Yamaha fz6s - what do you know?

[A_morti]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 310710439/

I'm going to take a look at this. Sorry, can't seem to get an image hotlink to work on my mobile.

It looks ideal: low mileage, good condition garaged bike, I always liked the look and sound of those anyway, it's a pre 2009 locally registered bike which means annual license fee is about 80€ instead of about 200€ for the exact same bike which had been imported after 2009 which is a majority of used bikes, for kiddo's comfort it has the same top box and cushion I already have and would fit anyway, grab rail looks really perfect, and moreover it has 4 cylinders, a bigish half fairing, and was made in Japan.

He wants 4,000€ for it, which is about what it's worth over here, I think. I'd only try to knock him down if the low mileage means ancient tyres.

Without getting too far into "that's a £1,500 bike in UK", what's the collective opinion on these bikes, and do you spot anything about that example?

[KungFooBob]

On launch they were slated by the press, they said the detuned R6 motor was too revvy compared to the original Fazer. I've never ridden one so can't say if that's true or not.

I think the seat gets really hot too.

[asmethurst99]

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-rev ... azer/2004/
I remember lots of couriers using them when DR’s were still a thing

[Supermofo]

My Dad has a 2006 one that he's owned since new but only put about 7.5k miles on. I've only ridden it twice and it was fine. Sounds damning with faint praise but I don't remember much about it. It went ok, stopped very well, handled ok, was comfy too. So yeah good bike I reckon for what you want. In the time he's owned it nothing has ever gone wrong (touching wood here now) except a couple of flat batteries through lack of use and age. However he'll leave it months and it always fires on the button and rides perfectly. It's also lived outside under bike covers since new and condition wise it's in really good condition so the finish seems good. He loves it.

[A_morti]

@Supermofo thanks, that really does sound ideal. I'll grab dull with both hands, as I've had plenty of "character" for now. I don't need that, not in my daily ride!

[Couchy]

Had one of them, I don't have any issues it's a good competent Japanese IL4. Bit revvy but all 600's are, handled well and comfy enough. Very Honda like which is a compliment or not depending how you view Honda

[Taipan]

There must be something good and reliable about them as I see loads on my commute!

[The Spin Doctor]

If you want a nice upright-ish bike with a functional half-fairing, take a look at the XJ6 too.

Almost everyone slates them because they are 'slow' (mine maxed out at GPS certified 118 mph on the flat, well into the red) but the trade-off is for that retuned engine which is actually brilliant for real road riding. Waiting for my brother to wend his way very slowly up one of the bigger passes in the Pyrenees, I found myself accidentally riding round a hairpin at 20 mph in top gear. The torque curve is almost flat and they pull from barely off tick-over - the total opposite of a revvy 600 like my Hornet. After a few months on the XJ, I kept stalling the Hornet pulling away.

[A_morti]

@The Spin Doctor it's a decent shout for what I want, but I never saw one over here on the island. As I understand from the Honda importer they have to decide whether to buy a container full of a certain type of bike, then when that box arrives they have to sell them, ideally for retail but eventually if it proves unpopular then for whatever they can get, this is how I got a deal on a two year old brand new cb300r. Could be the Yamaha importer (actually I think it's the same lot) decided against bringing that model in!

[Bigyin]

Its the slightly more modern version of what i use for my instructor training. Engines are fairly bomb proof, comfy enough for a few hours in the saddle and a relaxed riding position. No sportsbike but once you get them up and spinning in the higher rev range they hustle along quite nicely and the brakes are good for a mid range IL4 jap 600.

For what i need they are the ideal bike and if or when my current Fazer dies the Fz6 will be pretty high on the replacement bike list.

Check steering head bearings as apparently it can be a "thing" with Frazers and the like. Mine have a very slight notch feeling now but they are 40000 miles old

[KungFooBob]

It's a completely different engine.

The original had a detuned Thundercat/FZR600 lump, this one has the detuned R6 engine. I doubt they share a single component!

[Bigyin]

It's a completely different engine.

The original had a detuned Thundercat/FZR600 lump, this one has the detuned R6 engine. I doubt they share a single component!

I know its a different engine and i've ridden both recently as one of the school bike was an Fz6s for a while and they dont feel much different in engine characteristics .... its a commuter IL4 Yamaha so never going to set lap records no matter which version of engine is in it but they are more than sufficient for me and amorti's needs

[A_morti]

Went and saw the fz6s this evening with my mate Jules.

He was just wrapping up the conversation with the first viewer as we arrived. He had offered 3800 and the seller said he'd consider it but show me the bike since I was there. I missed that part since it was said in Maltese.

This bike was honestly immaculate. I've seen bikes in worse shape still sat on the showroom floor, no joke. Seating position was comfortable, it sounded lovely, had all the accessories I'd have put on anyway, suspension felt very plush. Perfect.

I offered the full 4k after a short chat in his garage, but he sold it to the first guy, who had waited around, for an improved offer of the full 4k since he'd seen it first.

Gutted doesn't cover it!

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[A_morti]

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[ChrisW]

...and an ace number plate. Sorry you missed out.

[Taipan]

One thing i've learned, there is always another bike...

[Mr. Dazzle]

I had no idea CCM also did family hatchbacks.

[A_morti]

One thing i've learned, there is always another bike...

There is, too.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 958865526/
This one's missing the fairing and top box, and it does have a silly number plate bracket, but it's cheaper, a nice colour and the fz6 S2 is supposedly just a little bit better than the first model fz6.

It's not possible that it'll be as clean as that first one, however the seller is a car detailer by trade, so got to be worth a look.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

It's an unfaired one, looks nice, I've no idea of prices on Malta so I don't know if it's good value of not

[KungFooBob]

The S2 got a proper alloy swingarm rather than a box steel jobbie. That's the only thing I remember about them. I think they were just a bit more premium.