Is FZ6 popular?

[ash1e]

I am about ready to buy the 2008 FZ6 within a week. I went to a dealership today looking for one and to find out its price.
The lady there said she won't be carrying any for rest of the year. She said FZ6 is not that popular. I am not sure if that's true since immediately after that she tried selling me a SV650.
Those of you who own one already might be a little biased but I still wanted to put this question up to clear my doubts.

 

[DefyInertia]

Well it's not your run-of-the-mill cookie-cutter mainstream squid-bike if that's what you're asking. The SV has a cult following just about where ever you go but I'm guessing this lady just has not had the best luck moving FZ6's for whatever reason.

FWIW, the FZ6 sub-forum is the most active sub-forum on the most active sportbike forum that I know of...SBN.

 

[Hellgate]

Well it's not your run-of-the-mill cookie-cutter mainstream squid-bike if that's what you're asking. The SV has a cult following just about where ever you go but I'm guessing this lady just has not had the best luck moving FZ6's for whatever reason.

FWIW, the FZ6 sub-forum is the most active sub-forum on the most active sportbike forum that I know of...SBN.

Good point DI, the little FZ has a very loyal following.

The FZ and the SV are both great bikes. The beauty of the FZ is the motor, the SV can't touch it.

In my 4 months of FZ ownership I've only seen two others on the roads. Lots of SVs however.

 

[DefyInertia]

The SV is less expensive, has been around longer, and makes a better beginner bike than the FZ6 as well.

 

[madmanmaigret]

I would also like to hear the opinion of our european brethren on this subject.


my opinion: not really popular here, I never heard of or saw one until I started doing research on what bike I wanted... the fact that it is not an "also ran" is what helped me decide.

 

[VA FZ6]

"Popular" is a realative term. Yamaha has sold over 80k in Europe and was only introduced in NA in 2004. That being said, those buying sport bikes are probably staying away (or dont even bother looking) at the FZ6 because it doesnt look like a tradtional sports bike in the sense that it is not fully dressed, it has a more upright position with far superior ergos, etc. So no, it isnt "popular" in the US in the sense that the SV's, R6/1's are but it is "popular" bike with all the smart people on this forum...

 

[Nelly]

The SV is less expensive, has been around longer, and makes a better beginner bike than the FZ6 as well.

I think it has sportier connotations to, it certainly looks more bum up wrists down. For what ever reason the FZ6 just does not get the positive press it deserves from bike journos.

 

[Nelly]

I would also like to hear the opinion of our european brethren on this subject.


my opinion: not really popular here, I never heard of or saw one until I started doing research on what bike I wanted... the fact that it is not an "also ran" is what helped me decide.

Aparentley its in the top six selling bikes in Italy?

 

[2-stroke]

I have never seen another one around where I live. I have seen one FZ1 in dealerships. I drove about an hour and half to pick mine up. I am yet to meet someone that sees and a knows what it is. Everyone looks at it and says V-storm or SV

 

[segue00]

I think it's still the #1 selling bike throughout entire Europe. It was when I first got mine in 2004. North American sales are low due to a limited supply. I don't know why, but I was told by a dealership owner that only selected dealers get 4-5 FZ6s a year, and that they all sell out. My guess would be is that Yamaha USA would rather sell more of the R6 rather than the FZ6.

 

[Nelly]

I think it's still the #1 selling bike throughout entire Europe. It was when I first got mine in 2004. North American sales are low due to a limited supply. I don't know why, but I was told by a dealership owner that only selected dealers get 4-5 FZ6s a year, and that they all sell out. My guess would be is that Yamaha USA would rather sell more of the R6 rather than the FZ6.

Isn't that a short sighted selling stratergy? If its that popular in Europe it would surely equate to good sale in the US?

 

[gomd3]

I have yet to see another FZ6 on the roads here, I've seen maybe 2 Fz1 in the area and at the dealership there's one on display tops, compared to other models that they may have 2 or 3 different colors of the same Gixxer or R6.

 

[segue00]

Isn't that a short sighted selling stratergy? If its that popular in Europe it would surely equate to good sale in the US?

Not really. If you think of the logic that people looking for a 600cc will only buy one 600cc. There were 3 available from Yamaha here in the US at one time. The R6, The YZF600Thundercat and the FZ6. They phased out the cat this year.

 

[Botch]

I prefer driving things that few others do! It's why (partially) that I drive a Saab, and I love it when folks are looking at my bike when I come out of the store/restaurant/brothel and start asking questions. :rockon:
No matter how "rare" it is, you'll have no trouble finding a place to get it fixed, so why worry?

 

[Nelly]

Not really. If you think of the logic that people looking for a 600cc will only buy one 600cc. There were 3 available from Yamaha here in the US at one time. The R6, The YZF600Thundercat and the FZ6. They phased out the cat this year.

I disagree mate, the thunder cat was discontinued due to emission laws that don’t effect you guys and would have meant an unsustainable production cost for a small market. The R6 and FZ6 do a totally different job. If I didn't want a bum up wrist down kind of ride then I would be more inclined to go for Z750 over an R6 if that was my only option. People don’t buy an FZ6 because they really want an R6?
I have ridden my friends R6 on the road and the only real difference is the wrist comfort. I think that Yamaha are missing a whole market of riders who may have actually opted for the FZ6 over the R6. Otherwise how can you explain European popularity?

Nelly

 

[wolfc70]

I disagree mate, the thunder cat was discontinued due to emission laws that don’t effect you guys and would have meant an unsustainable production cost for a small market. The R6 and FZ6 do a totally different job. If I didn't want a bum up wrist down kind of ride then I would be more inclined to go for Z750 over an R6 if that was my only option. People don’t buy an FZ6 because they really want an R6?
I have ridden my friends R6 on the road and the only real difference is the wrist comfort. I think that Yamaha are missing a whole market of riders who may have actually opted for the FZ6 over the R6. Otherwise how can you explain European popularity?

Nelly

I do not know why there are not more on the road. My dealer had a bunch of '07 models in February when I bought mine. They say the FZ6 is popular. Do not forget that Yamaha until this year had 4 models, the R6, R6S, FZ6, YZF600R. That is a lot of models covering the 600 range. I think people want a crotch rocket, for what reasons I do not know, so that is what sells. I would not want to ride a bike that everyone else has, I have always wanted a Ducati ST3. Some day I may be able to afford to maintain one!:Sport:

 

[MrTurner]

I picked an FZ over sportier bikes. I part-chopped a GSXR750 for one! Couldn't do the pampering around towns that it needed, where as the fun in fht eFZ can be had at all speeds.

In terms of popularity, the Fazer name is well known, and I see a fair few faired ones, not that many nakeds, but there are defo lots on the roads.

In terms of popularity in the states? Who cares - it's an excellent bike and a proven package. Get it, and enjoy being one of the first to own it. Soon you'll get bored of seeing them everywhere

 

[HavBlue]

"Popular" is a relative term. Yamaha has sold over 80k in Europe and was only introduced in NA in 2004. That being said, those buying sport bikes are probably staying away (or don't even bother looking) at the FZ6 because it doesn't look like a traditional sports bike in the sense that it is not fully dressed, it has a more upright position with far superior ergos, etc. So no, it isn't "popular" in the US in the sense that the SV's, R6/1's are but it is "popular" bike with all the smart people on this forum...

Correct, the current model came out in 2004 however, the Fazer 600 ran from like 1996 through the redesign in 2004. Agreed, it has been a top seller in Europe but in the United States this has not held true because of the popular full bodied sportbike. In the 4 years I have owned mine I have seen one other actually on the road and that was in the most unlikely place, Oatman Arizona (the silver one). I enjoy the one I have but I don't care for what they have done to it beyond 2006.

 

[HavBlue]

Isn't that a short sighted selling stratergy? If its that popular in Europe it would surely equate to good sale in the US?

You might think so Neil but those in Europe have long purchased bikes for transportation where folks here have made that same purchase for a toy which is not used in the same manner. I will however say this may change with the price of gas going up. My insurance is going to go up too as folks buy bikes to save money on gas but they have never owned a bike so the crash factor is soon to be on the rise....

 

[Hellgate]

Correct, the current model came out in 2004 however, the Fazer 600 ran from like 1996 through the redesign in 2004. Agreed, it has been a top seller in Europe but in the United States this has not held true because of the popular full bodied sportbike. In the 4 years I have owned mine I have seen one other actually on the road and that was in the most unlikely place, Oatman Arizona (the silver one). I enjoy the one I have but I don't care for what they have done to it beyond 2006.

Also because metic cruisers are SO popular here. I have so many people tell me, "How can you ride that crotch rocket, they are so uncomfortable. I need to sit back when I ride with me feet out." I ask them if they have ever put in a 400 mile day. "Uh no, that would kill me." "Not on my bike it won't."

Americans just don't get it for the most part.