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New looks, but 2017 bike is familiar underneath

Yamaha revamps the R6

Written by Ben Purvis , Date 5:52 PM

The 600cc supersport class looks set to be decimated by next year’s Euro 4 emissions rules but Yamaha has put the work in to ensure its R6 will still be legal under the new regulations.4-2017_YAM_YZF600R6_EU_DPBMCRB_STU_002_03

The supersports class is seeing declining sales. Combined with the high cost associated with bringing small, high-revving engines into line with the 2017 Euro 4 noise and emissions limits it’s easy to see why manufacturers are deserting the arena. Honda’s CBR600RR is being dropped and Suzuki has no plans to replace the GSX-R600. But Yamaha has put in the effort to get its R6 into line with the new regulations.

As well as meeting Euro 4, it’s also been given ABS, again to meet the new European rules.

The chassis and the basics of the engine will be familiar to any current R6 owner. The frame itself is carried over, and the engine’s bore, stroke and compression ratio are unaltered. Exactly how Yamaha has achieved the goal of meeting Euro 4 hasn’t been revealed, but impressively the firm hasn’t needed to enlarge the exhaust. That suggests the targets could be hit largely though tweaking the electronics.

What has clearly changed is the styling, which is now heavily R1-influenced. LED headlights and a central air intake make the bike a dead ringer for the larger superbike. Yamaha claims the R6 is the most aerodynamic bike it’s ever made, with 8% less drag than its predecessor.

The R6 pioneered electronic throttles a decade ago, and for 2017 it’s been given traction control to go with it. There are six levels of TC, switchable from the bars, or it can be turned off entirely, while R1-style instruments tell the rider what’s going on.

Electronic goodies continue with a standard quick shifter for clutchless upshifts.

1-2017_YAM_YZF600R6_EU_DPBMCRB_STU_005_03Chassis tweaks include new 43mm forks from KYB, similar to those on the R1. The rear shock is also upgraded and the brakes are R1-style radials.

To save weight, a new magnesium rear subframe has been added. It’s also 20mm narrower than the old one to make it easier for riders to tuck in more tightly. More weight is saved by using aluminium instead of steel for the fuel tank. It’s claimed to be 1.2kg lighter than the old one.

At a claimed 190kg wet, the new R6 is actually 1kg heavier than the old bike, but given the huge amount of additional equipment and technology, that’s an impressive achievement.

Want one? You’ll have to wait until April when it reaches dealers. Colour options are blue or black. European prices are TBA but in America the R6 starts at $12,199, which is $1200 more than the old model.

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