I have ever come across, it is very forgiving but will also tell you when it is not happy, perfect for a beginner or for those that want a rock steady commuter, those that… Read more

want to do warp 3 with enough torque to pull the tartar from your teeth, well this is not the bike for you. It is a buzz bomb, you need to keep it in the upper portion of the rev range to make it happy.

Be aware that this bike is usually power restricted to comply with LAMS, which Yamaha does by putting a restriction plate on the engine side of the throttle, this effectively restricts the range of movement for the throttle, this is how they reduce your access to engine power. A strange way of doing it, I would have thought placing a rev limiter within the ECU would have been a more efficient way.

If I wanted to be picky the only thing I have noticed is that above 6000RPM the mirrors vibrate to such an extent that it is hard to tell if that car behind is Mum, Dad and the Kids or a HWP cruiser. I have also noticed (really picky) that the first two gears kind of 'clunk' into gear rather than 'snick' as the other four do. It does not affect performance just something this model must do.

Coming up on its first thousand if there is anything to report beyond what I have already said I will post an update. See you on the back roads :)

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UPDATE: 29/05/17...

5000+Kms on the clock now and still going strong. On my black licence now so I bought an unrestricted throttle plate and installed, makes a BIG difference in power delivery, I have effectively doubled the power available to me which for uphill roads while overtaking B doubles can only be a good thing.

In NSW the RMS are OK with this modification so long as you get a certificate of compliance from an RMS certified engineer, it cost me $400 but I was quoted up to $800 so shop around for the best price. Take this certificate to your local RMS office and have them amend your current Rego' Document removing the LAMS section on the Registration. The downside is you can now only sell to Black licence holders not Ls or Ps. Another hurdle is the insurance, my old insurer would not have a bar of the modification so I did a ring around and found that QBE will cover you so long as the Rego and Compliance Certificate are all good.

I also replaced the small windshield with a PUIG touring screen in dark smoke which looks much better than the original and sends the wind to the upper section of my visor rather than just under my chin. The mirror vibration is still there at 5,500 - 6,000 RPM but is greatly reduced with the installation of some rubber grommets on the mirrors. Everything is run in now and 1st and 2nd gears tend to 'snick' now rather than clunk.

Yes, the idea of a big sexy 1,000cc+ sports tourer does appeal but my FZ does everything I want for now so I am sticking with her for now.

Great bike, top quality brand, not my cup of tea – What is there to say about a company that puts remarkable quality into their bikes? Well you'd guess correctly. Loads of amazing things. This bike is a disappointment for me personally as I owned a Hyosung GT650R before buying this bike. The hyosung was better in terms of comfort and styling but lacked the gear ratio that the FZ6R had. The… Read more

Gt650R has the short sports seating position which I prefer over the uptight, wind blowing, uncomfortable Fz6R feel.

Over all. This bike is fantastic but is a missed opportunity. The sports position would be preferable.

The exhaust had zero upgradable options (minus full systems which are technically illegal) and the XJ6 engine the Yamaha dealers will tell you is an R6 engine which is not true. It's revised and based off the r6 but there are many differences.

My opinion is if you want an uptight seated bike, buy the mt-07.

Update on review: 11/01/2017

I forgot to mention in this review that the bike actually guzzles fuel quite drastically. You have a 17L tank (standard size for most bikes) which will get you anywhere from 150-170kms. Compare that with my now-owned GSXR-1000 that gets anywhere from 200-260 before empty (200 if riding around mountains on weekends, 260 for my commutes to work 5-days a week) and you're left with a bike that will just chew through your hard earned coin.

This bike is comfortable, stylish, well presented but as aforementioned. A huge mistake from Yamaha and a missed opportunity.

This bike was completely stock when I had it from Yamaha and it averaged less than 200kms a tank (where the Hyosung GT650R did 334kms before I was walking it to the fuel station).

My Hyosung was derestricted with an aftermarket exhaust and performed better than this.

My GSXR-1000 has full-sys exhaust, PCV, Quickshifter, tuned for performance and averages better mileage than this.

Think twice before considering the purchase of this vehicle.

Pros:

10,000km service intervals

Stylish

Luxury bike

Easy to ride

Sounds nice (Better with full-system exhaust)

Suited to both shorter and taller riders (adjustable seat height. Not a huge amount, but good enough to let my 5'3 girlfriend comfortable ride this bike when I'm 6'1)

Cons:

Other bikes are cheaper and perform better

No options to upgrade (Without being illegal)

Cat converter is the size of a house and looks ugly

Not a super sports

Need aftermarket window to cope with excess wind that sports tourers are supposed to be good at preventing (it literally just blows it at your chest and head... my super sports are comfier on windy days)

Yamaha make a better bike on the market called the MT-07

Get a V-strom if you want a sports tourer that gives you options

Acceleration is worse than a cbr300 with two riders of equal body weight. (Due to throttle restrictor)

Throttle restrictor is not easy to remove due to it being a plate and beneath the fairings. Highly recommend removing as you have no power to do anything safely (i.e. overtaking on highway for e.g.).

Yamaha FZ6R – Purchased a 2013 FZ6R new from Yamaha dealer (sold the bike last year due to upgrade). Have done short and long rides. Good all round starter / mid range bike. The FZ6R is a cross between a touring / sports and commuter bike. Engine has a nice linear throttle response all the way through the rev range. No unexpected power band as with bigger… Read more

bikes or two strokes!. The 600cc is a good engine (no, its not a detuned R6!).

Seat and handlebars can be adjusted. I am 5'10" and the seat in the lower position worked fine. You can remove the pillion seat and add a GYTR hard cover for an even more sporty look and obtain single seat rego (I was in Queensland) for cheaper rego. Original screen is not that great as it points the wind straight at the torso. Buy a double bubble type screen!

Pro

-Good priced bike for LAMS

-Easy to ride

-Looks great

-Power is good (when derestricted)

-Easy and very cheap to derestrict (swap out the throttle plate). Other bikes can be $$$$

-Dash is functional (digital everything) and has hidden setting to tune with

Cons

-Front suspension is squishy. It is a cheap spring design

-LAMS restriction is a very poor design due to not allowing enough higher RPM

-Front brakes need better pads

-Cannot check coolant level easily. Reservoir is hidden behind the fairing

-Not a huge range of aftermarket parts

All in all, if you buy this bike, stick with minor mods if you plan on selling it when you get an open licence.

The bike is a good all round bike for general riding. Its not a super sport and its not a slug. Not as quick as the GSX 650F but it also does not cost over $1000 to derestrict! It also looks better than the Kwacka

4.5 Stars for an awesome do it all bike – I’ve owned this bike for 6 months now. Have used almost every day to commute 30km a day to work and a couple of half day rides of around 400KMs each. I live in Melbourne and I commute in heavy traffic and it's a near perfect bike for everyday use. First up the difference between my last bike (Vstar XVS650) and this bike is staggering. The FZ6R… Read more

is extremely smooth in comparison and feels safer for around town riding due to the higher seat. It’s a very good every day bike if you live in and around a major city. It’s not a scooter or a 250 so you will notice the weight but it’s the perfect compromise between a full size bike and a town bike.

There is enough low down power which helps in traffic (when you can’t or don’t wanna split lane) but it’s a smooth power, it won’t throw you off your seat. However once higher in the rev rage it gives a nice rush with a touch of “OMG om gonna die” but it’s only there if you want it, it won’t catch you by surprise like a bigger bike can… Although I geared down from 3rd to 1st at 60kms once and I almost lost it, didn’t except it to jump out like it did..

Seat is fine for me, at first it seems a little hard but only after 3 hours of riding do I notice it. You will feel some vibs from the rear of the seat between 6 and 7,000 RPM. The seat is largish (long) for a sport bike, you can sit forward for a more adventure touring position or further back. That’s really good for me because I suffer from a bit of lower back pain and I’m able to move around and stretch my back out.

The bike suffers a lot from buffeting due to the fairings getting caught in cross winds. It’s only a problem at 100km and higher but it can be a pain at times because your head also gets blasted due to the cheap screen but I read a higher or contoured aftermarket screen fixes that. Saying that, when there is no wind it’s like being in a car, it’s just so damn smooth.

My major gripe is the vibs from the handle bars at 5500rvs which is 100kms or more. My hands go numb, it’s very annoying. You can’t really feel it or notice it until your hands start hurting. On the way back from a 300kms trip I had to get off the freeway cos the winds were so strong and my neck was sore (I have a heavy helmet) and my hand was killing me. Fighting the cross winds and having my head smashed just got the better of me. I guess it’s high expectations to think that the FZ6R is a light weight grand touring super sports commuter bike… haha

The thing is, it’s a little of all those things, it just doesn’t do any of them extremely well.. Hmmm now I think of it, it doesn’t do anything badly either. You could, take it to the track, commute long distances in relative comfort, travel long distances maybe even interstate (cruise control will help you hand), it’s ok on a dirt road, can easily get to 200kms, easy to ride in slow traffic thanks to a light clutch yet powerful enough in almost any gear to get you out of trouble. Seems like the perfect bike but it kinda leaves you wanting more, more of everything but I don’t think a bike like that exists. So this could be the perfect all round bike..

It's only when you want more out of a certain area of the bike that you find yourself frustrated. As an example, I would like a touring bike for long distance comfort, the FZ6R can do it and there are plenty of aftermarket parts to help with buffeting and seat comfort but it will never be super comfy tourer. But then when I push the bike it's very entertaining and the engine loves to rev but gets a bit sloppy in the front end which spoil the fun and curves you enthusiasm. The good thing is you can mod the bike in either direction of sport or touring but that defeats the purpose. The FZ6R is a little of everything and to mod the bike in one category you will sacrifice another. So if you want a supersport, buy a supersport. If you want a touring bike, then buy a touring bike. If you want a bit of both with a slight emphasis on sport then this is your bike. If anything this bike will give you a taste of everything so if you don't already know what you like (which I still don't) then it will help you decide on a certain style of bike, so in that regard it's a perfect beginners bike. Althout I recommend starting on something smaller for a bit. And the old man in me says that I also believe you should be at least 25 and have had a car licence for 5 years before riding a bike on the road. But I tell anybody who is thinking of getting there motorbike licence that if your afraid or not afraid then don't get it, cos it's the fear or lack of it that will kill you....WORD! haha

I still find myself wanting another bike but I just can’t really justify why. Ducati’s and Triumph’s are too expensive, Kawasaki looks a little better (love the ER6N) but not as smooth or as polished to ride. Honda’s get good reviews but if your restricted to LAMS bikes then the closest comparison is the 500cc bikes or a CB400 and I’d take the FZ6R any day. Wouldn’t touch the Chinese bike’s, although I have been tempted. Suzuki, hmm I recon the GSX650 & SV650 is the closest package, I just don’t like colour combos. So if your currently shopping in this category, as I was, this is how I ended up with the FZ6R. - It was 5th or 6th on my list but I paid 6k for a 2010 with 8,000kms on it in the colour combo I liked. So it was 1.5-2.5K cheaper than everything else I looked at, including the naked version XJ6.

The one thing I really love about it there is nothing I hate about it.. That's both a good and bad thing…

Major Pros

*Engine - loves to rev, very racy, easy to ride in heavy traffic. Decent power when LAMS restricted. Awesome but not insane power when unrestricted.

*Ergos - Plenty of adjustments for handle bars and seat height. Just a comfy every day feel to everything without seeming boring.

*It's a Swiss army knife.

*Great everyday bike with a racy feel.

*Has no major weakness or flaw.

Minor pros

*Feels safe at higher speeds - Gets busy at 100kms but 140kms doesn't feel any more stressful and urges for more SPEED.

*General fit and finish - Nothing feels or seems cheap. Mirrors are always clear. It's very stable and confidence inspiring.

*Instrument panel - Tells you when the bike is at operational temp and displays engine temp. Easy to read day or night. Automatically tells you how many kms or miles you've done since the low fuel warning light came on.

*Bike turns it's self off if left idling in neutral and the engine temp reaches 100 Celsius.

*Cheap to buy second hand

* Gear box feels good except for 2nd gear being a bit clunky.

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Minor Cons

*Feels smallish on long distances but only at higher speeds especially when it's windy.

*Looks smallish and a little quirky but I kinda like that...Some days..

*Fuel gauge - it works well but it flashes empty when there still 3 or 4 litters left but it's consistent

* Seat hard to get off - The pillion seat is easy but the riders seat requires tools.

*No helmet lock

*No center stand, although it saves weight so it's also a pro.

*Feels like it needs another gear - Only an issue on the freeway.

*De-values quickly from new - In Aus..

*Changing from 1st to 2nd gear is clunky but I've read varying reports so it's probably just my bike.

*Exhaust too quiet. I love the tone, it just needs to be 30% louder.

* Adequate suspension but it gets bouncy and twisted up when pushed. It doesn't like minor adjustment mid corner when riding spirited which is a shame cos the engine is begging you for more.

* Engine heat on hot days when in traffic but not as bad as an air cooled bike

Major Cons

*Mirrors stick out too far - This is my major gripe! I've clipped 3 cars. But you can get smaller ones and they are easy to fold in when riding.

*Vibration at 100+kms (60 miles) - Not bone rattling but enough to make your hands and sometimes feet go numb especially between 6,000 and 7,000 RPM.

*No ABS for AUS

Yamaha FZ6R Best All Rounder – I bought it on Jan 2011. Since I hold a full license, I got the throttle de restricted. The gear shfit was not smooth and was cranky until it hit 600-700 kms. No problems so far-2000 kms. I do not ride it on rainy days. Fun to ride on summer. Good for urban ride and eating mountains. You can adjust the seat height and tilt handle so good ergos.… Read more ·  3

Very fast if you want to push it but in Australia you cant ride it legally on high speeds. Gear shift is smooth when reved high but at the same time watch for speed limits. Sporty looks, Torquey, confident for cornering, Yamaha top end rush on high rpm, light clutch and brake levers, not loud so good for your ears on long journeys-no need of ear plugs, adjustable seat height, reach adjust handle bars Factory tyre hasn't got good grip, should have been lighter, wind deflection straight to head/neck, braking is just okay, no gear indicator, cheap plastics and body fairings, mirror size/adjustability not really effective, head light turn on automatically with ignition;cant turn it off separately, exhaust note should have been better, not much color combinations in Ausi