Quick Ride

QUICK RIDE

YAMAHA FZR600 Yesterday's champion, today's bargain

MANY RIDERS CONSIDER 600cc sportbikes the ideal backroad performance machines. This isn’t surprising, considering 600s offer a fine balance of size, weight, power and handling while yielding, in most cases, a performance-per-dollar ratio unmatched by largerand smaller-displacement sportbikes.

Yamaha’s FZR600 embodies these traits. This is a machine that has two AMA National Supersport Championships to its credit. Yet as a streetbike the FZR delivers an outstanding mix of performance and style at $5299-up to $1100 less than its competitors. Now into its fifth year of production, the FZR has become a bargain bike. But use of the word “bargain” runs the risk of giving a false impression of the FZR. A brisk run down a twisty road aboard the FZR600 will vanquish any notion that you’ve selected a cheap seat.

There’s nothing low-budget about the quality and quantity of power delivered by the FZR’s liquid-cooled powerplant. For a 600, the engine churns out an impressive amount of lowand midrange power, and this makes the bike practically untouchable on extremely tight roads. The engine is fairly smooth-running, though the first-to-second gearchange can spoil this serenity as the cogs engage with a loud mechanical thunk more reminiscent of a HarleyDavidson than a track-bred sport machine. At least rowing through the rest of the gears goes without incident.

The FZR is blessed with light, quick and neutral steering, and an abundance of cornering clearance. Although the FZR’s KYB suspension components lack the adjustability found on its higher-priced classmates, the bike’s springing and damping rates are well suited for a 150-pound rider over the vast majority of street riding conditions. The level of suspension compliance is also very good, with both ends soaking up bumps and freeway joints in controlled fashion.

But beware: Aggressive sport riding or racetrack use can erode the suspension’s composure as the rear damper heats up and fades.

Hard use of the brakes, however, revealed no bad manners. The FZR’s front-brake system employs double four-piston calipers that provide powerful and consistent action. Likewise, the Dunlop Sportmax radial tires fitted this year perform admirably while offering extended life over race-compound rubber. But the FZR’s tire sizes help date the bike. The rear, for instance, is a 140/60-18, clearly a design element finalized before the currently fashionable 17-inch wheels became required sportbike wear. Up front, the bike does have a 17inch hoop, but it’s shod with narrow 110/70 rubber.

Though this bike is mostly unchanged from last year, one area that did get alterations involves a return to dual headlamps, replacing last year’s single, flush-mount lamp-a move reportedly made at dealer request.

All in all, the FZR600 may no longer be the all-conquering Supersport racer it once was, but it hasn’t lost a bit of the greatness that put it at the front of the pack not so long ago. If 600cc sportbikes fit your idea of the ultimate backroad weapon, then the FZR600 might just be the best choice to fit your budget.

Don Canet