Riding Impression: 2009 Yamaha FZ6R

Photography By Riles & Nelson

When shopping for a bargain, there are a couple different aisles you can wander down; always remembering, of course, that there is a huge difference between cheap products and those that are a great bang-for-the-buck. Yamaha's new FZ6Rdefinitely resides in the latter category.

Getting right to the point, the new FZ6R retails for a very tasty $7090 and offers multiple features that you won't find on many (if any) bikes in this price range.

For one thing, it's powered by one of the few four-cylinders in the class, a two-generation-old YZF-R6-derived engine that's been revamped and retuned. The liquid-cooled, dohc Four shares the same 65.5 x 44.5mm bore-and-stroke dimensions, 12.2:1 compression ratio and valve diameters as the FZ6—Yamaha's sportier, half-faired, $300-more-expensive standard that also uses the old R6 mill. It's the camhafts that really make this bike perform differently. Ground for torque, the cams have less duration, overlap, altered timing and less lift. All of this is complemented by a set of 32mm Mikuni throttle bodies (4mm smaller than FZ6) with four-hole injectors.

Our first contact with the bike was in Northern California around Santa Rosa and on the Pacific Coast Highway. Miles of serpentine asphalt were no match for the FZ6R's flexible power delivery, which allowed a choice of at least two different gears (in the close-ratio box) for any given corner. Low-end to midrange power delivery is noticeably better than the FZ6 and certainly stronger than the latest R6. The 6R's top-end power can't compare to the YZF-R6's rush, but it's a lot easier to get the most out of this bike than your typical repli-racer.

Around town, the bike is very good, offering strong acceleration from stops without spinning the engine into the stratosphere or working the clutch like Rickey Gadson trying to cut a quick light. Fuel-injection response is very smooth, offering no noticeable hesitation picking up the throttle from closed position mid-corner.

You wouldn't guess that the chassis is relatively low-tech after spending time on the bike. A new steel frame and swingarm provide geometry numbers that favor stability. A relatively narrow 160/60 rear tire allows the rider to flick the bike from side-to-side quickly, aided by upright handlebars that provide excellent leverage for getting snapped into the apex.

A wide variety of riders will like the ergos on the 6R as it offers almost an inch of vertical seat adjustment and .8-inch of forward adjustment on the handlebar to make more room for taller riders, features not commonly seen in this price range. With the bar and seat in their standard settings, the riding position is upright and comfortable with a reasonable bend at the knees, a slight forward lean to the torso. The seat is nicely padded, too.

The bike carries its 451-pound weight well, feeling far more light and flickable than that number would lead you believe. Some of this is due to mounting the exhaust silencer and its catalytic converter in the midship position under the engine for a low center of gravity.

Brake performance is good considering the front calipers are two-piston, pin-slide units. They provide nice feel and modulation in the wet and offer strong stopping power when the pace is upped on dry roads. Suspension front and rear is a touch on the soft side for aggressive riding; hard parts touch down occasionally. The shock has provisions for preload adjustment; the fork has no adjustments.

Full-coverage bodywork with sharp, up-to-date lines adorns the bike. Four different colors are available—yellow, black ($100 cheaper), white or trademark Yama-blue. Based on the FZ6R's excellent performance and ample features, anyone shopping for a true performance bargain needs to seriously consider this bike. You can find it on the aisle marked Blue Right Special.