gcheng
Junior Member
Today I rode my friend's 2005 R6, and I just wanted to share my initial impression of the bike compared to mine, as I've always been curious about the 2nd gen R6 since we share pretty much the same engine. We swapped bikes for about an hour or so, doing a combination of riding in the twisties, city, and highway.
Ergos:
The '05 R6 is surprisingly more comfortable than I thought it would be. I'm 30, 5' 9", 150lb, and the last time I tried a 2006 R6 I felt pressure on my wrists and my lower back was killing me after a 10 minutes ride in the twisties. However, on the '05 I didn't feel any of that (at least I haven't yet from the time I was riding it). The higher pegs and lower clip-ons took a bit of getting used to, but once I got the hang of it I really like the aggressive riding position in the twisties. Hanging off seems more natural on the R6 compared to the upright position of the FZ. Oh yeah, the mirrors on the R6 sucked.
Engine:
It sounds just like our FZ at low rpm's. The throttle had a bit less of an on/off response, but that was probably due to to the power commander on the R6 with the Leo Vince can, whereas my FZ is bone stock. Also the throttle is more sensitive than the FZ, probably because of the bigger throttle bodies in the R6? The top end feels like it will blow the FZ away once you rev it past 10k. The torque on both bikes felt similar below 8k. Both engines feel very smooth. Also, I noticed that the shifter on the R6 is much smoother than the FZ, and doesn't have the 1st to 2nd shift clunk.
Suspension:
Both bikes have stock suspension. I didn't push the R6 because of the damp pavement. It felt more firm than the FZ, but not overly so. Definitely manageable for me. Now I don't know what rider weight the suspension was dialed to since my friend just traded his 06 R6 for the 05.
Brakes:
As expected, the brakes felt stronger on the R6.
Looks:
I was riding behind my friend, who was riding my FZ, and I noticed how upright the rider looked from behind (and from the front too). He looked so comfortable while I'm all hunched down, haha. I have to say, I look cool on the R6 (definite poser factor), and for a second the FZ looked like an old man's bike in comparison! :Flip: :spank:
Conclusion:
The '05 R6 is a really fun bike in the twisties with reasonable ergos for street use. Now if I was only doing twisties or track days I would get the R6 or any supersport in a heartbeat. At the end of the day, I would still stick with the FZ because it's cheaper to insure, easier to maintain, harder to find, more comfortable, etc...the list goes on, and it better suits my riding style and needs. The FZ is already a lot more capable than my skills would allow. I do plan to do some touring and long distance rides again next year. Btw, I still love my FZ6. :rockon:
When I get the urge to ride a supersport, I'll just swap bikes with my friend again :thumbup:
Ergos:
The '05 R6 is surprisingly more comfortable than I thought it would be. I'm 30, 5' 9", 150lb, and the last time I tried a 2006 R6 I felt pressure on my wrists and my lower back was killing me after a 10 minutes ride in the twisties. However, on the '05 I didn't feel any of that (at least I haven't yet from the time I was riding it). The higher pegs and lower clip-ons took a bit of getting used to, but once I got the hang of it I really like the aggressive riding position in the twisties. Hanging off seems more natural on the R6 compared to the upright position of the FZ. Oh yeah, the mirrors on the R6 sucked.
Engine:
It sounds just like our FZ at low rpm's. The throttle had a bit less of an on/off response, but that was probably due to to the power commander on the R6 with the Leo Vince can, whereas my FZ is bone stock. Also the throttle is more sensitive than the FZ, probably because of the bigger throttle bodies in the R6? The top end feels like it will blow the FZ away once you rev it past 10k. The torque on both bikes felt similar below 8k. Both engines feel very smooth. Also, I noticed that the shifter on the R6 is much smoother than the FZ, and doesn't have the 1st to 2nd shift clunk.
Suspension:
Both bikes have stock suspension. I didn't push the R6 because of the damp pavement. It felt more firm than the FZ, but not overly so. Definitely manageable for me. Now I don't know what rider weight the suspension was dialed to since my friend just traded his 06 R6 for the 05.
Brakes:
As expected, the brakes felt stronger on the R6.
Looks:
I was riding behind my friend, who was riding my FZ, and I noticed how upright the rider looked from behind (and from the front too). He looked so comfortable while I'm all hunched down, haha. I have to say, I look cool on the R6 (definite poser factor), and for a second the FZ looked like an old man's bike in comparison! :Flip: :spank:
Conclusion:
The '05 R6 is a really fun bike in the twisties with reasonable ergos for street use. Now if I was only doing twisties or track days I would get the R6 or any supersport in a heartbeat. At the end of the day, I would still stick with the FZ because it's cheaper to insure, easier to maintain, harder to find, more comfortable, etc...the list goes on, and it better suits my riding style and needs. The FZ is already a lot more capable than my skills would allow. I do plan to do some touring and long distance rides again next year. Btw, I still love my FZ6. :rockon:
When I get the urge to ride a supersport, I'll just swap bikes with my friend again :thumbup:
