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OK, some of you may know that I recently added to my stable. And with that addition I absolutely must do a write up comparing them, well... not exactly comparing them, but I guess... reviewing them side by side.
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2004 Yamaha R6 and the 2004 Yamaha FZ6 - My Review
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Background on the bikes:
NOTE: The links are to the specs on the two bikes. Opening them up side by side is pretty interesting. Some of the things you might find... many of which play into my reivew...
-The R6 has a smaller width, height and length, but a higher seat height!
-The FZ6 has more suspension travel than the R6, even it is it not as adjustable
-The R6 is lighter (dry wieght) by ~75lbs!
Quater Mile times: http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_street_bike_performance_times/#yamaha
FZ6: (quater, 60-80, 80-100) - 11.53sec @ 117.4mph, 5.42sec, 5.99sec
R6: (quater, 60-80, 80-100) - 10.68sec @ 129.3mph, 4.13sec, 4.63sec
My Bikes:
* 2004 Yamaha R6 *
http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/2004/146_04_yamaha_yzf_r6_specs/
Rapid Red
Milage: 8,2xx
Performance Enhancers: Sato Slip-on Exhaust, Dunlop Qualifiers (D209's)
Ponies:110.8 @ 13,000 (corrected from Sato)
Torque:44.2 @ 12,250
* 2004 Yamaha FZ6 *
http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/2004/146_04_yamaha_fz6_specs/
Galaxy Blue (also know as "Faster Blue")
Mileage: 10,1xx
Performance Enhancers: Arrow Slip-on Exhaust with CAT Elim., Dunlop D208's, 2004 R6 front end with 2003 R1 brakes.
Ponies:100.1 (Corrected from Arrow) @12k
Torque:42.3 @ 10k
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Having riden bikes for years now, everything from the old honda nighthawks to a few late 80's sportbikes, I've been blessed with being able to try many different types of bikes which makes it easier to find that bike that suits me best.
My main attractions to the FZ6 when I first decided I wanted to buy new where the price, and the ergonomics. I looked at the Hornet, and the SV650 as well, but the deeper I got into the research - the more of a total package the FZ6 offered. Better looks, less maintenance, lower part costs (thanks to the color moulding) and the semi-naked look with it's over-seas brother looking mighty nice.
I've really liked everything about the bike aside from the choppy throttle at under 12mph (a power commander fixed that) - and all of the rough idle TPS problems I've had. It runs smooth when you want to cruise but the power can accessed with a twist of the wrist. I felt the power distribution was very adequate for my riding style at the time which consisted of mainly commuting and the occasional joy ride. I was never in a place that had heavy curves, but when I found them, the FZ and I would go into destroy mode and we each kept each other with the rubber on the road and always had a kick doing it.
Since moving to Southern California, my riding style and needs have changed alot. There are more riders out on the streets, the riding season is year round, and the coastal roads and canyons offer all sorts of riding experiences. This is where I got a renewed love for the bike. It's so flickable and tracks so well. I have never been on such a bike that felt so stable in almost every condition imaginable. The wider bars and upright position allows so many opprotunites to practice proper techniques. And along with that there is also a wide selection of groups here that offer track days at as many as 6 tracks all within 5 hours aways. So the FZ6 could be put to yet another test.
Of course my needs are ever changeing and I am getting to the point where I desired a bike that would perform better than the FZ6 on the track. I did not worry about the canyons b/c the FZ6 is amazing out there. I wanted something with better track ergos, namely something with clip ons, rear sets and a full fairing... All of which can be added to the FZ6 of course, but then it wouldn't be the FZ6... it would just be a good looking track capable bike... and if I went that route, I am sure that I would soon desire a bike with a wider powerband and smoother power curve. These needs transpired into a 2004 R6.
So by today (May 2) I have riden about 300 miles on the R6 since Saturday (April 29th), with ~50 on it yesterday. The routes that I have taken are street roads, highways, canyon and coastal roads. Today I am on the FZ6 driving the exact same route... so my comparision will be my reactions and thoughts over various portions of my trip - yesterday vs. today; the R6 vs. the FZ6.
Prep for the Day:
Gearing up, starting bike, allowing warmup time, etc...
My general routine is to get my gear on, minus gloves and helmet. Head into the garage, unlock all that is locked up, start the bike, wheel it out of the garage, load any gear on it, close up the garage, helmet then gloves, then I'm off. Usually just enough time for the bike to warm up enough. Well - taking the R6 the other morning was really nice as it is soooooooooooo freakin' light. It's easy to wheel around the garage and out. The FZ is a bit heavier and wider, and I often get the bar ends hung up on something. Upon start up, I really like the FZ as it is alot quieter, even with the Arrow cans. I've noticed alot of people mentioning that the aftermarket cans are generally pretty calm until you really get on them. The Sato on the R6 seriously has to be the loudest sportbike exhaust I have ever heard. I wear ear plugs, but it feels like my ears want to bleed.... ugh. So I worry about the neighbors and what not with all the noise. With the R6 I don't really know when it is warm... it tells me engine temp, but that seems to differ (as much as 30degrees) on ambient air temp. The FZ6 however has the temp bars and a CLOCK! - not sure if the R6 does or does not. The clock is something I really like... that and the four way hazards (which the r6 does not have either). Aside from those things... I coach a lacrosse team in the evenings (no need to insert Duke jokes here, I've heard them all by now...) so I generally take my gear with me. Yesterday I set my stuff, which consists of my stick, helmet, and gloves, on the back of the R6 and... couldn't find any place to hook my bungees! Ended up having to leave my gear at home. Today however - it was a nice fit on the Fz with the long, wide seat. Now while the R6 doesn't have the seating space - it has a HUGE (in comparison) trunk! I was taking the R6 b/c I was shipping my Scorpio alarm transmitter back for a repair and could not fit my lock and chain in the FZ. The R6 has plenty of room, under both seats. I guess that is a simple pleasure of the side exhaust... which also makes it ALOT easier to clean than the undertail one... but I digress. So that was my very first impression this morning...
I think doing a comparison going from R6 to FZ is better than FZ to R6... my senses seemed alot more aware of sublties this morning...
Morning Commute to Work:
7 miles, residential to main road., average speed 40mph
* Hopping on the Fz I IMMEDIATELY noticed a difference which I did not anticipate. It felt low and heavy! It felt like a road star warrior without the really wide higher set bars... Of course, my back was already thanking me... especially after putting 300 miles on the r6 in such a short period. My butt thanked me too. I was not expecting to feel such a difference. On the R6, the design of the bike forces the boys up into the tank, but the level seating on the fz lets you find a comfortable spot and keep it. I pulled out onto the street and took a turn and the light and nimble feeling of the fz sprung back. It was right there with the r6 on u-turn speed maneuverability. Here was my first chance at a little acceleration... I start twisting the throttle and it feels heavy... and slow... and the bar end feels like it has a larger diameter than the previous days bike of choice - but none-the-less I go with it. Had I been on the R6 at this moment, the throttle crack (which is really light and smooth) would have launched the bike to about 6k rpm where you get the first kick in the ass. The acceleration increases with no end in sight, given the smooth power curve. (Imagine the sudden smack you get when you hit 9k on the fz6). It would have caused me to slide back in the seat a little while the bike begged for more throttle to feed its hunger to go faster. But I was not on the R6, I was on its... what do the ads say.... its tuned down cousin. (I always found it humorous that it was not a brother, but a cousin...)
So the throttle opened and the the acceleration was gentle and constant. Unlike the adrenaline pumping r6 that is only concerned for what is in front of you and how fast it can get there.... the fz was relaxing... leisurely... calm - almost what I would picture as a "take some time to smell the roses" ride to work. As I came to my first stop, I noticed the difference in braking... a little longer to stop on a heavier bike. Nothing bad, just something I noticed.
Then it was off again with a smooth shift into first and a clunk into second. I didn't hear OR feel any of this in the R6 gearbox, however I can't judge the sound part since the exhaust is deafening... :bitchslap. Off I went to work - noticing much of the same flickablity. Hard acceleration off a corner further enforced how stable the fz6 feels - much more than the r6 (which I am currently ordering a steering damper for...). While I really really like the analog tach on the r6, the meter layout of the fz6 proved far superior with its layout and lighting choices. The back lighting, the blinker indicator, etc... all superior. Even the general layout of the controls was nicer on the fz. In comparison I can see some of the design choices that went into the two bikes and the visual appeal of everything from the meter to the start/kill buttons was more enjoyable on the fz6.
Overall, on the ride to work, the greatest impression was the delay in power the fz6 has off of the line. (when compared to the r6... which is understandable) I felt a tremendous amount of throttle travel before I could tap into some of the power and torque. In comparison, once the r6 throttle was cracked - it would pull hard from that instant on... you almost couldn't shift gear fast enough to stay in a low rpm range...
OK, so only an hour before the afternoon commute... I'll be filling in the rest this eveing.
Afternoon Commute:
16 miles of highways at highway speeds, 8 miles of residential and canyon-type roads. Alot of 20mph curves. Average speed - faster than I really should be going... :rolleyes
*Here in CA, two things are inevitable on the highway (at least for me). I will do a little bit of lane splitting and I will be driving quite fast at points... the first is to bypass congestion and the later is to put the danger in front of me... if I am moving slightly, emphasis on slightly, faster than traffic... I control the tempo. So that said there were four main differences in the bike during the part of my daily trip - size, acceleration, suspension, wind/debris protection.
So when lane splitting, the two things that stick out the furthest are the bar ends and the mirrors. Bar ends tend to want to make contact with lower sitting cars, while mirrors have a taste for other mirrors, especially those of trucks and SUVs. I never really worried too much about the the bike mirrors on either bike as I would just fold them down... however since converting my FZ to naked, I no longer have that luxury, so I do have to keep an eye out for that, even it they do not stick out as far as before... so as you can imagine, the lightweight, narrow R6 made lane splitting an almost non-issue. I don't recall having to slow to a stop at all - what a difference a few inches makes... ! Of course once traffic opened up... it was off to the races. The acceleration was again quite different, but I will talk about that more in the next section. I did note the that two run at about the same rpm at the same speed in the same gear, well... under normal acceleration and driving conditions... Once up to highway speeds, I recalled how much I missed having a fairing for wind protection... however the R6 fairing has its pros and cons.
When I had the fairing on the FZ6, the wind screen caused alot of buffeting at the helmet level. In addition, I felt that the fairing and screen combination almost acted like a sail in a side wind. Since converting to naked, side winds find it futile trying to push me along the road. In comparison, the clever part of the R6 is that is has a more aerodynamically agressive design which really sends the airflow around you. Side winds seem to have little to no effect either. Making a really cheesy analogy, if the R6 were a bullet, the FZ6 would be some sort of blunt object (say a bus or something *grin). HOWEVER - the design relationship between the tank and the wind screen are such that in a full tuck, it is hard to bend your neck up enough to get a good view, and you still end up some of your helmet in the wind stream... which is lound and turbulent. This position makes it difficult to stay in a tuck very long. A full tuck on the faired FZ6, in comparison, is like stepping out of the wind. The curvature of the tank as well as the design of the seat allow a very confortable tucked position. I remeber the joy I used to get out of laying on the tank and just cruising for miles while being able to get front row seats to a beautiful sound... the engine spinning along coupled with the exhaust note. With the R6, I feel this is an impossible task... well... unless you want an aftermarket screen.
A little lower on the R6 and you have something the FZ6 does not - a lower fairing.... and you know... I never really realized how much the fZ6 lacked in the aerodynics department until now. I'm not hacking it, but when on the FZ6, my pant legs flap, my toes get cold, I occasionally get hit in the shin with a rock or something... the full fairing of the R6 offsets all of this, however the heat from the engine blows right on your feet... which can be uncomfortable. I wonder is the lower fairing add on for the FZ6 changes any of these airflow qualities? Again on the topic of aerodynamics... you really can feel the difference when accelerating - the R6 is a steak knife, the FZ6 is a butter knife. BUT! The FZ6 is supposed to be a butter knife. If I were to choose one to take on a long trip based on fairing design alone... the FZ6 would be my choice hands down.
Ah yes... the suspension... So have you ever talked to someone who had been in a race car or similar... maybe an older corvette or a dodge viper or something. I tend to hear remarks along the line of "you can feel every bump"... well... want to guess which bike had the more plush suspension? Maybe I will describe the ride then tell the answer. Of course to get things on the same page... both bikes have been dialed in for a level between street and track. Both bikes have the same front end.
The highways around LA have this strange wave pattern to them. Along with that there are rain grooves but into the pavement. So, as you might imagine, at varying speeds you hit these waves with just the right frequency to get a nice oscillation going. Up and down up and down as you wobble side to side a little from the aforementioned grooves... and with the short wheel base, the most violent oscillations occur right around highway speeds :bitchslap DOH!. I would get about the same chatter from both bikes in the front but the only one I would get bucked in the rear at certain invervals. I may be giving it away, but until this comparison, I never noticed how smooth the ride was... yes you got it... the FZ6 did indeed have the nicer suspension. Now here me out here. The FZ6 is adjustable for preload only... BUT I have to believe that the compression and damping built into the shock were designed for an optimal range. Although I have yet to test a different rear shock, I have never had a complaint about it. I have more on the rear shock later, but here comes something you might not want to read, so close your eyes... or squint and do a mental scroll down the page....The only complaint that I have is that while the r6 mod did indeed give me some better diving and cornering caracteristics, it's shorter suspension travel took alot of the smoothness out of the ride, compared to stock. I've always felt this, but now it was reaffirmed. All in all - on the R6 I was bouncing up and down like this on the highway
:smilierr
Which did not make my back happy at all...
Then off to the twisty residential roads, although I didn't push either bike in this area... too many blind corner with driveways but I will say that due to the feeling that the FZ6 feels content to just ride and take it all in, it was more enjoyable to go the speed limit thru this area.
Evening Commute Home:
14 miles of canyons/coastal roads and residential areas, 6 miles of main roads.
*This is by far the best part of my day. It's almost like a joyous calm ending the day... well... until I get home and kill the day by an hour of surfing! But I digress... this final bit of my journey takes me through some light traffic, less residential areas down to the coast all via curvy roads and my favorite 3 corners in the area... the double S (see picture below). The coastal road back home winds past Donald Trumps Golf Course, through Portuguese Bend with its active landscape where the water and sewage pipes are above ground in flexible piping, and the road that runs through it is repaved almost monthly to account for cracks, shifts, and potholes. This road continues on along smooth grippy roads with 20-35mph sweepers all the way home. It's icing on the cake.
So leaving the place I coach at, there is a BEAUTIFUL constant radius 20mph super wide curve. This ranks at #4 of my top favorite curves. And the past two days I was on empty when I left so I had to go to the gas station in the opposite direction. Now some people might see this as an inconvenience, but not I - this is an opportunity - an opportunity to warm my tires! So blasting through this section and into the double S could be very grafitying. So now here it is - the bikes in the curves
Have you ever tossed the bike side to side around 20-30 mph... in that "I'm warming my tires" fashion? This was the first indicator at how the two would perform and differ. With the FZ6 - I like the feel when I add to the steering input by tossing my own weight around, generally from the hips. It just seems more agile and controlled, as the input into the bars tends to really want to go for it... and sometimes too far. I'll take an aside here for a moment. When I was at Keith Code's California Superbike school, they do a steering drill. And the only person that got corrected on steering was me... on my FZ6 - the only "non-traditional" sportbike there. I was told I used to much body and that I needed to lean into it more, even when holding a zig-zag pattern... well - I argued that the bike didn't feel right like that and the arguement was settled when I hoped on my room mates R1 and didi the drill again. This time... no body inputs - all steering and leaning... hmmmmmmm... so nowadays I try to force myself to not use any body on the FZ6 and it works well, but the body input feels solid on the same level... This is the big difference here. The R6 is just a really well balanced bike - and I naturally find myself using steering inputs only in that zig zag pattern. This seemed to play out into the cornering feel and ability, although I will use "ability" very loosely, as I am no professional.
So into the curves I go. Hi ho... hahahah - I couldn't resist. Unfortunately - I can not really describe this aspect well. The R6 just felt at home. Once it leaned over, it was easy to stay true to a line. The initial dive was always really clean and it was very easy to just crack the throttle to set the lean angle. With a lower center of gravity and light wieght, I felt very comfortable taking the bike to the tires limit without hanging off the bike very much. All I would need to do is slap some knee pucks on a put it out there. It really feels that there would be nothing to it... (but I'll see when I take it to the track at the end of the month...) - Maybe if Mike reads this he can comment...? And while I could tell right off that there would be more of a limit on the R6, I couldn't help but reflect on how DAMN FUN the FZ6 is to ride. The FZ6, as I mentioned before, is a great bike for practicing technique. It has little subtleties here and there that seperate it from the traditional sportbike, and these subtleties make cornering more fun, in my opinion. In 300 miles I'e already worn the R6 tires to the edge, and in 2,000 miles on the FZ6, I've yet to hit the edge BUT I can carry more speed through a corner on it?!?!?! It's all about the tehnique and the body position. With the FZ6 - you really have to stretch (with stock pegs) to get a knee down. You will be leaning off the bike so far that you'll never touch the edge of the tire... and I like hanging off this bike so much that I have yet to get there. Coming out of a corner on the R6 and grabbing that hand of throttle - the bike just straightens out and gets going, the suspension is firmly settled and all you need to do is hang on. With the FZ6 the cornering experience is similar, except that I felt moer intereaction with the bike. The way the forces act on you - they push you back into the seat - a seat that has seems to cup your behind as you sink into it. The back end sags down to take the cornering G's - you can feel it. The bike locks, bites the line, then you can just wail on the gas. And this is the the thing. The R6 builds revs very quickly, so you do need to show some restraint... while the FZ6 is a slow builder and with the power band being how it is... you can give it more gas sooner than on the R6. I feel that there would be a true match up in exit corner speed with the two. The R6 allows you to brake later, but the FZ6 seems to allow getting on the gas sooner... make sense?
So cornering is great... both are fun, but I got the chance to try the R6 on another really fun area of the trip home - Protugeuse Bend! This section of road... approx. 1 mile long... is constantly changing. Seismic activity shifts the land dayly and therefore the warning signs caution you to be aware of the multiple 10mph dips, ridges, bumps, you name it. On the FZ6 - there is one section that if you hit it at the right speed and load the suspension just right - you can get the bike off the ground a good two inches in front and probably as much as 6 in the rear. It's a nice gap so the land is smooth, but you can hear the rear loose contact and regain it... chain whinning and all. I tend to go across this area motocross style - standing up and taking the bumps with my legs. The wide handlebars give excellent control. When I was out the on the R6... I went over one a little too fast and it upset the bike and teh balance enough that I didn't try it anymore. So +1 on the off road type handling of the FZ6 (don't know how many have tried it in other ways... but it's really fun off road...) and on that rear shock that never lets me down.
After Port. Bend is a stop sign and a long straight away. It was here that I dragged the two bikes. The R6 was nothing less than impressive - easily hitting 110mph within an alotted distance. Cracking the throttle opens the flood gate. The FZ6 however only hit 86 by that point... BUT - of course... I do have the naked version so any talk of aerodynamics is OUT! I was fighting drag the entire way. I'll say it again - the R6 builds revs really quickly, while the FZ6 does it... welll... almost at its own leisure.
I would say that overall both bikes are absolutely amazing and that fact that I can even make a comparison like this feels really good. They each do different things well and they both bring different things to the table. The R6 is fast and agile. The FZ6 is a smooth ride and is very stable. The R6 feels at home in conditions were it is pushed to the extreme. The FZ6 has a very versitile suspension capable of almost anything you can throw at it. The R6 is a bike that people look at as you ride by... the FZ6 is a bike that people will talk to you about when you are stopped.
From now on... when taking a long drive, when taking highways, when needing space to carry goodies.... the FZ6 is going. When I head to the track or need some adrenaline... I'll take the R6... when heading to the canyons - it's going to be a coin toss, but I might use a double headed coin and call heads on the FZ6... all in all - it's a really fun little bike and I truely love this bike. CHEERS!
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2004 Yamaha R6 and the 2004 Yamaha FZ6 - My Review
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Background on the bikes:
NOTE: The links are to the specs on the two bikes. Opening them up side by side is pretty interesting. Some of the things you might find... many of which play into my reivew...
-The R6 has a smaller width, height and length, but a higher seat height!
-The FZ6 has more suspension travel than the R6, even it is it not as adjustable
-The R6 is lighter (dry wieght) by ~75lbs!
Quater Mile times: http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_street_bike_performance_times/#yamaha
FZ6: (quater, 60-80, 80-100) - 11.53sec @ 117.4mph, 5.42sec, 5.99sec
R6: (quater, 60-80, 80-100) - 10.68sec @ 129.3mph, 4.13sec, 4.63sec
My Bikes:
* 2004 Yamaha R6 *
http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/2004/146_04_yamaha_yzf_r6_specs/
Rapid Red
Milage: 8,2xx
Performance Enhancers: Sato Slip-on Exhaust, Dunlop Qualifiers (D209's)
Ponies:110.8 @ 13,000 (corrected from Sato)
Torque:44.2 @ 12,250
* 2004 Yamaha FZ6 *
http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/2004/146_04_yamaha_fz6_specs/
Galaxy Blue (also know as "Faster Blue")
Mileage: 10,1xx
Performance Enhancers: Arrow Slip-on Exhaust with CAT Elim., Dunlop D208's, 2004 R6 front end with 2003 R1 brakes.
Ponies:100.1 (Corrected from Arrow) @12k
Torque:42.3 @ 10k
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Having riden bikes for years now, everything from the old honda nighthawks to a few late 80's sportbikes, I've been blessed with being able to try many different types of bikes which makes it easier to find that bike that suits me best.
My main attractions to the FZ6 when I first decided I wanted to buy new where the price, and the ergonomics. I looked at the Hornet, and the SV650 as well, but the deeper I got into the research - the more of a total package the FZ6 offered. Better looks, less maintenance, lower part costs (thanks to the color moulding) and the semi-naked look with it's over-seas brother looking mighty nice.
I've really liked everything about the bike aside from the choppy throttle at under 12mph (a power commander fixed that) - and all of the rough idle TPS problems I've had. It runs smooth when you want to cruise but the power can accessed with a twist of the wrist. I felt the power distribution was very adequate for my riding style at the time which consisted of mainly commuting and the occasional joy ride. I was never in a place that had heavy curves, but when I found them, the FZ and I would go into destroy mode and we each kept each other with the rubber on the road and always had a kick doing it.
Since moving to Southern California, my riding style and needs have changed alot. There are more riders out on the streets, the riding season is year round, and the coastal roads and canyons offer all sorts of riding experiences. This is where I got a renewed love for the bike. It's so flickable and tracks so well. I have never been on such a bike that felt so stable in almost every condition imaginable. The wider bars and upright position allows so many opprotunites to practice proper techniques. And along with that there is also a wide selection of groups here that offer track days at as many as 6 tracks all within 5 hours aways. So the FZ6 could be put to yet another test.
Of course my needs are ever changeing and I am getting to the point where I desired a bike that would perform better than the FZ6 on the track. I did not worry about the canyons b/c the FZ6 is amazing out there. I wanted something with better track ergos, namely something with clip ons, rear sets and a full fairing... All of which can be added to the FZ6 of course, but then it wouldn't be the FZ6... it would just be a good looking track capable bike... and if I went that route, I am sure that I would soon desire a bike with a wider powerband and smoother power curve. These needs transpired into a 2004 R6.
So by today (May 2) I have riden about 300 miles on the R6 since Saturday (April 29th), with ~50 on it yesterday. The routes that I have taken are street roads, highways, canyon and coastal roads. Today I am on the FZ6 driving the exact same route... so my comparision will be my reactions and thoughts over various portions of my trip - yesterday vs. today; the R6 vs. the FZ6.
Prep for the Day:
Gearing up, starting bike, allowing warmup time, etc...
My general routine is to get my gear on, minus gloves and helmet. Head into the garage, unlock all that is locked up, start the bike, wheel it out of the garage, load any gear on it, close up the garage, helmet then gloves, then I'm off. Usually just enough time for the bike to warm up enough. Well - taking the R6 the other morning was really nice as it is soooooooooooo freakin' light. It's easy to wheel around the garage and out. The FZ is a bit heavier and wider, and I often get the bar ends hung up on something. Upon start up, I really like the FZ as it is alot quieter, even with the Arrow cans. I've noticed alot of people mentioning that the aftermarket cans are generally pretty calm until you really get on them. The Sato on the R6 seriously has to be the loudest sportbike exhaust I have ever heard. I wear ear plugs, but it feels like my ears want to bleed.... ugh. So I worry about the neighbors and what not with all the noise. With the R6 I don't really know when it is warm... it tells me engine temp, but that seems to differ (as much as 30degrees) on ambient air temp. The FZ6 however has the temp bars and a CLOCK! - not sure if the R6 does or does not. The clock is something I really like... that and the four way hazards (which the r6 does not have either). Aside from those things... I coach a lacrosse team in the evenings (no need to insert Duke jokes here, I've heard them all by now...) so I generally take my gear with me. Yesterday I set my stuff, which consists of my stick, helmet, and gloves, on the back of the R6 and... couldn't find any place to hook my bungees! Ended up having to leave my gear at home. Today however - it was a nice fit on the Fz with the long, wide seat. Now while the R6 doesn't have the seating space - it has a HUGE (in comparison) trunk! I was taking the R6 b/c I was shipping my Scorpio alarm transmitter back for a repair and could not fit my lock and chain in the FZ. The R6 has plenty of room, under both seats. I guess that is a simple pleasure of the side exhaust... which also makes it ALOT easier to clean than the undertail one... but I digress. So that was my very first impression this morning...
I think doing a comparison going from R6 to FZ is better than FZ to R6... my senses seemed alot more aware of sublties this morning...
Morning Commute to Work:
7 miles, residential to main road., average speed 40mph
* Hopping on the Fz I IMMEDIATELY noticed a difference which I did not anticipate. It felt low and heavy! It felt like a road star warrior without the really wide higher set bars... Of course, my back was already thanking me... especially after putting 300 miles on the r6 in such a short period. My butt thanked me too. I was not expecting to feel such a difference. On the R6, the design of the bike forces the boys up into the tank, but the level seating on the fz lets you find a comfortable spot and keep it. I pulled out onto the street and took a turn and the light and nimble feeling of the fz sprung back. It was right there with the r6 on u-turn speed maneuverability. Here was my first chance at a little acceleration... I start twisting the throttle and it feels heavy... and slow... and the bar end feels like it has a larger diameter than the previous days bike of choice - but none-the-less I go with it. Had I been on the R6 at this moment, the throttle crack (which is really light and smooth) would have launched the bike to about 6k rpm where you get the first kick in the ass. The acceleration increases with no end in sight, given the smooth power curve. (Imagine the sudden smack you get when you hit 9k on the fz6). It would have caused me to slide back in the seat a little while the bike begged for more throttle to feed its hunger to go faster. But I was not on the R6, I was on its... what do the ads say.... its tuned down cousin. (I always found it humorous that it was not a brother, but a cousin...)
So the throttle opened and the the acceleration was gentle and constant. Unlike the adrenaline pumping r6 that is only concerned for what is in front of you and how fast it can get there.... the fz was relaxing... leisurely... calm - almost what I would picture as a "take some time to smell the roses" ride to work. As I came to my first stop, I noticed the difference in braking... a little longer to stop on a heavier bike. Nothing bad, just something I noticed.
Then it was off again with a smooth shift into first and a clunk into second. I didn't hear OR feel any of this in the R6 gearbox, however I can't judge the sound part since the exhaust is deafening... :bitchslap. Off I went to work - noticing much of the same flickablity. Hard acceleration off a corner further enforced how stable the fz6 feels - much more than the r6 (which I am currently ordering a steering damper for...). While I really really like the analog tach on the r6, the meter layout of the fz6 proved far superior with its layout and lighting choices. The back lighting, the blinker indicator, etc... all superior. Even the general layout of the controls was nicer on the fz. In comparison I can see some of the design choices that went into the two bikes and the visual appeal of everything from the meter to the start/kill buttons was more enjoyable on the fz6.
Overall, on the ride to work, the greatest impression was the delay in power the fz6 has off of the line. (when compared to the r6... which is understandable) I felt a tremendous amount of throttle travel before I could tap into some of the power and torque. In comparison, once the r6 throttle was cracked - it would pull hard from that instant on... you almost couldn't shift gear fast enough to stay in a low rpm range...
OK, so only an hour before the afternoon commute... I'll be filling in the rest this eveing.
Afternoon Commute:
16 miles of highways at highway speeds, 8 miles of residential and canyon-type roads. Alot of 20mph curves. Average speed - faster than I really should be going... :rolleyes
*Here in CA, two things are inevitable on the highway (at least for me). I will do a little bit of lane splitting and I will be driving quite fast at points... the first is to bypass congestion and the later is to put the danger in front of me... if I am moving slightly, emphasis on slightly, faster than traffic... I control the tempo. So that said there were four main differences in the bike during the part of my daily trip - size, acceleration, suspension, wind/debris protection.
So when lane splitting, the two things that stick out the furthest are the bar ends and the mirrors. Bar ends tend to want to make contact with lower sitting cars, while mirrors have a taste for other mirrors, especially those of trucks and SUVs. I never really worried too much about the the bike mirrors on either bike as I would just fold them down... however since converting my FZ to naked, I no longer have that luxury, so I do have to keep an eye out for that, even it they do not stick out as far as before... so as you can imagine, the lightweight, narrow R6 made lane splitting an almost non-issue. I don't recall having to slow to a stop at all - what a difference a few inches makes... ! Of course once traffic opened up... it was off to the races. The acceleration was again quite different, but I will talk about that more in the next section. I did note the that two run at about the same rpm at the same speed in the same gear, well... under normal acceleration and driving conditions... Once up to highway speeds, I recalled how much I missed having a fairing for wind protection... however the R6 fairing has its pros and cons.
When I had the fairing on the FZ6, the wind screen caused alot of buffeting at the helmet level. In addition, I felt that the fairing and screen combination almost acted like a sail in a side wind. Since converting to naked, side winds find it futile trying to push me along the road. In comparison, the clever part of the R6 is that is has a more aerodynamically agressive design which really sends the airflow around you. Side winds seem to have little to no effect either. Making a really cheesy analogy, if the R6 were a bullet, the FZ6 would be some sort of blunt object (say a bus or something *grin). HOWEVER - the design relationship between the tank and the wind screen are such that in a full tuck, it is hard to bend your neck up enough to get a good view, and you still end up some of your helmet in the wind stream... which is lound and turbulent. This position makes it difficult to stay in a tuck very long. A full tuck on the faired FZ6, in comparison, is like stepping out of the wind. The curvature of the tank as well as the design of the seat allow a very confortable tucked position. I remeber the joy I used to get out of laying on the tank and just cruising for miles while being able to get front row seats to a beautiful sound... the engine spinning along coupled with the exhaust note. With the R6, I feel this is an impossible task... well... unless you want an aftermarket screen.
A little lower on the R6 and you have something the FZ6 does not - a lower fairing.... and you know... I never really realized how much the fZ6 lacked in the aerodynics department until now. I'm not hacking it, but when on the FZ6, my pant legs flap, my toes get cold, I occasionally get hit in the shin with a rock or something... the full fairing of the R6 offsets all of this, however the heat from the engine blows right on your feet... which can be uncomfortable. I wonder is the lower fairing add on for the FZ6 changes any of these airflow qualities? Again on the topic of aerodynamics... you really can feel the difference when accelerating - the R6 is a steak knife, the FZ6 is a butter knife. BUT! The FZ6 is supposed to be a butter knife. If I were to choose one to take on a long trip based on fairing design alone... the FZ6 would be my choice hands down.
Ah yes... the suspension... So have you ever talked to someone who had been in a race car or similar... maybe an older corvette or a dodge viper or something. I tend to hear remarks along the line of "you can feel every bump"... well... want to guess which bike had the more plush suspension? Maybe I will describe the ride then tell the answer. Of course to get things on the same page... both bikes have been dialed in for a level between street and track. Both bikes have the same front end.
The highways around LA have this strange wave pattern to them. Along with that there are rain grooves but into the pavement. So, as you might imagine, at varying speeds you hit these waves with just the right frequency to get a nice oscillation going. Up and down up and down as you wobble side to side a little from the aforementioned grooves... and with the short wheel base, the most violent oscillations occur right around highway speeds :bitchslap DOH!. I would get about the same chatter from both bikes in the front but the only one I would get bucked in the rear at certain invervals. I may be giving it away, but until this comparison, I never noticed how smooth the ride was... yes you got it... the FZ6 did indeed have the nicer suspension. Now here me out here. The FZ6 is adjustable for preload only... BUT I have to believe that the compression and damping built into the shock were designed for an optimal range. Although I have yet to test a different rear shock, I have never had a complaint about it. I have more on the rear shock later, but here comes something you might not want to read, so close your eyes... or squint and do a mental scroll down the page....The only complaint that I have is that while the r6 mod did indeed give me some better diving and cornering caracteristics, it's shorter suspension travel took alot of the smoothness out of the ride, compared to stock. I've always felt this, but now it was reaffirmed. All in all - on the R6 I was bouncing up and down like this on the highway
:smilierr
Which did not make my back happy at all...
Then off to the twisty residential roads, although I didn't push either bike in this area... too many blind corner with driveways but I will say that due to the feeling that the FZ6 feels content to just ride and take it all in, it was more enjoyable to go the speed limit thru this area.
Evening Commute Home:
14 miles of canyons/coastal roads and residential areas, 6 miles of main roads.
*This is by far the best part of my day. It's almost like a joyous calm ending the day... well... until I get home and kill the day by an hour of surfing! But I digress... this final bit of my journey takes me through some light traffic, less residential areas down to the coast all via curvy roads and my favorite 3 corners in the area... the double S (see picture below). The coastal road back home winds past Donald Trumps Golf Course, through Portuguese Bend with its active landscape where the water and sewage pipes are above ground in flexible piping, and the road that runs through it is repaved almost monthly to account for cracks, shifts, and potholes. This road continues on along smooth grippy roads with 20-35mph sweepers all the way home. It's icing on the cake.
So leaving the place I coach at, there is a BEAUTIFUL constant radius 20mph super wide curve. This ranks at #4 of my top favorite curves. And the past two days I was on empty when I left so I had to go to the gas station in the opposite direction. Now some people might see this as an inconvenience, but not I - this is an opportunity - an opportunity to warm my tires! So blasting through this section and into the double S could be very grafitying. So now here it is - the bikes in the curves
Have you ever tossed the bike side to side around 20-30 mph... in that "I'm warming my tires" fashion? This was the first indicator at how the two would perform and differ. With the FZ6 - I like the feel when I add to the steering input by tossing my own weight around, generally from the hips. It just seems more agile and controlled, as the input into the bars tends to really want to go for it... and sometimes too far. I'll take an aside here for a moment. When I was at Keith Code's California Superbike school, they do a steering drill. And the only person that got corrected on steering was me... on my FZ6 - the only "non-traditional" sportbike there. I was told I used to much body and that I needed to lean into it more, even when holding a zig-zag pattern... well - I argued that the bike didn't feel right like that and the arguement was settled when I hoped on my room mates R1 and didi the drill again. This time... no body inputs - all steering and leaning... hmmmmmmm... so nowadays I try to force myself to not use any body on the FZ6 and it works well, but the body input feels solid on the same level... This is the big difference here. The R6 is just a really well balanced bike - and I naturally find myself using steering inputs only in that zig zag pattern. This seemed to play out into the cornering feel and ability, although I will use "ability" very loosely, as I am no professional.
So into the curves I go. Hi ho... hahahah - I couldn't resist. Unfortunately - I can not really describe this aspect well. The R6 just felt at home. Once it leaned over, it was easy to stay true to a line. The initial dive was always really clean and it was very easy to just crack the throttle to set the lean angle. With a lower center of gravity and light wieght, I felt very comfortable taking the bike to the tires limit without hanging off the bike very much. All I would need to do is slap some knee pucks on a put it out there. It really feels that there would be nothing to it... (but I'll see when I take it to the track at the end of the month...) - Maybe if Mike reads this he can comment...? And while I could tell right off that there would be more of a limit on the R6, I couldn't help but reflect on how DAMN FUN the FZ6 is to ride. The FZ6, as I mentioned before, is a great bike for practicing technique. It has little subtleties here and there that seperate it from the traditional sportbike, and these subtleties make cornering more fun, in my opinion. In 300 miles I'e already worn the R6 tires to the edge, and in 2,000 miles on the FZ6, I've yet to hit the edge BUT I can carry more speed through a corner on it?!?!?! It's all about the tehnique and the body position. With the FZ6 - you really have to stretch (with stock pegs) to get a knee down. You will be leaning off the bike so far that you'll never touch the edge of the tire... and I like hanging off this bike so much that I have yet to get there. Coming out of a corner on the R6 and grabbing that hand of throttle - the bike just straightens out and gets going, the suspension is firmly settled and all you need to do is hang on. With the FZ6 the cornering experience is similar, except that I felt moer intereaction with the bike. The way the forces act on you - they push you back into the seat - a seat that has seems to cup your behind as you sink into it. The back end sags down to take the cornering G's - you can feel it. The bike locks, bites the line, then you can just wail on the gas. And this is the the thing. The R6 builds revs very quickly, so you do need to show some restraint... while the FZ6 is a slow builder and with the power band being how it is... you can give it more gas sooner than on the R6. I feel that there would be a true match up in exit corner speed with the two. The R6 allows you to brake later, but the FZ6 seems to allow getting on the gas sooner... make sense?
So cornering is great... both are fun, but I got the chance to try the R6 on another really fun area of the trip home - Protugeuse Bend! This section of road... approx. 1 mile long... is constantly changing. Seismic activity shifts the land dayly and therefore the warning signs caution you to be aware of the multiple 10mph dips, ridges, bumps, you name it. On the FZ6 - there is one section that if you hit it at the right speed and load the suspension just right - you can get the bike off the ground a good two inches in front and probably as much as 6 in the rear. It's a nice gap so the land is smooth, but you can hear the rear loose contact and regain it... chain whinning and all. I tend to go across this area motocross style - standing up and taking the bumps with my legs. The wide handlebars give excellent control. When I was out the on the R6... I went over one a little too fast and it upset the bike and teh balance enough that I didn't try it anymore. So +1 on the off road type handling of the FZ6 (don't know how many have tried it in other ways... but it's really fun off road...) and on that rear shock that never lets me down.
After Port. Bend is a stop sign and a long straight away. It was here that I dragged the two bikes. The R6 was nothing less than impressive - easily hitting 110mph within an alotted distance. Cracking the throttle opens the flood gate. The FZ6 however only hit 86 by that point... BUT - of course... I do have the naked version so any talk of aerodynamics is OUT! I was fighting drag the entire way. I'll say it again - the R6 builds revs really quickly, while the FZ6 does it... welll... almost at its own leisure.
I would say that overall both bikes are absolutely amazing and that fact that I can even make a comparison like this feels really good. They each do different things well and they both bring different things to the table. The R6 is fast and agile. The FZ6 is a smooth ride and is very stable. The R6 feels at home in conditions were it is pushed to the extreme. The FZ6 has a very versitile suspension capable of almost anything you can throw at it. The R6 is a bike that people look at as you ride by... the FZ6 is a bike that people will talk to you about when you are stopped.
From now on... when taking a long drive, when taking highways, when needing space to carry goodies.... the FZ6 is going. When I head to the track or need some adrenaline... I'll take the R6... when heading to the canyons - it's going to be a coin toss, but I might use a double headed coin and call heads on the FZ6... all in all - it's a really fun little bike and I truely love this bike. CHEERS!
