YAMAHA R6 (2008 - 2016) Review
At a glance
| Owners' reliability rating: | |
|---|---|
| Annual servicing cost: | £290 |
| Power: | 133 bhp |
| Seat height: | Tall (33.5 in / 850 mm) |
| Weight: | Low (366 lbs / 166 kg) |
Overall rating
Next up: Ride & brakesYamaha’s designers had one problem with superceding its 2006-07 R6, and that was how to improve a motorcycle that was very good in the first place. But improve it they have with clever attention to details borne from its World Supersport racing program. A designer’s touch here and the same effort there, has led to the Yamaha R6 being the definitive supersport package – on the track, that is. How its screaming performance will fare on UK roads against the mid-range king Honda CBR600RR remains to be seen.
Watch the Yamaha R6 take on Honda's CBR600RR, Triumph's Daytona 675, Suzuki's new GSX-R600 K8 and Kawasaki's ZX-6R.
Watch the Yamaha R6 take on the Suzuki GSX650F
Watch the track launch of the Yamaha R6 at the Sugo circuit, Japan
Ride quality & brakes
Next up: EngineBiggest area of improvement with the Yamaha R6 happens here. The frame has been stiffened around the headstock to reduce braking effect through the frame and then reduced the frame’s overall stiffness for more agility. This is topped off with a heavier braced swingarm. The motorcycle is more stable but retains its quick steering ability. The suspension has been revised internally and is arguably the best mass-produced stuff on any current production bike. The bars are 5mm lower and angled slightly different, but it’s still the same motorcycle to ride; only better when riding faster.
Engine
Next up: ReliabilityTop end performance was the Yamaha R6’s strong point and still is. But with updated ECU and fuel injection, the highest ever compression seen on a Yamaha and variable height inlet trumpets (as used on this year’s R1), the R6’s midrange drive has been propped up. Not that there was a reliability issue with the R6, but Yamaha has revised various internals (camchain tensioner, oil-ways on the rods etc) to deal with the high rpm live it leads.
Reliability & build quality
Next up: ValueNo qualms with the previous Yamaha R6 – apart from the lying tachometer (18,000rpm was the claimed figure, only 15,800rpm in reality) – so MCN doesn’t envisage any problems with this latest version. What is slightly annoying is the original 18lt tank size has dropped 0.7lt to 17.3lts.
Value vs rivals
Next up: EquipmentIf your view of a race-replica supersports 600 is a motorcycle that delivers high rpm performance, razor sharp handling and is finished off with looks straight from the race track, then the Yamaha R6 is yours.
In answer to the question why not change this models looks from last year’s, Yamaha’s answer was that it means owners of the older bike won’t have bikes that look outdated and therefore the resale value won’t plummet. Find a Yamaha R6 for sale. Rivals include the Honda CBR600RR, Kawasaki ZX-6R and Triumph Daytona 675.
Equipment
As a pared to the bone supersports the Yamaha R6 is not loaded with niceties such as heated grips and panniers. The only equipment to shout about here is the fly-by-wire-throttle and variable inlet tracts. Yamaha crowed about the new magnesium alloy subframe (lighter by 450g) but the motorcycle’s overall weight hasn’t dropped due to the mechanicals operating the inlet tracts. But we love the new slimline tailpiece, reshaped fairing and colour schemes.
Specs |
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| Engine size | 599cc |
|---|---|
| Engine type | Liquid-cooled,16v dohc, in-line four, four-stroke, 6 gears, fuel injection |
| Frame type | Dual beam aluminium |
| Fuel capacity | 17 litres |
| Seat height | 850mm |
| Bike weight | 166kg |
| Front suspension | Rebound and high & low speed compression damping with pre-load adjustment |
| Rear suspension | Rebound and high & low speed compression damping with pre-load adjustment |
| Front brake | 2 x 310mm front discs with 4-piston calipers |
| Rear brake | 265mm rear disc with 1-piston caliper |
| Front tyre size | 120/70 x 17 |
| Rear tyre size | 180/55 x 17 |
Mpg, costs & insurance |
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| Average fuel consumption | 45 mpg |
|---|---|
| Annual road tax | £84 |
| Annual service cost | £290 |
| New price | - |
| Used price | - |
| Insurance group |
15 of 17 How much to insure? |
| Warranty term | Two year unlimited mileage |
Top speed & performance |
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| Max power | 133 bhp |
|---|---|
| Max torque | 51 ft-lb |
| Top speed | 165 mph |
| 1/4 mile acceleration | 10.75 secs |
| Tank range | 160 miles |
Model history & versions
Model history
2007: New model launched.
Other versions
None.
MCN Long term test reports
MCN Fleet: What’s my R6 like in the wet?
My R6 is the only 600cc Supersport machine on the market with traction control and ABS as standard. In theory it should be able to cut it in the wet, but can it? I’d recently fitted brand new Metzeler Racetec rubber, which although are road legal, aren’t the perfect choice for standing water on a sl…
Owners' reviews for the YAMAHA R6 (2008 - 2016)
17 owners have reviewed their YAMAHA R6 (2008 - 2016) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.
Review your YAMAHA R6 (2008 - 2016)
Summary of owners' reviews |
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| Overall rating: | |
|---|---|
| Ride quality & brakes: | |
| Engine: | |
| Reliability & build quality: | |
| Value vs rivals: | |
| Equipment: | |
| Annual servicing cost: | £290 |
Version: 13s
Year: 2008
I have owned this bike for around 4 years now and spent thousands on it and the bike looks so good I always wanted one and glad I got it too the brakes on the yamaha are so good compared to the other competitors I'd go as far to say this has the best brakes compared to any other bike I have owned and the only downside I can think of is it doesn't take long to get wrist ache but I have seen some handlebars which might be able to help with that apart from that I would recommend this bike you can't really go wrong with the Japanese bikes they are very reliable, look great and ride fast too
Year: 2008
I bought my Yamaha r6 2008 13s a year ago and if I’m honest I wish I didn’t buy it i mean the bike looks amazing but really the fairings are so flimsy compared to any other bike I have owned literally they mark so easy and I bought some brand new fairings here an there an one of them which is the right hand side where they slide together the blue pin has snapped off and the paint leaves swirl marks which don’t polish out no matter what you use just wish the build quality for the body work was better I mean the bike rides great and it does look great and this is my first Yamaha bike iv owned iv had Honda Suzuki and Kawasaki but this one is probably the worst one I’ve bought for the money think I just bought it off the wrong person iv had a really bad time with it but spent so much money on it now it’s not worth me selling it looks like I’m stuck with the thing I’ll be damned if anymore problems arise
Buying experience: Had a bad experience buying this bike all from day one I bought it private
Year: 2018
Most capable and confidence-inspiring 600cc bike I have ever ridden. Looks amazing, feels amazing, handles amazing. Power is good, but you can definitely feel it being choked by the Euro4 emissions regulations, especially on the top end.
The ride and overall handling of this bike are far and away the high point of this machine. I have never had a bike handle so confidently from factory as my new R6. At lean, the bike feels completely planted and stable. Combined with the Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21 tires, this bike dares you to lean further and further, and rewards you every time you do. More than enough grip to scrape a knee (or elbow) on a track day, and enough grip to make you want to try it on the street. The R1 brakes on the little R6 really give you tons of confidence, and allow you to brake later than you almost feel comfortable doing. For an ABS-equipped unit, the brake feel is pretty good, and is a welcome feature out on the street. The best way to describe the overall handling of the 2018 Yamaha R6 can be summed up in a word: Telepathic.
Not much to say here. The bike has good power and delivery is relatively smooth, but really needs a proper exhaust (cat removal) in order to unleash the potential that you know is there, but just can't get to.
Everything on the bike looks and feels solid. No problems so far, however I have only owned the bike for 1 season. Long term reliability TBD, but seeing as this is mostly the same as the previous generation, I don't predict any issues.
It's true that the bike does cost a bit more than its other 600cc competitors, and it would be nice to see the quick-shifter as standard equipment. It would help to justify the base price. While the bike has received some updates, the fact remains that it is mostly unchanged from the previous generation. Is it worth the cost over the previous generation? Hard to say. Including that quick-shifter would have swayed my vote to a yes.
My favorite standard bits on the bike have to be the bigger brakes, and the whole new re-designed fairings. Yamaha claims the bike is more aerodynamic, and I believe it . The bike seems to suck you into the tank at speed, and it feels like an extension of you. I would strongly recommend the quick shifter and of course, a full exhaust system. With those additions, it's hard to find a fault.
Year: 2012
Annual servicing cost: £125
Best bits: Front end grip, sweet turn in. neutral chassis improved by Ohlin. Worst bits: nothing.
Tee hee, Bembo Master brake cylinder and lever sorced from BSS. Braided hoses too.
110 bhp tested.
Good quality build overall. Only problems were EXUP drive seized and stripped plastic drive wheel. Replaced and kept greased. Then breakdown due battery compartment has a manufactured hole in bottom section. Muck thrown up in the hole lands on the 50A start fuse holder. Rusts the lead into fuse, lead falls off, bike stops. Fix is strap everything away from hole. Don't block the drain hole.
Had the R6 dyno'd 110 bhp at the back wheel. Not bad. Saving up for new exhaust to add about 8-12 bhp.
Ohlins rear shock a must. Brembo Master cylinder a must. Had a new faring from china. Good quality, fits well. Good paint too. In Dunlop I trust.
Year: 2013
Annual servicing cost: £500
After riding my R6 through 3 winters as I am all year rider. It never missed a beat. there is nothing wrong with it, under riding it keeping the revs below 10,000 rpm in winter and letting rip at 16,500 prm whenever the opportunity allows, means it has been a perfect road tool. I rode at 05:45 in the dark every day until those heady days of 05:30 day breaks in summer.
Just leave the bike to rev up in its own time to cure the cold stall issue. The R6 has a tempreature readout, so no excuse. Just start and then put your jacket on and helmet/gloves and the jobs' a good um.
Year: 2013
Annual servicing cost: £250
Best feature: Revs to spare on the road. Not a radical riding position, changed standard pegs with Gilles rearsets. Better feeling from the front end. As ever, changed the shock for an Ohlins. Immediate improvement with handling feed back. Worst feature: clock only 12 hour, no 24 hour setting available.
Fitted braided hoses to improved feel. Then had a Brembo master cylinder from a BSB team fitted. No pillion for my R6, removed the rear foot pegs. Looking to get a rear seat cover. My R6 will be better than the new one.
It is just what I needed for the road, 599cc nothing else required, 0-135 mph is plently for getting to work starting out at 05:40 in the dark.
Whilst being left outside, there's no sign of corrosion. I bought a 2013 model from a dealer in Jan 2015 not even a wheel turned. So, in 2017 still starts first time. Only problem so far was a seized exup servo. Replaced and it was put down to non-use over prolonged period in the dealer. The Battery was replaced FOC by Yamaha for same reason.
I ride my R6 every day to work all year, so servicing is important. As is tyres, I don't take risks with worn items. I use the latest Dunlops which have short warm up times.
Buying experience: I bought it from a dealer for £7299, it was on sale from £8599. It was a result.
Year: 2008
Annual servicing cost: £300
I have had my r6 for a week and i love it, i love it more than any other 600, and ive had the gixer, cbr and triumph. The only thing i don't like is that it has an idle/stalling problem when cold, very frustrating, when you start the bike it struggles around 1500rpm bouncing between 15000 and 2000 this lasts for around a minuet, sometimes it stalls completely as it did when i picked the bike up, i put it down to old fuel but since the problem has persisted iv googled it and it seems quite common with no definitive reason! it seems to affect the older r1 too
the bike is at its best when its warmed up! the breaks seem as capable as good as im used to with a suzuki
i love the noise of r6, it seems to really come to life around 10,000rpm seems quite good around town as it has quite a long first gear.
purely based on the starting issue, (once warm its perfect)
i get around 130 miles to a tank of fuel with fairly 'playful riding'
there is not a great deal of equipment on the bike, it feels like and looks like a track weapon, so thats good enough for me.
I am miffed that this review is based on a 2008 R6 when the bike had changes to tech in the engine, suspension and ergonomics (a little) in 2010. Just colour changes since, so come on guys (MCN or Yamaha) update the page. Ta. I will be picking up my 2010 R6 this coming weekend and riding 240 miles home. so, I will get to know this bike by the time I get home.
If you want to know how good these bikes are, select 'bikes for sale' and compare these with the equivalent value of GSXR's and ZX6R's. These really hold their value well, partly because Yamaha have not devloped them away too quickly, so not lowering the value through the ageing affect, and because they don't do silly discounts like Kawasaki do, which kills the residual value of ZX6R's. You may have spotted I didn't include the CBR in that analysis, and thats because they are in a very similar position to the Yamaha of course. Top quality, parts and paint, built to un-questionable standards, and the R6 brings with it that amazing rev ceiling! I really enjoy the sound of a GSXR under load and revving high, but this R6 seems be just that bit better, I can't really explain how (great for a review I know), but again, it just has that edge of quality to it. When sittig on an R6 straight after a GSXR or ZX6R, I notice it feels more like you are on the bike than in it, a bit like Triumph's 675, but for me this just makes it feel more edgy and sportier. I wasn't sure about them before, I'm not the kind of chap that tries to make friends with the popular guy, but instead likes to see if I can support a worthy underdog. So though I hate to say it, I really do like this bike... So on that note it may surprise you to learn I would actually buy the ZX6R instead! Why? well it's just as quick on the road as the R6, but most of the time in the used market, for the equivalent year/miles the ZX6R is a grand cheaper! I know, I'm tight ;-)
I traded in my 08R6 for a zx10 to keep up with my nephew who has an 09 blade - several bikes down the line and I am back on the best bike ever - had a gsxr750 for 5 months - nice bike but couldnt get the R6 out of my head - rode 180 down to crescent yamaha and traded in for a 200 mile 59 reg demo - I honestly think that the look, sound and feel of this bike beats all for pleasure/excitement - I know it is a little flat in the middle, but the way it spins up and that howling sound - magic. I also think that it has the finest build quality and beats my nephews blade with its rusty flaky exhaust and rusty nuts!
I own an R6 race bike... and I love it. Sure it's been tweaked and gets ridden hard - but I thought that was the point?! I would not buy one for the road though, as being lucky enough to have ridden a number of other bikes, I'd go for something like a GSXR 750 or a CBR 600 for the road. Can someone please explain to me how MCN rates the 2006/7 bike as being a better bike overall (5/5) and has more equipment (5/5) when this bike is improved and the equipment stays pretty much the same???
If, like me, you get on one of these with no previous experience of sportsbikes you'll wonder what the hell all of those bike journalists are on about when they moan about this bike having no mid-range - it's all relative. The rush this bike(or any sportsbike Im sure)can give is a fantastic feeling. The only negative for me is the wrist pain that can set in during stop-start city centre traffic. Get it out on the open road and hold on tight!
Alway loved the R6 as I had a couple of early models. This model is far more focused, keep the revs up and the grin factor just doesn't go away. I commuted on mine and had a bad accident, although the bike was riden off the motorway, shows the quality of the chasis and engine. Only had her for a year as she was written off but would get another in a heart beat.
talk of it being too focussed is rubbish. Yes it is at its best when being thrashed, but it can also be enjoyed at a more relaxed pace. I owned an 06 R6, and this is that bit better. The extra midrange shove is noticeable. I get fed up of tyres that burn out in 2000miles so I have just put on a pair of diablo stradas! Apart from feeling 'stiffer' and looking like tractor tyres they seem fine. I have slackened off all the suspension settings a litle to help them work better, and give a slightly plusher ride. Fantastic bike, best looking 600 by far, and I reckon I could do several hours on it wihout any comfort issues.
Two words.Love it! Gotta agree with Rsix, gotta be in the mood which i always am when out on it, and if im not, i soon get into it :) Love the engine, keep it up over 10k and its just mental. Quite stiff as standard but find a smooth road or track and its a blast!!
Two words.Love it! Gotta agree with Rsix, gotta be in the mood which i always am when out on it, and if im not, i soon get into it :) Love the engine, keep it up over 10k and its just mental. Quite stiff as standard but find a smooth road or track and its a blast!!
Two words.Love it. Definately have to be in the mood when riding it.Not a great bike at slow speeds, but then who buys a supersport 600 to go to the shops on?? Begs to be ridden hard and fast, with a fantastic screaming motor.Very solid handling and very flickable.In my opion, the sexiest bike/600 out there. Bring on track day season.
