Are we ever going to get a updated FZ6R?
)I rode the FZ09 at a demo before. Was not into that triple sound that much. Its neither completely smooth or with a deep sound like a Vtwin. Too much of not anything to me.
The FZ6R has a great sound even stock to me. I'm a stock exhaust kind of guy anyway. Never one for aftermarket pipes. 99% of them too loud.
The FZ6R has a great sound even stock to me. I'm a stock exhaust kind of guy anyway. Never one for aftermarket pipes. 99% of them too loud.
xorbe
Member
I got the FZ6R because there is no faired FZ-07, and also all the chit-chat about the touchy throttle, mid-corner throttle adjustment difficulty, etc. But I could use the 397 lbs weight of the FZ-07. Would miss the 4-cyl sound.
The 6r is such a glorious bike. I share your fear. The FZ07 and FZ09 will replace it.
Any sell point for the newer bikes is superior.
Place in here a long word wall of sadness. Many great motorcycles have gone away due to market demands and newer technology becoming cheaper.
Our beloved 6r is soon going to be a side-note in the history books.
Then, Yami will bring it back most likely with a different name and the motorcycle will be newer and better.
A decade from now, a rejuvenated do-all 6r. If I worked for Yami, that's what i'd be planning.
I've ridden a lot of twins and much prefer the sound and feel of an I4 engine.
With that said, here is my prediction for the future of Yamaha. They will keep blasting out bad@$$ R6 and R1 4 cylinder engines, but they rest of the line (with the exception of maybe the FJR) is going twin and triple. The new R3 is their beginner sport bike, and people love the FZ07 and FZ09. It wouldn't surprise me if down the line they added a half or full fairing to those bikes or put those engines into a fully faired bike.
As far as our bike goes, I think it's dead. With the exception of color changes I really don't think we will see a refresh or a redesign. When the next fully faired Yamaha middle weight comes out, I bet it has the 07 twin engine in it.
But hey, just my opinion. I'm happy to sit here and talk bikes all day :iconbeer:
With that said, here is my prediction for the future of Yamaha. They will keep blasting out bad@$$ R6 and R1 4 cylinder engines, but they rest of the line (with the exception of maybe the FJR) is going twin and triple. The new R3 is their beginner sport bike, and people love the FZ07 and FZ09. It wouldn't surprise me if down the line they added a half or full fairing to those bikes or put those engines into a fully faired bike.
As far as our bike goes, I think it's dead. With the exception of color changes I really don't think we will see a refresh or a redesign. When the next fully faired Yamaha middle weight comes out, I bet it has the 07 twin engine in it.
But hey, just my opinion. I'm happy to sit here and talk bikes all day :iconbeer:
alaskanflyboy
Premium Member
It's kind of sad really. The FZ6R has been a good beginner bike for me as it's forgiving, yet has room for a rider to grow with. As a commuter, it's about a nice a bike as they come without moving to a cruiser platform; yet it does well in the twisties when you want to push it a little. It's not a Star line bike and it's not an R6. It's a little of both. If Yamaha marketed the bike right, I think they'd see more sales.
Play it up as the bike that takes you to work all week but still loves to have fun on the weekends. I'll be a little sexist here since the marketing already is — put a yuppie executive on the bike in the photos, instead of some short skinny chick, to ditch the image that it's the bike for women. It could play a little of the fiscal intelligence angle with a hint of the machismo angle. I dunno, this could all be the Saturday night alcohol, but it sounds plausible.
Play it up as the bike that takes you to work all week but still loves to have fun on the weekends. I'll be a little sexist here since the marketing already is — put a yuppie executive on the bike in the photos, instead of some short skinny chick, to ditch the image that it's the bike for women. It could play a little of the fiscal intelligence angle with a hint of the machismo angle. I dunno, this could all be the Saturday night alcohol, but it sounds plausible.
UncleHilty
New Member
30 years from now when you open up your new issue of Motorcycle Classics magazine you will find an article on the FZ and it will sing its praises of what a great all a rounder this bike was. All bikes stop production but some never die. Long live the 6R!
The FZ6R is amazing bike. For me, it does everything. I m in the motorcycles industry. Worked at BMW Motorcycles dealer, didn't upgrade. Why? I ride with the GSs guy and gals that have S1000r. We ride on some awful bumpy roads and I m right there with my friends that rides GSs. I m right there behind my gfriend that ride s1000r on the twities. Taken 6R out on the track three times. This bike does everything! Low maintenance! Looks amazing! God willing, my goal is to hit 10000 miles with this bike. After 2 years and 1 month, it has 27,500 and continue.
J
JohnnyWatts
Let's be honest here. The FZ6R is a pretty boring bike. Yes, it's lovable, and it's a great starter bike with more than sufficient power. But it's heavy, and it rides pretty dull. That's why lots of us turn it into an economy sport touring bike.
So given the above, I won't be surprised if Yamaha is killing the FZ6R. There are better bikes out there. The new R3 is great too.
Furthermore, the rest of the world isn't like the USA. You can't just get your license and go out and buy a 600cc. You have to work your way up the classes.
e.g., where I was born (Malaysia), you were allowed a maximum of 250cc with a B2 license (the entry level license). To get the license for a 600cc (and above), you need a B-Full license, which is more time consuming and expensive. Something like a solid week of learning/testing.
So it's a bike that's not very viable as an entry level bike internationally. So they can't exactly market it as a beginner's bike. When you get to the B-Full level, you might as well buy an R6.
Thus, speaking from a market perspective, the FZ6R is dead in the water.
So given the above, I won't be surprised if Yamaha is killing the FZ6R. There are better bikes out there. The new R3 is great too.
Furthermore, the rest of the world isn't like the USA. You can't just get your license and go out and buy a 600cc. You have to work your way up the classes.
e.g., where I was born (Malaysia), you were allowed a maximum of 250cc with a B2 license (the entry level license). To get the license for a 600cc (and above), you need a B-Full license, which is more time consuming and expensive. Something like a solid week of learning/testing.
So it's a bike that's not very viable as an entry level bike internationally. So they can't exactly market it as a beginner's bike. When you get to the B-Full level, you might as well buy an R6.
Thus, speaking from a market perspective, the FZ6R is dead in the water.
I might add a R3 for the exciting part later on as I see more fun out of handling that pure straight speed with something like a GSXR600, CBR600RR. I don't want to part with the FZ as I think the 600CC motor in it is pretty sweet. A little of everything as smooth as ice.
Coming off a 2014 CBR600RR was a tough one to do. I loved that bike but the riding position was killing me. Being 44 years old with a leg disability made riding it very uncomfortable. Do I regret trading it for my 6R ? yes and no.
My 6R does lack the power for me on the interstate. Like today I kept wanting to hit another gear that just was not there.
My FZ1 had the power I needed and if I had the chance I would have traded the CBR for one instead of the 6R. For now I'm happy with it but I know the time will come for something bigger.
My 6R does lack the power for me on the interstate. Like today I kept wanting to hit another gear that just was not there.
My FZ1 had the power I needed and if I had the chance I would have traded the CBR for one instead of the 6R. For now I'm happy with it but I know the time will come for something bigger.
I have seldom been bored on my 6r. Even on miles of boring straights (I live in SC, we've got a lot of them), watching for animals or ignorant cagers keeps me occupied.
If that's boring, assuming you're staying within ten miles or so of the speed limit, more horsepower doesn't change it.
Running the twisties? The 6r does it pretty well. Not as well as some true-sports, but then we get all the benefits of NOT being a true sport. I made a five and half hour ride the other day, to run my twisties, and got home just a little stiff and wore out.
Run those twisties better? I'm no Rossi. I took out a great bike and had a great time and I can't wait to do it again.
What could anyone do with the R6's 160mph top end in Malaysia? More torque than the 6r. Yeah, it works wonderfully in stop and go traffic...
Assuming there is a road, like on the Isle of Man, during the TT, that has no speed limit and is perfectly well kept? Also that all you want to do is ride that rode?
By all means, buy the R6. Unless you're just trying to impress your peers or love go a short way, really quickly, I honestly don't see the benefit.
It's just my opinion, but by the 6r being such a great all around bike, it seems to me it lacks only behind an adventure bike in third-world, 600cc marketing.
The 6r is not just a beginners bike. It's marketed that way because it lacks a lot of technology and it's not a flagship litre bike. Truth is, it fills many rolls for many people. That's the core beauty of it.
In your words "an economy sport-touring bike." Yep, it can do it. A powerful and comfortable daily urban commuter? It can do it. A sport bike that leaves most traffic behind from a stop? It can do it. A sport bike that holds it's own in the twisties? It can do it.
Marketing aside, the 6r is just about as good as it gets for doing everything. If you need more of one thing, you've got to lose everything else, and go specialized.
If Yami' drops the 6r it was their failure of the marketing team. Not that bike is incapable.