Alright, so today I wanna talk about my 2007 Yamaha YZF-R6S. This thing’s been my daily ride for a while now, and I’ve got some thoughts to share.
First off, when I started looking for a bike, I was comparing the R6 and the R6S. I noticed people online were saying the R6 has a 120/70/17 front tire, while the R6S has a 120/60/17, and lots of folks were changing that out right away. That’s a small difference, but I took note.
I dug a bit more and found that the R6 has this thing called YCC-T, which stands for Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle. I don’t even know what it means but it sounds fancy. The R6S doesn’t have that. Then there’s the whole inverted forks thing. The R6 has ’em, the R6S doesn’t. People say inverted forks are more prone to damage, and the shocks are stiffer, which makes for a less comfy ride.
Now, I’m no track racer. I’m just a regular dude riding on regular streets. So, I thought about this a lot. People online say the R6S is actually quicker on the street, which is where I’m riding most of the time. Made sense to me. Plus, I saw a 2005 R6 with 30k km going for 3k, while a 2007 R6 with the same mileage was 4.5k. That’s a big price difference for similar mileage.
From what I gathered the R6S, especially the 2007 model, has a 599cc engine. I saw some numbers like 127 hp at 14,500 rpm and 66 Nm of torque at 11,000 rpm. I’m not gonna pretend I know what all that means, but it sounded powerful enough for me. Also, I read that the R6S has a more comfortable riding position than the R6, which sounded good for longer rides.
So, after weighing all this, I went for the R6S. I got my hands on it and took it out for a spin. First thing I noticed was the power. It’s got plenty of it. I read somewhere that the R6S has more low and mid-range power compared to the R6, which is more linear and has power at the top of the rpms. And yeah, I could feel that. It’s pretty responsive when I twist the throttle.
- Handling: The bike handles really well. It feels stable and nimble at the same time. I can lean into corners pretty confidently, and it just goes where I want it to.
- Brakes: The brakes are solid. They stop the bike quickly and smoothly. I feel in control when I need to slow down or stop suddenly.
- Comfort: Like I mentioned earlier, the riding position is pretty comfortable. It’s not too aggressive, so I can ride for a while without feeling too strained.
- Fuel Economy: It’s not the most fuel-efficient bike, but it’s not terrible either. I get decent mileage, especially when I’m not pushing it too hard.
I’ve been riding this bike for a while now, and honestly, I’m happy with my choice. It’s a fun, reliable bike that’s perfect for my everyday needs. It’s got the power I want, it handles well, and it’s comfortable enough for longer rides. Sure, the R6 might have some fancier features, but for me, the R6S is just the right fit.
I heard that they stopped making the R6 road-legal in 2021 because of some emissions rules. Glad I got mine when I did!
Overall, if you’re looking for a solid sportbike that’s fun to ride and won’t break the bank, I’d definitely recommend checking out the Yamaha YZF-R6S. It’s a great bike that’s served me well.
