One of the greatest sport bikes ever made is actually a 600 middleweight, a staple on every track day and easily one of the least comfortable motorcycles money can buy; the Yamaha R6.

After making its initial debut along with the venerable R1, it quickly gained a following, and by the time it reached its second generation, its star had begun to shine even brighter. When that second generation bike was launched it was easily one of the most advanced machines on the market with a ride by wire throttle, high and low speed adjustable damping, slipper clutch and a stratospheric 17,500 rpm rev limit. Gone were the days of beginner-friendly 600s, this was a true blue performance machine.

10 Trackday Hero

Yamaha R6
via Yamaha

Not many would dispute the fact that any machine favored by instructors in the world of motorsport has to be pretty good.

It is very much designed to be on track, it is as focused as any production motorcycle has ever been, and anyone looking for a budget track bike build will immediately favor the R6 because of its relative affordability and abundance of parts.

9 Cramped Ergos

Yamaha R6
AutoEvolution

All that sportiness comes at a cost, mostly comfort related. Anyone over 6 feet tall will struggle to find a riding position anywhere near comfortable.

Pretty much all sport bikes force a lot of weight onto your wrists, the R6 takes it to another pain inducing level, it will then also add heat to the mix and start cooking your bottom half. Suffice to say, this is not a commuter.

Related: Here Are The Coolest Motorcycles In Yamaha's Lineup In 2021

8 A Naughty Success Story

Valentino Rossi Yamaha
via Netral

The 00s saw the rise of the supersport (or middleweight sport bike) class, with all the big Japanese manufacturers throwing in a product or two to compete in this segment.

In 2008, they made what was to be their last revisions to the R6 for another 8 years, it was at this point at its height and it also just so happened Valentino Rossi was at his height too, riding a Yamaha, this did not harm sales.

7 Huge Aftermarket

2006 Yamaha YZF-R6
Via YouTube

No matter how you plan on riding the R6, there is something on the aftermarket for you. After being in production as long as it has with so few changes, it has allowed companies to keep making the same or at least similar products for many years.

It is reassuring that if something goes wrong there is more often than not an upgrade you will be able to install that eliminates the fault, or the fact that OEM parts are readily available both new and used.

Related: A Look Back At The Glorious Career Of Valentino Rossi

6 Not All Mods Made Equal

Yamaha R6
Flickr

With such a selection available, it is easy to either get the wrong thing or buy a used bike that has been running with the wrong thing for many years.

Some mods are just cosmetic, but an aftermarket exhaust can actually do more harm than good if the bike is not remapped/tuned to accept the pipe.

5 Near Perfect Cassis

Yamaha R6
Yamaha

Its party piece is definitely the chassis, with enough power to hustle the bike through the corners, it is never going to scare liter bikes with sheer power.

Its chassis is arguably the best Yamaha have come up with, rigid in the right places and flexible in others, it is exactly what you want on a track.

Related: A Detailed Look Back At The Original Yamaha YZF-R7

4 Rev Happy

Yamaha R6 engine
Bike Review

The bike can rev to an astonishing two-stroke-esque 17,500 rpm, but to get the most out of it you need to keep it pretty near that stratospheric red line though.

It is very much a race-bred engine, which makes it a bit of a nightmare to deal with if you want to ride the bike daily. With so much of the power high up, there is precious little low down and if you are used to riding bikes with a decent mid-range the R6 will be a challenging bike to adjust to.

3 Faulty Cam Chain Tensioner

2006 Yamaha YZF-R6 in a parking
via YouTube

Over its many years in production, the bike has proven time and again just how reliable it is, even if you ride it hard on a regular basis.

Only the bikes made between 06 and 08 had a small mechanical issue, their cam chain tensioners were prone to failure, and it was rather concerning at the time because it could lead to a rather spectacular engine failure. Most of these bikes have by now been repaired, but if you are buying a low mileage bike from this period, it is worth asking if the necessary work has been done.

Related: Here's Why The 2021 Yamaha YZF-R3 Is A Great Sportbike For Beginners

2 Almost Unchanged For 10 Years

Blue Yamaha YZF-R6
Via Mutual Enterprises Inc

Between 06 and 16 the bike only had one minor revision in 08, a fix for the known cam-chain tensioner, lower handlebars and a slight change in the engine map.

Even today, the only real differences are cosmetic, with the same 600cc engine developed 15 years ago still doing duty. A testament to both its longevity and the sad demise of the supersport class.

1 Incredible Value

Via Roadracingworld

Considering it cost them just as much to develop and produce as the bigger R1, even off the shelf, these machines offer exceptional value. So getting one new is still a tempting proposition.

Getting one used offers far more value, though, it is important to know what to look out for and ask the right questions. Bikes in fair condition are common and very affordable, and as long as the owner has maintained it, you don’t have much to worry about. Just don’t try to commute on the thing.