2017 YAMAHA YZF-R6
FIRST TEST
P84
unit have given a claimed eight
percent reduction in drag over
the 2016 R6, with more comfort-
able dimensions that should help
commuters and racers alike.
The seat unit is substantially
flatter than the 2016 model so
you won't crush your bits against
the tank, and it's also 8mm
Preload on the rear shock is now set
by a traditional collar and locking nut.
The first being the cost. The
second being, your cost. Adding
an IMU and all the development
time/dollars to go with it for this
little 600 (you can't just slap an
IMU on and off you go), would
have meant a substantially larger
price hike to the end user than the
$1200 already thrown at them.
Aesthetically, the 2017 R6 is
brand spankers new with LED
lights all around and styling
that clearly mimics the R1 and
Rossi's M1. This is officially the
most aerodynamic production
motorcycle ever created by the
Yamaha Motor Company. As
well as being a massive visual
departure from last year's bike,
the new fairing, 50mm taller
screen, side panels and seat
narrower at the front. The seat
height is unchanged at 33.5
inches but it has been raised
5mm at the very front and sits
on a new, magnesium subframe
that's 20mm narrower.
There's a touch over two
pounds saved by switching from
a steel gas tank to an alloy unit,
and its capacity remains the
same at 4.6 gallons. Yamaha
USA wanted a smaller tank for
the 2017 machine, but it would
have meant the bike would
struggle to finish an AMA Su-
persport race on a full tank, and
changing to a larger aftermarket
tank is forbidden in the rules.
A little help to the racers is
that the 2017 R6 comes pre-
wired for their quickshifter, the
