FZ6 popularity

[2wheelieadv]

I cannot understand why in 2009 Yamaha dropped the FZ6 and came in with FZ6R instead. Although the R is very nice bike, it’s completely different. It appeals to a younger and also beginner folks, and in no way can substitute the FZ6. I see no reason why they couldn’t keep both. In fact, although the FZ6 is not being sold new for a while, it still has big following, probably even bigger than the R model…

 

[The_Paragon]

Top five bike ownership statistics - Motorcycle Top 10s - Visordown

See #2 under this article and it states that its the #5 most popular bike (in Europe)

If there were a list for the US (Land of the extremes) I'm sure it'd be much much lower. And I'd bet that Harley's, R1's and CBR1000's top the list.

 

[FIZZER6]

If there were a list for the US (Land of the extremes) I'm sure it'd be much much lower. And I'd bet that Harley's, R1's and CBR1000's top the list.

You forgot about GSX-R600, 750 and 1000! The all time favorite USA squid moto! Blah

 

[Hobbesca]

I looked around at few bikes before I bought my first FZ6, after that one was wrecked I had a CBR600. Sold that and went back to a FZ6, most folks around here have no idea what a FZ6 is but after they see mine they all want one. Best all around bike for mature riders, but immature riders want the flash and noise of a GSX. But in BC and SK most of the bikes on the road are Harley's, and most of those are Sportsters. You can buy a beginner rider's package that comes with the bike, helmet, gloves, boots and a jacket. But you look like everyone else on the road.

I enjoy the fact the FZ6 looks completely different and has the performance to back up the good looks. But I think the FZ-09 will be the next fun toy

 

[regder]

The FZ6 never sold well in North America when new, wasn't uncommon to see a couple year old models (see FZ1 right now for example) left on the showroom floor brand new. The bike is way more popular discontinued than it was in production.

Naked bikes, or half naked as it were, back then weren't all that popular as everyone was still after the supersport look.

To give you an idea, back in spring of '07 when I was shopping around for a bike, I was set on the SV650. You could get OEM lower fairings, it had clipons, had that SS look to it without the insurance premium. Everyone else was in the same mindset and the used bike market waaayyyyyy overvalued them. Back then, a 3-4 year old SV with 10-20k km was going for around $5500, and they were selling easily at that price. I looked at one for $5k that looked like it was cartwheeled down the highway.

Somehow, I caught an ad for an FZ6 and it made me tingly inside. In spring of '07 I was able to pick up an '06 with 4k km for $6k, a comparable SV would have cost me $7-7500. That wasn't a special deal either, they were all over the place

 

[oaks]

The FZ6 never sold well in North America when new, wasn't uncommon to see a couple year old models (see FZ1 right now for example) left on the showroom floor brand new. The bike is way more popular discontinued than it was in production.
...

Yep. More than a few forum members, myself included, picked up new, left over 2009 FZ6es for a song in late 2010 or even later. $5600 new -- before the usual taxes and fees!

Similar deals on 2013 FZ6R currently in my area -- $5700 ($7900 MSRP.)

 

[ShoopCE]

Somehow, I caught an ad for an FZ6 and it made me tingly inside.

TINGLY!!! I know that feeling. I got it when I started researching bikes after a 25 year break from motorcycles and I started seeing the FZ6. :thumbup:

 

[agf]

I was pretty much the same I had been riding for a couple of years after a twenty year layoff
Went looking early2011 for a bigger newer bike and I always was a bit dodgy about the headlight on the fz6r wasn't entirely pleased by the appearance but was looking in earnest - had been looking at the honda 750 cruiser( glad we didn't do that)

Then the yam dealer pointed me to the "leftover" fz6n and I sat on it and looked it over started web searching found "here" and then pulled the trigger

Took a month or 2 til I signed as a member but as a " remaindered" bike I am so totally happy and the only bike that comes close to swaying me are the street triple and now the mt09
But I think I have a few years yet!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now it would appear to work beautifully thx TT and Dennis

 

[FIZZER6]

The FZ6 never sold well in North America when new, wasn't uncommon to see a couple year old models (see FZ1 right now for example) left on the showroom floor brand new. The bike is way more popular discontinued than it was in production.

Naked bikes, or half naked as it were, back then weren't all that popular as everyone was still after the supersport look.

To give you an idea, back in spring of '07 when I was shopping around for a bike, I was set on the SV650. You could get OEM lower fairings, it had clipons, had that SS look to it without the insurance premium. Everyone else was in the same mindset and the used bike market waaayyyyyy overvalued them. Back then, a 3-4 year old SV with 10-20k km was going for around $5500, and they were selling easily at that price. I looked at one for $5k that looked like it was cartwheeled down the highway.

Somehow, I caught an ad for an FZ6 and it made me tingly inside. In spring of '07 I was able to pick up an '06 with 4k km for $6k, a comparable SV would have cost me $7-7500. That wasn't a special deal either, they were all over the place

True story!

I bought my 2006 FZ6 in January of 2007. It was left on the dealer show room floor with 1 mile on the clock and they had dropped the price to it to $5,299! I paid $5,900 for it out the door with tax, tags, & dealer fees! There was simply no better deal on a new machine in 2007 than what I got with the FZ6 and I still love it to this day!

 

[motojoe122]

I guess I did it all backwards....
Went looking for a versys(they didn't have one), guy showed me the hef zee and I had to have it(knew nothing about it). A couple days after that I got my permit, then a loan, then bought the bike. Waited the minimum 20 days and took the riding test on my new bike. Shortly after that I found the forum and the rest is in threads here on this site:thumbup

 

[MG-242]

You forgot about GSX-R600, 750 and 1000! The all time favorite USA squid moto! Blah

It's just a tool and it's really a matter of what you want to use it for. With a Ducati and a GSXR 600 in the garage, I know what I'm going to roll into the trailer for going to the track and it's not going to be the FZ6. If I'm covering a lot of miles and carrying luggage, yep, it'll probably be the FZ6.

The manfuacturers are trying to deliver based on numbers. That's it. And, what adds up to dollars in sales. Cruisers do well and so do sport bikes. But, if you want to see a particular model on the floor, people need to be buying them. And yes, the US is a different market than the ROW. If it ain't big, the US doesn't want it.

 

[JayyVee]

Being a recent addition to the biking world, I can only say that an ST bike is what I wanted after sitting and riding on quite a few different bikes - plus it had to have some good styling and reliablility under it's belt. That's how 'I' arrived as the FZ6 as the bike for me.

The 'go fast or go home' mentality is thick here in the US (I'm not knocking it - just saying), thus the difference in markets and what is for sale.

I would love to see an updated FZ6 in the US (FZ8 with some fairing sounds good too!) - it could be the first 'new' bike I ever purchased if such a thing ever came over here..

 

[FinalImpact]

Like those above - I've ridden in the dirt all my life and went after either kawi, honda or Yami - wanting a sport bike that was affordable, fit me well, has potential, and is cheaper on insurance. The FZ fit me the best physically among the NEW ones I sat on at the show room floor. Then 30 days into my quest C/L ad showed promise. An 08, never down, 3000 miles.
The FZ had the features I wanted and BING a post was made here about what to look for in a used bike.

My first post... http://www.600riders.com/forum/fz6-general-discussion/36617-newbie-new-me-08-a.html :Flash: BTW - coming up on our anniversary!

 

[FIZZER6]

I would love to see an updated FZ6 in the US (FZ8 with some fairing sounds good too!) - it could be the first 'new' bike I ever purchased if such a thing ever came over here..

If Yamaha would grow some gonads and take the new FZ-09, slap a fairing and windscreen on it, bar risers, tail bars for luggage attachment, etc. and actually make it look good like the FZ6 did. I know a lot of FZ6/V-strom lovers who would be scrambling for one! :thumbup:

 

[2wheelieadv]

And yes, the US is a different market than the ROW. If it ain't big, the US doesn't want it.

True. Bigger-better approach is well alive here.
But a market is depends on other conditions as well. I ravel in Europe and I don't see many cruisers or GW's at all. They don't buy them for many reasons, like, too big to filtering between cars; narrow and hilly streets with sharp turns; not fast and agile as the Europeans like it, etc. etc.
On the contrary in the USA that is not a factor. Long stretches across the country contribute to big cruisers and tourers. And the riders aren't as skilled. Most riders are either too slow of super fast... (same with cars btw).
So there goes a different market.

 

[2wheelieadv]

If Yamaha would grow some gonads and take the new FZ-09, slap a fairing and windscreen on it, bar risers, tail bars for luggage attachment, etc. and actually make it look good like the FZ6 did. I know a lot of FZ6/V-strom lovers who would be scrambling for one! :thumbup:

...and a good passenger seat. That would be an ultimate bike! :thumbup:

 

[Hellgate]

It was a pretty popular bike and did sell well. Don't forget about that recession thing that happened. '09, '10 and '11 were the worst years in decades for the entire motorcycle industry. Suzuki didn't even bring any new bike into the US for '10, it was ALL leftovers. The Japanese makes were hammered as a whole. What took off were Euro bikes. Why? The Euros kept innovating; RSV4, 1198, SS100R, etc.

The 6R? Plain and simple it is a price point, margin bike. All Yamaha did was raid the parts bin and create a bike pretty much for the same price as the FZ6, but with a much lower level of hardware. That bike was a cash flow bike pure and simple, much like the Bolt and the FZ9. (Oh do I want to see the FZ9 motor in a high performance chassis.)

All that said it would have been nice to see Yamaha dial the FZ6 in more; update the flash, adjustable suspension, etc.

 

[iSteve]

It was a pretty popular bike and did sell well. Don't forget about that recession thing that happened. '09, '10 and '11 were the worst years in decades for the entire motorcycle industry. Suzuki didn't even bring any new bike into the US for '10, it was ALL leftovers. The Japanese makes were hammered as a whole. What took off were Euro bikes. Why? The Euros kept innovating; RSV4, 1198, SS100R, etc.

Don't forget about Fukushima in 2011. Having a nuclear plant explode and a title wave destroy a big part of your country has a tendency to slow things down.

 

[oaks]

And recall the introduction of the FZ8 in 2010 just after the FZ6R in 2009. Yamaha was spreading themselves thin in a slow sales period, with the FZ6R, FZ1, and FZ8 on the showroom floor, and the FZ09 probably on the drawing board.

I think of the FZ6R as an answer to the popular Ninjas which Yamaha might have seen as what the USA market wanted. I do like it. The FZ6R, the FZ09, and the Ninja 300 were the few bikes (which didn't cost > $20,000) that caught my fancy when I wandered around a recent bike show.

What led me to the FZ6 in 2010 was an unsuccessful hunt for a decent, second hand Bandit/GSF 600 that led me to the newly introduced FZ6R, then to a closeout FZ6 for a good price.

 

[The_Paragon]

You forgot about GSX-R600, 750 and 1000! The all time favorite USA squid moto! Blah

Ohh definitely! If you dont have a Supersport or a Harley here in the US people just laugh at you. I have a slew of friend with r6, r1, cbr, gsxr's and etc etc. with the exception of 1 or 2, no one knows how to ride them.
So there they are all the time, hooking up their power commanders, changing tunes, adjusting suspension settings road side and so on while i sit there on my fz6 waiting for these clowns.. so i can out ride them through the twisties... with my girlfriend sitting on the back..

I just dont get it.

Another fav is hearing them all complain about their insurance premiums..Blah

But really, I'm kind of glad that the FZ6 is less than desirable here in the US. That just means I can pick up a good one for dimes, and its everything i want in a bike!!