Two years ago, I bought a second hand Yamaha YZF-R6 with the intention of using it mainly as a street bike but occasionally taking it to the track. It’s a 2007 model, in black with silver accents. When this generation of R6 was launched in 2006, it marked a radical departure from its predecessor, with increased power, reduced weight, and a geometry that allowed for razor sharp handling. These R6s are still a favorite among racers and track day enthusiasts, and with good reason.
So my R6 is a beautiful and technologically advanced motorcycle. And yet, in my 2 years of ownership, I have hardly ridden it. So an explanation is in order.
Well, a lot has to do with the Triumph Daytona 675 that I bought not long after the R6. The Daytona was used and abused, needed a lot of work to get it running right, and to this day it’s still costing me an arm and a leg to keep it in working condition. And yet, despite its many faults, I still prefer the Daytona over the hassle-free R6 every day of the week. Somehow, the R6 just doesn't “do it for me” the way the Daytona does. The R6 may be razor sharp, but it is also a very sterile razor. It handles great on track, but it does so in a very detached and demanding way. With the R6, you have to work hard to extract its performance and to push the envelope. The Daytona, on the other hand, always eggs me on to push harder. It is much more engaging, and also more forgiving of mistakes.
Perhaps I don’t like the HOWL of the R6’s 4 cylinders as much as the GROWL of the Daytona’s triple cylinder engine? Perhaps it’s the R6’s businesslike appearance, with its sharp lines and its somewhat bland-looking nose, compared to the round shapes and the friendly demeanor of the Daytona?
Below 10,000 rpm, the R6 lacks “grunt”: I wasn’t expecting a lot of low-end torque from its 4 cylinder engine, but it also has absolutely nothing to offer in the middle of the rev range. All the power is to be found at the top. This means that it will almost never surprise or entice you while riding on the street. In fact, it’s a very docile and even ‘tame’ bike in normal use. It is only when you wring its neck and keep it bouncing off the redline, that the engine starts delivering its performance, screaming at you from the top of its lungs, as it were.
The complete lack of low-end grunt has been an issue for me on track, especially as a novice rider. I’ve taken my Daytona plenty of times to the track, but my R6 only twice, exactly because it’s so weak when you’re in the wrong gear and you’re trying to accelerate out of a corner. The Daytona’s triple cylinder has significantly more ‘oomph’ when you find yourself in too high a gear.
This is why I think the time has come for me to sell the R6 to someone who can show it some more love than I can, because it’s still a great bike that deserves a better fate than to gather dust in my garage. But I’m still on the fence about selling it. One reason for me to hold on to the R6 is as a back-up, because even if the Daytona has stolen my heart, it’s still a bit of a problem child. So it’s not hard to imagine a scenario in which I would be forced to fall back on the R6.
What do you think? Have you had experience with a bike that is objectively great, but that just doesn't DO it for you? Let us know in the comment section!
🏷️ Key words
#YZF-R6 #R6 #daytona
Yamaha, sport, bike, track, Triumph, Daytona, RJ11, RJ15
