The 2007 Yamaha R6 was a very radical motorcycle, built to win on the tracks, but it also ended up being successful on the road, despite all its aggressiveness in terms of ergonomics and engine behavior. The one we have in this work is in excellent condition.
Produced (and registered) between 1999 and 2020, the Yamaha R6 was a model that quickly stood out from what was being produced up to that point in the 600 cc class. Instead of creating another sport touring model, ideal for a 50-50 road and track use, the Japanese brand chose to create a much more radical model to win on the tracks. Several evolutions were launched, and the 2003 generation received fuel injection, in a model that was still relatively easy to ride and comfortable, but already very fast on the track.
It was in 2006 that the R6 changed radically, with much more angular lines, much more aggressive ergonomics, and a chassis more prepared for the tracks, as well as an engine with a much greater appetite for high revs. This even generated some controversy with the excessively generous revs that the tachometer displayed, which Yamaha later admitted to having made a mistake…
2007 MODEL
Despite having a 2008 license plate, the motorcycle in this review is from the 2007 generation, already equipped with the YCC-T throttle system (Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle), but still without the YCC-I (Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake) that varied the lengths of the intake tunnels. Nevertheless, this was the foundation that led the R6 to win numerous Supersport titles around the world (including several world championships). A motorcycle with a smooth engine, like any inline four-cylinder, but one that needed to be ridden aggressively and skillfully on the track in order for the rider to take advantage of the sharp engine and high-quality chassis. THE TESTED MOTORCYCLENowadays it is no longer possible to buy a new Yamaha R6 with license plate (you can do it for use on a closed circuit and even resort to the GYTR competition kit), so a well-maintained Yamaha R6 can very well have added value today. And even though we still come across some in our daily lives or on weekend rides, the truth is that many have spent years doing what they are most comfortable with, on the track, so – even if well maintained – it is not always easy to find an R6 with a “healthy” heart. This bike seems to be in excellent condition! It has 31,000 km, recently came from Madeira Island and does not appear to have suffered any mistreatment throughout its life. It is practically stock, except for the darkened headlights, protection “mushrooms”, Michelin Power 5 tires, different adjusters on the top of the fork, and mounting a BMC air filter and iridium spark plugs.With an excellent exterior appearance, the lightness of this motorcycle in hand maneuvers is incredible right away. It feels like a 300 cc sportbike! Then, while riding, we remembered how aggressive this bike is on the body, with a very radical position through a high seat and foot pegs and low handlebars, which put weight on the wrists. The exhaust sound is loud but very appealing, and you don’t even need to rev the engine too high to hear it “scream”, although you need to go above 8,000 / 10,000 rpm for this engine to show its full potential! Of course, you can ride calmly on the road below these rev ranges, but on the track, forget it, you need to push the 4-cylinder above five digits on the tachometer! If the engine seems new, the brakes need a bit more force than a current sportbike, but still perform flawlessly, and as for the suspension, it was also impeccable, with excellent road feedback, whether at a calm pace or at higher speeds. With good feedback from all components – only the final transmission showed signs that it needed to be replaced – this R6 is more than approved and still ready for many good rides on the road or on the track, before being well stored in a garage or living room (and later in a museum)! Maintain and preserve Our reader Tiago Ramos (RS) kindly lent his Yamaha R6 for this test, but more than that, he came from Peniche to the Estoril Circuit, purposefully, on one of those very cold mornings in this aggressive winter. With the bike for about a year, but very experienced and a fan of the tuning fork brand, Tiago reveals that “it was a deal that came up and I didn’t want to let it slip away. I consider this a legendary bike and I was curious to ride it, so that’s how it went.” So far, and due to lack of time, he has only taken a few rides on the road but “in the future I would still like to do some track days, but this will always be a bike just for a few laps.” And will it be a bike to keep or to trade? “I would like to keep it in the garage, even though there are offers for me to sell it. And then, eventually, buy something more practical, like a Tracer 7 or 9 for example. But I’m not in a hurry to sell it, as it is a bike that will no longer exist.” Thank you very much Tiago and continue to enjoy the curves, if possible with this beautiful R6!
