1999-2000 Yamaha R6

Having chucked a ZX-6R down the road on a track day, it was clear that the cost of repair made the bike uneconomic. It was time cut losses and run. It was an emotional moment as I watched the remains being loaded into the back of the breakers van.

Having decided that an R6 might just do the job, it was down to the local showroom after a glance through BikeMart turned up a silver and black R6. It wasn’t originally the colour I was going to go for (I wanted the red one) but one look and I was sold. Spoke to the dealer and told him I wasn’t interested and left. Off I pottered home and got all the usual quotes (only £46 more than the Kwak) and dutifully phoned the dealer for a test ride. Deposit and deal agreed in principle (£600 off sticker because I wasn’t that keen!) I turned up for a test ride.

First impressions were poor to say the least, front felt soft, it tried to tuck on any corner under 40, and felt underpowered. A quick dive into the petrol station suggested that the front tyre was 9 psi down (thanks dealer for making sure it was ready to take out for a test!). That was soon sorted and back out onto the road. Handling was transformed but still took a bit of getting used to. Next to figure out was the power – having only had a nasty crash at Brands 5 weeks before, I soon figured that out as well – open the throttle faster and further!

Half an hour later, it was parked up outside my mates’ house so he could ogle at my new toy. My research suggested the suspension would need sorting, a nice Akra can would help the throttle response and some new rubber wouldn’t go a miss (D207s). Having done all that now as well as Carbon Lorraine front pads, I can truly say that it is the dogs and makes the Kwak look pedestrian.

Cadwell Park in April, the bike went sailing round everywhere it was told without a murmur. Donington Park on a very wet July day, it was good as gold. Even when it started to slide front and back, it was controllable almost without thinking. Still waiting for good weather in August for Rockingham to see what it can do when the tyres get really hot, and Brands in September. It’ll be interesting how it goes round Paddock (the most awesome corner in Britain). Getting to the tracks proved fairly straight forward as well. Motorway cruising is easy and the butt doesn’t go numb too quickly and the A roads were a joy.

I haven’t ridden many bikes (ZX-6R, ZX-7R, Firestorm, BMW 650s, Ducati 888, Ducati Monster 900, 1999 Fireblade), but for all-round ability, I’d take the R6 any day, I can commute on it, dawdling along in town, but then stick it on a track and feel it turn into a screaming utter nutter. Get one, now!