Yamaha FZ6 vs Ninja 650R

Message
Author
User avatar
jonbailey19808
Elite
Elite
Posts: 117
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:50 pm

Yamaha FZ6 vs Ninja 650R

#1 Unread post by jonbailey19808 »

Ok i havnt posted here for a really long time.
I sold my M50 and im looking at buying a Ninja 650R (2006) or a FZ6 (2007)

I remeber the older Fz6 having issues with stuttering because of emissions levels. i think that was all cleared up in 07?

Im experiance and i know the fz6 has more horseys in it.

Has anyone driven both these bikes?

I like the digital dash on the FZ6 but i like the look of the black ninja more.

I remember the under seat exhaust got hot sometimes on the FZ6.
Suzuki M50
GZ 250(sold)

TrueFaith
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:55 am
Sex: Male
Location: Brookfield, MA

#2 Unread post by TrueFaith »

Yeah, Yamaha corrected that problem as well as the "throttle by wire" one. I'll probably end up on an FZ6 as my next bike, but when I compared it to the Ninja 650 I thought the FZ6 had a much more upright seating position, which I preferred. It also seemed taller than the Ninja. You'll really have to go to the dealer and sit on them both before you can make a decision. Seating preference is something that can't really be related. You have to park your butt on them both.

User avatar
jonbailey19808
Elite
Elite
Posts: 117
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:50 pm

#3 Unread post by jonbailey19808 »

Hey thanks.

Im off to look at an 06 Ninja tomorow. Only thing that scares me is it has 7800 miles on it. You think this is high for a motorcycle?

The 3000 miles 07 FZ6 is gone...dang it.
Suzuki M50
GZ 250(sold)

User avatar
jstark47
Site Supporter - Silver
Site Supporter - Silver
Posts: 3538
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:58 pm
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 16
My Motorcycle: '12 Tiger 800, '03 Trophy 1200
Location: Lumberton, NJ

#4 Unread post by jstark47 »

jonbailey19808 wrote:Im off to look at an 06 Ninja tomorow. Only thing that scares me is it has 7800 miles on it. You think this is high for a motorcycle?
Heck, no. Unless it was abused or something, that's just broken in.
2003 Triumph Trophy 1200
2009 BMW F650GS (wife's)
2012 Triumph Tiger 800
2018 Yamaha XT250 (wife's)
2013 Kawasaki KLX250S

User avatar
flynrider
Legendary 2000
Legendary 2000
Posts: 2391
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:36 pm
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 30
My Motorcycle: '93 Honda Nighthawk 750
Location: Phoenix, AZ

#5 Unread post by flynrider »

jonbailey19808 wrote:Hey thanks.

Im off to look at an 06 Ninja tomorow. Only thing that scares me is it has 7800 miles on it. You think this is high for a motorcycle?

The 3000 miles 07 FZ6 is gone...dang it.
7800 miles? That's nothing.

Too bad about the FZ6. I rode a new 07 last year and was very much impressed. Great seating position with high end power, brakes and suspension. What's not to like? (OK, I'd rather have it naked, but I've resigned myself to living in a plastic world).
Bikin' John
'93 Honda CB750 Nighthawk

User avatar
DivideOverflow
Legendary 1000
Legendary 1000
Posts: 1318
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:19 pm
Sex: Male
Location: Florida, USA

#6 Unread post by DivideOverflow »

I really did not like hte FZ6. The injection is pretty much crap, the suspension wasn't anything to write home about, and you had to wind the motor up to get it to do anything. The fueling issues still haven't been resolved as far as I know.

I liked the Ninja a little better for regular street riding. The suspension on that was the same deal, pretty bargain bin. But if you were looking at a Ninja 650R, I'd get an SV650 instead and throw a pipe on it. SV parts are easy to come by, and cheap, as well as the used bikes themselves are plentiful and cheap. Huge aftermarket support due to their abundance in the race world.
2008 BMW K1200S
2003 Z1000 - For Sale
1979 KZ650B - Work in progress
2005 Ducati SS 1000DS - sold :'(
1994 VFR750 Interceptor - sold
1984 VF700F Interceptor - sold
2004 Hyosung GV250 - sold

User avatar
flynrider
Legendary 2000
Legendary 2000
Posts: 2391
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:36 pm
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 30
My Motorcycle: '93 Honda Nighthawk 750
Location: Phoenix, AZ

#7 Unread post by flynrider »

DivideOverflow wrote:I really did not like hte FZ6. The injection is pretty much "crumb", the suspension wasn't anything to write home about, and you had to wind the motor up to get it to do anything. The fueling issues still haven't been resolved as far as I know.
Did you ride an '07? I rode an earlier model (with the FI problems) and they've definitely improved dramatically. No more jerky spots and dead spots.

They did tame the motor a bit to provide more midrange, but in the end, it's still the R6 motor and it's going to behave like a high powered inline 4. There are always tradeoffs. Twins have better low end grunt, I-4s tend to have more on the top end. Personally, I liked having the zippy power of the R6 in a package that was actually practical for the street. YMMV.
Bikin' John
'93 Honda CB750 Nighthawk

Bartt Rice
Rookie
Rookie
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:32 am

#8 Unread post by Bartt Rice »

The FZ6 has much better performance numbers than the Ninja 650
The only weak spots on the FZ6 is the front suspension and the weak goose neck bearings and the 2004 and 2005 has bad TPS sensors

Post Reply