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I have a 95 Nighthawk and would like to move up to a little better technology. I was looking for a used DL650 but several bike shoot offs compare the V-strom with other 600cc class bikes. A friend said NOT to get the FZ6 due to it's engine. He said it was a good engine but no torque and not good for town riding since it has to RPM so high to operate efficiently. I'm looking for an all around versatile city/road bike. Anyone have the FZ6? How is around town riding?

I can recommend the Buell XB9* or XB12* (you may like the Firebolt better than the Lighting since one looks sportier and has a more aggressive seating position) since I own one and have ridden the other. They both have tons of torque and are similar style to what you are looking for. You may also want to check out the Ducatis, Suzuki SV650, or the Honda Super Hawk.

I am partial to Buell since I own one... I think they have the most originality of all the sport-twins ... and it's belt drive so I don't have to worry about adjusting the back wheel, keeping the a chain lubed, or worrying about cleaning oil off of my back wheel all of the time

I think your friend is pushing you away from bikes with an inline engine because V-twins have more torque in lower revs (that is also why I recommend the above bikes), the inline engines generally have higher top speeds if you plan on going over 140mph and most of their power kicks in at higher revs.

never ridden one, but i sat on an FZ6 at the stealership and its a nice looking bike.

I'd read This first.

Specifications: Yamaha FZ6

MSRP: $6499

Engine
Type: l-c inline-four
Valve arrangement: dohc, 16v
Bore x stroke: 65.5 x 44.5mm
Displacement: 600cc
Compression ratio: 12.1:1
Transmission: 6-speed
Final drive: #530 chain

Chassis
Weight: 461 lb. (wet)
Fuel capacity: 5.1 gal.
Rake/trail: 25.0 deg./3.8 in. (97mm)
Wheelbase: 56.7 in. (1440mm)
Seat height: 31.5 in. (800mm)

Suspension
Front: 43mm fork, nonadjustable
Rear: single shock adjustable for spring preload
Tire, front: 120/70ZR17 Bridgestone BT020
Tire, rear: 180/55ZR17 Bridgestone BT020

Performance
Corrected 1/4 mile: 11.30 sec. @ 119.42 mph
0-60 mph: 3.44 sec.
0-100 mph: 7.87 sec.
Top-gear roll-on, 60-80 mph: 6.09 sec.
Fuel mileage (low/high/average): 32/44/38

Thanks for the replies. I have read that review and a couple others. They were a little critical of the FZ6 there but another one I read had nothing but good things to say about it. My son has a SV650S (that I paid for!) and it is nice. That is probably more my riding style but wanted to know what others thought about the Yamaha. Thanks again.

The Yammie will be more comfortable than the SV as it has a less aggressive riding position, it will also have more power but you have to be willing to rev it to get that power, the SV will have more low end torque.

It is basically a de-tuned R6 engine which puts the useable power down low. If you rev its jubs off there is nothing there.

Mintbread wrote:It is basically a de-tuned R6 engine which puts the useable power down low. If you rev its jubs off there is nothing there.

So you are saying that even reving the engine a lot will not produce the power? One recent Rider review (Apr 06) said it's "chassis is overwhelmed when pushed." ...whatever that means. The SV won, FZ second, Honda 599 was third, and Kaw 650R was last. I thought it would be a little sporty without humping the gas tank and have a nice larger seat to move around on while on trips. I see a lot of these used too. (?) Maybe kids get them and can't afford them. Finding the used DL650 is difficult and when they are available, the owners want more than the new price....and someimes they sell them. Dhhhh!

The power will be there at the top but the engines are tuned to run well in the mid-range at the expense of some top-end power. They are a compromise.

Regarding the chassis being overwhelmed, that is not a hard thing to do when you are giving it a fast workout in some corners. My Bandit has a simple tubular steel frame which produces more flex than bikes with massive slabs of alloy posing as frames, but I can still ride the wheels off it while it is bouncing around the corners.

jeff_connors
PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:59 pm Post subject:
Mintbread wrote:
It is basically a de-tuned R6 engine which puts the useable power down low. If you rev its jubs off there is nothing there.


So you are saying that even reving the engine a lot will not produce the power? One recent Rider review (Apr 06) said it's "chassis is overwhelmed when pushed." ...whatever that means. The SV won, FZ second, Honda 599 was third, and Kaw 650R was last. I thought it would be a little sporty without humping the gas tank and have a nice larger seat to move around on while on trips. I see a lot of these used too. (?) Maybe kids get them and can't afford them. Finding the used DL650 is difficult and when they are available, the owners want more than the new price....and someimes they sell them. Dhhhh!

Wait, isn't the 599 basically just a naked sport bike? It's an inline-four. So why is it being put in the same catagory as the sv and 650r? And why did the sv do better?