Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

FIRST LOOK 2006 YZF-R6, FZl, YZF-R 1 LE The 2006 R6 in blue••• amaha has been very busy recently working on revamping its already impressive line of sportbikes, but it has to be said that 2006 is a bumper year for the tuning fork company. New models such as the brand-new 2006 YZF-R6 and FZ I are sure to get the consumer's attention, while the YZF-RI LE (Limited Edition) and updated FJR 1300 should prove to be as popular as ever. Yamaha invited a group of journalists to its Cypress, California, headquarters a few weeks ago to see the new bikes in person, and we were blown away when the cov- Y ers were removed from the new bikes. YZF-R6 The biggest news from Yamaha is the introduction of the radical new R6. This bike not only looks radically different, it looks to be another quantum leap forward in middleweight design. A qUick look at the spec sheet doesn't tell the whole story, but there are some drastic differences between the new and old bikes. Details are few, but here is what we know about the motor. The motor has new bore and stroke dimensions with a new short-stroke deSign. The bore has been changed from 65.5mm to 67mm, while the stroke was changed from 44.5mm to 42.5mm, which has allowed the redline to be raised to 17,500 rpm. In order to deal with the increased revs, the valves are now made from titanium for lighter weight and increased strength. The motor is fed by a redeSigned ramair system, while perhaps the most radical change, the new titanium midship muffler with an EXUP valve, gets rid of exhaust. Under the bodywork is a large exhaust chamber, which then passes the exhaust to 58 the shorty MotoGP-style silencer. Other features new to the motor include the use of a computer-eontrolled throttle and a slipper clutch. . According to Yamaha, a MotoGP-derived "straight frame" chassis houses the motor, while a new gullwing swingarm makes room for the exhaust canister to exit down low. The bike features 'a longer wheelbase of 55.2 inches, up from 54.5 inches. The rake number is now 24 degrees instead of the 24.5 degrees on the previous bike, while trail was increased from 95mm to 97mm. The seat height is now about an inch and a half higher at 34 inches. The suspension has been changed completely with a new, inverted front fork with provisions for preload, rebound and for the first time high- and low-speed compression damping. The same goes for the rear shock, as it also features high- and lowspeed compression in addition to preload and rebound. Braking is handled by dual 310mm floating discs with radial-mount four-piston calipers up front and a single 220mm rear disc out back. The styling on the new R6 is fairly radical, using Formula One-style aerodynamic treatments such as the flat bargeboards on the side fairings. The bike will be available in three color options: Yamaha Blue/white, Raven and 50th Anniversary Yellow/black. SEPTEIJ,BEP 14 2UJS • CYCLE NEWS That's all we know right now, but we hope to throw a leg over it in the next couple of months. YZF-RI LE Yamaha is also introducing the new RILE, which isn't just a special-edition paint job with a few extra stickers thrown on it. The new RILE features a host of performance upgrades aimed to increase the handling and improve the bike's ability to get around a racetrack. The bike features a back torque-limiting slipper clutch for the first time, making the units eligible in Superstock competition. Forged-aluminum gold Marchesini wheels are not only very strong, they are lighter as well. The rear suspension features an adjustable bottom link and an Ohlins custom-valved fully adjustable rear shock with hydraulic preload adjuster and high- and low-speed compression damping adjustment. The front fori< is a 43mm, Ohlins, custom-valved, fully adjustable inverted fork with high- and low-speed compression damping adjustrnel1t. The RILE features Yamaha 50th Anniversary Yellow/black paint with special trim and badging in addition to a gold chain, exhaust covers and tank emblems. Pirelli Diablo Corsa tires will come standard on the LE.

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