IN 2003 600s took a step forward with the appearance of a new ultra-sporty breed in place of the multi-purpose bikes they had always been. This almost surprised Yamaha – they strayed to the slightly more user-friendly end of the 600 supersport spectrum – but the heavily revised R6 managed to combine both.
articles better than any other. The problem was that it was always 0.01% slower on the track than the ZX-6R, CBR600RR and GSX-R600 and it looked the same as the previous year’s model, so it was unfairly ignored.
YZF-R6 Review
The reality was that the 2003-’04 R6 was and is a tremendously useful and useful piece of equipment, both on the road and on the track. The engine, while tuned up, proved to be much more flexible than that of the increasingly race-oriented CBR600RR, and nearly (but not quite) as strong as that of the 636cc ZX-6R. The suspension is a bit firm for road use: the rear shock has stiff springs, which will push lighter riders out of the saddle, but it works especially well for those carrying some excess luggage around their bellies. The brakes are fine, not exceptional, and benefit from braided hoses, but if a previous owner fitted one, check that they are routed correctly and aren’t getting dirty anywhere.
IN 2003 600s took a step forward with the appearance of a new ultra-sporty breed in place of the multi-purpose bikes they had always been. This almost surprised Yamaha – they strayed to the slightly more user-friendly end of the 600 supersport spectrum – but the heavily revised R6 managed to combine both.
articles better than any other. The problem was that it was always 0.01% slower on the track than the ZX-6R, CBR600RR and GSX-R600 and it looked the same as the previous year’s model, so it was unfairly ignored.
The reality was that the 2003-’04 R6 was and is a tremendously useful and useful piece of equipment, both on the road and on the track. The engine, while tuned up, proved to be much more flexible than that of the increasingly race-oriented CBR600RR, and nearly (but not quite) as strong as that of the 636cc ZX-6R. The suspension is a bit firm for road use: the rear shock has stiff springs, which will push lighter riders out of the saddle, but it works especially well for those carrying some excess luggage around their bellies. The brakes are fine, not exceptional, and benefit from braided hoses, but if a previous owner fitted one, check that they are routed correctly and aren’t getting dirty anywhere.
