Yamaha FZ 6 2008 — Specifications

So, Yamaha, are you pulling the Trojan horse trick again? In 2008, when you released this FZ 6, the street market was booming. Everyone wanted an accessible roadster, a little mean, but without the hassles of a pure sportbike. And there you came out with a machine that, at first glance, looks like a Fazer without its fairing. Except under the hood, it's a different story. We went from a somewhat civilized R6 engine to a block that had seriously been recalibrated for the road. We are far from the 98 horsepower of the S2 version. Here, we're talking about 78 little ponies at 11,500 rpm, with a torque of 51.7 Nm that arrives frankly high in the rev range. It's clearly a marketing choice, a way of saying to young license holders or those on a tight budget: "Come on, we have what you need for less than 6000 euros."

The competition? It was fierce at the time. The Kawasaki ER-6n, with its supple twin cylinder and aggressive price, and the Suzuki Bandit 650, indestructible and without frills, were giving it a hard time. The Yamaha FZ 6 fazer’s gamble was daring: to offer a four-cylinder, often synonymous with expensive insurance and high revs, in an affordable roadster package. It must be admitted that the package is appealing. The cast aluminum frame is serious, the 43 mm fork is worthy, and the braking with its two 298 mm front discs bites well. But this engine... That's where the trouble begins for a somewhat demanding rider. To extract the substantial marrow from this 600 cm3, you have to rev it, and rev it even more. In town or in gentle cruising, it lacks punch at low and mid-range speeds. It's the classic defect of a sport block that's too restricted.

However, once launched on a winding national road, the FZ 6 reveals its true character. It's not a brute, but a fine blade. The chassis is precise, the weight of 203 kg fully fueled is forgotten, and the riding position, with its wide handlebar and 795 mm seat, is a model of comfort and control. It inspires confidence. It's a motorcycle that teaches you to turn well, to find the right gear without scaring you. The 19.4-liter tank promises beautiful ranges, ideal for the budding globetrotter. But you can't help but think about what this base would be like with the original 98 horsepower. A golden opportunity missed for some.

So, who is she? This 2008 Yamaha FZ 6 is a perfect transition motorcycle. It clearly targets the young A2 license holders (in its restricted version) or the motorcyclist who wants to rediscover the sensations of a four-cylinder without the drawbacks of a too radical sportbike. It's an excellent school for learning to manage revs, appreciate a noble chassis, and discover the joys of active riding. But for the rider looking for strong sensations from the throttle opening, you'll need to look elsewhere, towards its big sister the S2 or towards the twin-cylinder competition, more punchy in everyday use. It remains a beautiful machine, well finished, which marked its time, but with an engine character that still divides today.