Yamaha Thundercat (YZF600R)..?

[rasta]

Does anyone know much about these bikes? With 87 hp @ 11k RPM, it seems like a reasonable choice of upgrade from my ninjette. From what I've been reading, it seems like a pretty good bike for the price. If the seller is willing to lower his price a bit (KBB values at $1600), I would take a serious look at it. I'm a little worried about the 20k mileage, but if everything seems to work well, I think it could be a very good deal at the right price.

Just wondering if anyone has personal experience with these things.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/4023518344.html

[alex.s]

i have the previous version. the FZR600. the difference is the aluminum frame. ken has this exact bike but in blue. its a great bike. very reliable and easy to fix. the electrical could be better. what do you want to know about it?

[alex.s]

just saw the price and laughed. it is worth about 1500-2000

[Alex]

Price does seem high. For $3K, there are much better machines out there. For $1500, it might be worth taking a chance on a 15-year old sportbike, going in with the assumption that it will require care and feeding to keep it reliable.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by Alex

Price does seem high. For $3K, there are much better machines out there. For $1500, it might be worth taking a chance on a 15-year old sportbike, going in with the assumption that it will require care and feeding to keep it reliable.

dont be fooled. its a faired street bike not a sport bike.

[Alex]

It's all relative, right? Google tells me Kocinski won the championship on one, and they were 9 of the top 10 supersport finishers in Daytona back in 1989.

[Alex]

Wait - I was searching on your bike alex.s, not the yzf600r as listed in the OP's question. But it as well won the AMA Supersport championship in 1996.

[KawiKid860]

It was the supersport of it's day...

[rasta]

Originally Posted by alex.s

just saw the price and laughed. it is worth about 1500-2000

Yeah, and he wouldn't budge on his price. I told him the KBB value and the fact that the bike was dropped, and he still said the price was fair. Some people are crazy

[CycleCam303]

Don't bother with an older clunky sportbike. I think you're approaching this with the wrong mindset. They don't make quite as much power as today's bikes and the whole package is a little lower performance wise, turning and stopping. 90s technology is nearing 20 years old and with that comes the little problems that hurt practical riding. There is something to be said about having a modern machine that you don't have to problem solve every week leaving work.

Save some money and get a cool to you bike. The 600s aren't intimidating bikes unless you choose to go fast. An R6 may make 108 rwhp stock or whatever. But think of it this way. They make that power north of 13k rpm. No doubt 600s are fast but like any other motorcycle it's all in your throttle use. Short shift a 600 and it'll be no different than how you ride your 250. Just with better suspension and brakes.

It won't be for a bit but go to the international motorcycle show in San Mateo. Test ride a bunch of bikes and your perspective will drastically changed. Example I jumped on a harley v rod with the screaming eagle performance kit and had absolutely no problem getting around.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by CycleCam303

I jumped on a harley v rod with the screaming eagle performance kit and had absolutely no problem getting around.

didn't try turning, did you?

first U turn i tried i just about tore the peg right off.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by CycleCam303

They don't make quite as much power as today's bikes and the whole package is a little lower performance wise, turning and stopping. 90s technology is nearing 20 years old and with that comes the little problems that hurt practical riding. There is something to be said about having a modern machine that you don't have to problem solve every week leaving work.

it is a rear 3 way adjustable unishock with 2 way adjustable standard forks upfront. 2 4pot calipers on 300mm dual rotors. with an engine supported aluminum perimeter frame and swingarm. tci, but it is still carbed. no electronic helpers.

the bike is not a piece of crap. its not quite an r6. but its not a crappy bike by any means.

[CycleCam303]

Well, apparently we will have a few butt hurt folks if I completely share my opinion after test riding all the lines of Hardley ablesons lol. Yes little me was getting laughed at while riding the full baggers with the stereo blasting.

The brakes on those bikes are terrible. The sportster 883 iron (the smallest bike) was clearly the best. The best meaning its a good thing they can't go too far over 100 because they take a few days to stop. Despite being an insanely heavy bike it only when I stopped and put the bike on the kick stand did I notice that I'm on a 600 -800 lbs machine. The handling is horrible in the fact that there is no clearance and the antiquated suspension in the rear is anything but confidence inspiring at freeway speeds. Forward controls are designed for tall people and suck. The power delivery is friggin awesome. Even the 1300cc was easy to ride. Very linear power band and not a lot of horsepower works well for the street. You can lug around in a high gear because the gearing is short. The c rod is pretty quick though. Easy to launch

There fair enough lol

Just so we are clear the yamaha test riding program was a guided tour that didnt open till 1 since it was drizzling a bit. Harley advertises like a boss so they let us ride even in the wet. Harley threw me the keys and said try to come back in 45 minutes. Seriously?! Yea we rode to Alice's lol

[alex.s]

thats one thing i will give to harley. test riding a harley is like "yeah come back today some time."

don't mind if i do!


i think they must assume nobody in their right mind would ride that thing longer than an hour

[rasta]

I'd looove to test ride a Yamaha Warrior......why they discontinue dat ****?

[subxero]

Link to original page on YouTube.

[alex.s]

if its worth anything, the fzr/yzf line of bikes crash EXTREMELY well.

[Bigballsofpaint]

My friend just picked up an 07 (last year it was made, no difference though) and he likes it. The idle on it is a bit crazy, sometimes it will idle fine, others, 4k rpm. I havent ridden the bike but for me it seemed big. Not weight wise but the wide front end etc. His may be an 07 but it does feel like a 90's bike sitting on top of it. Stats wise power seems good for a 600 sport, the suspension had quite a bit of adjustability, and it has been easy to work on so far. We lowered it just over an inch front and rear, he put a slip on on it.

[Lychee]

My friend had a yzf600r. It felt like a sport touring bike to me. The tank is huge and holds like 5 or 6 gallons of gas. The seating position is pretty upright and comfy compared to a sport bike. It is pretty top heavy, and intimidated him in turns and twisties. He didn't have to get gas as often as I did though! Plenty of power. It is NOT worth $3,000. No higher than $1,800. He sold it and bought a 300 and loves the new bike.

[adouglas]

Just got the latest issue of Sport Rider in the mail and that Yamaha is listed as one of the best bets in a used bike.

FWIW... which ain't much.

[red5]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Just got the latest issue of Sport Rider in the mail and that Yamaha is listed as one of the best bets in a used bike.

So's the '08 Ninjette. I was reading it on the crapper this morning.