The 2007 Yamaha R6 was a very radical bike, built to win on the track, but which also ended up being a success on the road, despite all its aggressiveness in terms of ergonomics and engine behavior. The one we have here is in excellent condition.

Produced (and registered) between 1999 and 2020, the Yamaha R6 was a model that immediately set itself apart from what had previously been produced in the 600 cc class. Instead of producing yet another sport-touring model, ideal for a 50-50 split between road and circuit, the Japanese brand chose to create a much more radical model to win on the track. Several evolutions were launched, and the 2003 generation received fuel injection, in a model that was still relatively easy to drive and comfortable, but already very fast on the track.

It was then in 2006 that the R6 underwent a radical change, with much more angular lines, much more aggressive ergonomics and more track-ready cycling, as well as an engine with a much greater appetite for high revs. There was even some controversy over the overly generous revs on the tachometer, which Yamaha later admitted was a mistake…

2007 MODEL

Despite having 2008 license plates, the bike in this article is from the 2007 generation, so it already had the YCC-T (Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle) throttle system, but still didn’t have the YCC-I (Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake) which varied the length of the intake tunnels. Regardless, this was the basis on which the R6 won countless Supersport titles around the world (and several world championships). A bike with a smooth engine, like any in-line four-cylinder, but one that needed to be ridden aggressively and excellently on the track, so that the rider could take advantage of the punchy engine and high-quality cycling.

THE TESTED MOTORCYCLE

Nowadays it’s no longer possible to buy a new Yamaha R6 with a license plate (you can do it for closed-circuit use and even use the GYTR competition kit), so a well-maintained Yamaha R6 may well have added value these days. And while we still come across some in everyday life or on weekend rides, the truth is that many have spent the years doing what they’re most comfortable doing, on the track, so – even if well maintained – it’s not always easy to find an R6 with a 100% healthy “heart”.

This bike looks to be in excellent condition! It has 31,000 km on the clock, recently arrived from Madeira Island and doesn’t appear to have suffered from any abuse throughout its life. It comes pretty much as standard, with the exception of the darkened headlights, the protective “mushrooms”, the Michelin Power 5, the different tuners on the top of the fork and the fitting of a BMC air filter and iridium spark plugs.

With an excellent exterior, it’s amazing how light this bike is to handle. It feels like a 300 cc sports bike! Then, on the road, we were reminded of how aggressive this bike is for the body, with a very radical position through a very high seat and footpegs and low stanchions, which put weight on the wrists. The sound of the exhaust is loud but super appealing, and you don’t even have to push the gears very hard to hear it “scream”, although you do need to rev it above 8,000 / 10,000 rpm for this engine to show its worth! Of course, you can drive quietly on the highway below these speeds, but on the track forget it, you have to squeeze the 4-cylinder above the 5-digit mark on the tachometer!

If the engine feels like new, the braking needs a little more force than a current sports car, but it still delivers without a glitch, and as for the suspensions, they were also faultless, with an excellent reading of the asphalt, whether at a leisurely pace or a faster one. With a good feel for all the components – only the final drive showed signs of needing to be changed – this R6 is more than approved and still ready for many good rides on the road or on the track, before being well stored in a garage or living room (and later in a museum)!

Maintaining and preserving

Our reader Tiago Ramos (RS) kindly provided his Yamaha R6 for our test, but more than that, he came all the way from Peniche to the Estoril Autodrome, on purpose, on one of those very cold mornings in this aggressive winter.

Having had the bike for about a year, but very experienced and a fan of the tuning fork brand, Tiago reveals that “it was a deal that came up and I didn’t want to let it go. I think it’s a mythical bike and I was curious to ride it, so I did.” So far, due to lack of time, he’s only done a few road rides, but “in the future I’d still like to do some track days, but this will always be a bike just for a few laps.” “I’d like to keep it in the garage, although there are offers for me to sell it. And then eventually buy something more practical, like a Tracer 7 or 9 for example. But I’m in no hurry to sell it, as it’s a bike that won’t exist any more.” Thank you very much Tiago and keep on riding, if possible with this beautiful R6!

O conteúdo Review – used of the month – Yamaha YZF-R6 – for racing… with a license plate aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.