Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/809757
2017 YAMAHA YZF-R6 FIRST TEST P88 I really enjoyed the 2016 bike. It still brakes and turns excep- tionally well, but the 2017 is just improved a little bit everywhere. It's better when the brakes are first pulled in, gives more feel when you tip into the corner and tracks over bumps smoother and with less fuss than the 2016 version. It's not a night-and-daydiffer- ence between 2016 and 2017. Just imagine looking at yourself in the mirror, then going to the gym for six months. It's still the same you, just improved. The brakes are better, al- though not by a massive margin. The Nissin master cylinder is exceptional but I never really had an issue with the old Brembo one anyway. One thing that is night-and- day different is the riding posi- tion. The flatter seat and more sculptured tank allow you to grip much harder with your knees, making high speed corner entry much nicer. The seat also has a far greater range of movement thanks to the skinnier dimen- sions: move a bit to any side on the 2017 bike and you'll immedi- ately feel the results. I was disappointed not to see adjustable rearsets on the R6. This is a bike that, now with its much more comfortable rid- ing position, is slightly let down by the fact the pegs are still too high for my lanky legs (I'm 6'1"), so you need to be at least shorter than that to be comfort- able on the '17 R6. Aftermarket rearsets will fix this problem, but I think it's something Yamaha could have done for the rider instead. IS THIS THE END OF THE YAMAHA YZF-R6 ROAD? Maybe. This very well could be the last new Yamaha YZF-R6 we ever see. It wouldn't surprise me if it were so, and if that does happen, a small, wonderful part of motorcycling will die. We have a few years left yet before the axe falls (if it does at all) on the R6, and I'm happy to report that the 2017 version is indeed a fine machine, even if it's not totally new. Evolution rather than revolu- tion is the name of the R6 game. For reasons outlined earlier in this article, it's hard to be angry with Yamaha for that. Hey, they are the only ones bringing a new supersport to the dealer floor, with a little added technology and some fancy new clothes to keep us interested. The riding experience, at least on track as we didn't see any street on this test, is sublime. The R6 is a rider's bike, always has been. It's about late brak- ing, high corner speed and early wide-open throttles. It's no wonder so, so many top riders around the world honedt their skills on these little weapons. If you can ride an R6 fast, you'll go well on a superbike. I love 600s. Here's to a few more years with Yamaha's teenage tear away. CN S P E C I F I C A T I O N S 2017 YAMAHA YZF-R6 ($12,199) ENGINE: ..........Liquid-cooled DOHC inline four-cylinder, 16 titanium valves DISPLACEMENT: ..............................599cc BORE X STROKE: ..............67.0 x 42.5mm COMPRESSION RATIO: ...................... 13.1:1 FUEL SYSTEM: ............ Fuel injection with YCC-T and YCC-I with full Ride-by-Wire; 3 throttle modes. EXHAUST: ............................ Four into One TRANSMISSION: ...........6-speed gearbox; Quickshifter-optional. CHASSIS: ..Deltabox twin spar aluminum FRONT SUSPENSION: ............. 43mm KYB inverted fork, adjustable compression, rebound and preload; 4.7-in wheel travel REAR SUSPENSION: ........ KYB piggyback shock, fully adjustable; 4.7-in wheel travel FRONT BRAKE: .......... Twin 320mm semi- floating discs, radially mounted Advics calipers, four-piston, Nissin master- cylinder with ABS as standard REAR BRAKE: ........... Single 220mm disc, 2-piston caliper, ABS as standard FRONT TIRE: .........................120/70 ZR17 REAR TIRE: ............................180/55 ZR17 RAKE: ..................................................... 24° TRAIL: ............................................... 3.8 in. WHEELBASE: ...................................54.1 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ................................33.5 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ............................ 4.6 gal. WEIGHT: ............. 419 lbs. (wet, claimed). Color: Matte Black, Team Yamaha Blue, Intensity White/Matte Silver