Yamaha YZF R6

Key facts

Year

2007
Country

Japan
Capacity

599cc
Cylinders

4 cylinder
Valves

Double overhead cam
Output

107bhp at 14,250rpm
Maximum speed

162mph
Performance

0 – 60mph 3.51 seconds
Price new

£7,499
Loaned by

Yamaha Motor (UK) Ltd
Manufacturer

Yamaha Motor Company

Yamaha introduced the YZF-R6 in 1998. It is a super sport bike based on the company’s 1,000cc YZF-R1 super bike. Popularly known as simply the R6, It soon became a top-seller in this competitive category. Updates came in 2001and 2003 when fuel injection was added. In 2006 it became the first ‘fly-by-wire’ road bike when the Yamaha Chip Contolled Throttle (YCC-T) ride-by-wire throttle control was added, a system previously used on Yamaha racing bikes.

Super sports bikes are essentially road legal track bikes, with few of the features required for comfortable touring. They are ideal for track days. The YZF-R6 was voted 2006 Bike of the Year by Bike Magazine.