I didn't once think about the gearbox during my time on the bike, which is indication enough it does a good job. They're super powerful and they have ample feel - if you reckon they're lacking in any way then you ought to be looking at the R6, not the FZ6.
![chequebook biker chequebook biker](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0248/8472/products/DSC_0039_3f6b3b35-fb53-41c3-b98b-7fd3f9af5c39_2048x.jpg)
Its steering geometry is a good all-rounder compromise - it's super stable, but nimble enough on a tight road to keep you grinning from ear to ear, and there's decent ground clearance too.įour-piston monobloc front calipers do a superb job of arresting forward progress. On the road it feels relatively sporty - it's on the firmer side and there's plenty of feedback, while the springs do a good job of soaking up the bumps. The conventional front 43mm forks are non-adjustable, while its rear monoshock is adjustable for preload only (adjustment is relatively easily too, even if, at first glance, it looks like you'll need the hands of a five-year-old to do the job). A two-piece 'Controlled Fill' die-cast alloy frame provides a rigid platform for sporting thrills, while its suspension does a top job, belying its relatively low spec. When the weekend rolls around and you're looking to escape the city, the FZ6S is only too happy to show a clean pair of heels up a winding road. Power delivery is seamless no matter where you are in the rev range, while the injection is crisp and responsive in general, whether you're barreling along at speed or threading your way through a first-gear, peak-hour nightmare. The fuel-injection is on the money I couldn't fault it. They offer an excellent and distortion-free view to the rear, but they're a little on the wider side - spending as much time as I do riding in the city each year, personally I'd opt for a marginally narrower set-up. The steering range is excellent, making it a real winner in tight traffic, although a little care is needed with its mirrors. The seat isn't overly wide but it's supportive, and pillions are well catered for with excellent grab handles and a sensible perch. On board you'll find a slight forward cant coupled with relatively wide bars and a 795mm seat height.
![chequebook biker chequebook biker](https://images.bonanzastatic.com/afu/images/0067/5197/checkbook_wallet.jpg)
There are no nasty surprises lying in wait for the inexperienced, and this user-friendly theme flows strongly through all aspects of the model. It's not 'rip-your-arms-off' acceleration, but there's ample here to keep you smiling, and it's delivered in a linear, manageable manner.
![chequebook biker chequebook biker](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/S5AAAOSwRXFfQv6Q/s-l400.jpg)
On the road that's more than enough to see the bike's 186kg claimed dry weight keep well ahead of the traffic, while in sportier moments the oomph just keeps on coming virtually all the way to its indicated 14,000rpm redline. Yamaha Motor Australia doesn't quote performance stats, but Yamaha Motor UK quotes 98hp at 12,000rpm and 6.44kg-m at 10,000rpm for the FZ6. Sourced from the R6 but detuned for its all-rounder role, it's a pearler of a powerplant and it offers a perfect blend of performance and usability. Then again, according to Yamaha Motor Australia, some 177 'N' models were sold last year, compared to 172 'S' models, so what do I know?Ī large degree of the model's flexibility comes down to its engine. Sure, you can save yourself $500 and buy the unfaired FZ6N (which even has its own racing class in this year's Australian champs), but I'd spend the extra just for the additional ease of touring the faired FZ6S offers. Yamaha's FZ6S Fazer is a great example of that ilk, and a brilliant option for those of us (ie most of us) who can't afford to have half-a-dozen bikes in the shed for different applications. So in this day and age of tourers, sportstourers, sportsbikes, commuters, enduros, motocrossers, cruisers, motards, nakeds, retros, streetfighters, entry level machines and more, it's somehow reassuring to know the humble all-rounder still has its place. However, look at virtually any consumer market you can think of these days, and you'll see product lines have slowly fractured into ever more product lines, leaving us with more choice than you can poke a chequebook at. Kids now on the scene? Easy - throw on a chair and watch 'em squeal with delight.
![chequebook biker chequebook biker](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0dEAAOSwuhhXU0V6/s-l640.jpg)
Your weekend racer often doubled as your weekday commuter, and with panniers slung on the back you were set for an interstate blast too. Once upon a time, and not too many decades far, far away, the vast majority of motorcycles were 'do the lot' affairs.