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The Thundercat replaced the "fox eye" headlight FZR600R, at the same time Yamaha brought out its bigger brother the Thunderace (to take on the Honda Fireblade).
It got good reviews from the press but the main problem the media had was, that although the Thundercat was a match for its ... Read review
...FZR600R, at the same time Yamaha brought out its bigger brother the Thunderace (to take on the Honda Fireblade).
It got good reviews from the press but the main problem the media had was, that although the Thundercat was a match for its biggest rival the Honda CBR600 on the road, it couldnt match it on the track due to its softer front end.
This was rubbish really as the first thing any racers did, who were serious about the ... ...cast unit but like most Yamaha brakes they need constant attention, or the result is seizing calipers in as little as a couple of months riding.
The handling is very good, considering the bikes age, and if you give it a decent rider you will have to push very hard to lose it on the roads, and then you would be pushing past legal speeds anyway so does that count?
The fuel tank is wide and makes the bike feel a lot bigger ... more
I bought a N registered Thundercat as a replacement for a Kawasaki GPZ500S for use primarily for instructing but also for decent runs out when the weather was nice.
The Thundercat replaced the "fox eye" headlight FZR600R, at the same time Yamaha brought out its bigger brother the Thunderace (to take on the Honda Fireblade). It got good reviews from the press but the main problem the media had was, that although the Thundercat was a match for its biggest rival the Honda CBR600 on the road, it couldnt match it on the track due to its softer front end.
This was rubbish really as the first thing any racers did, who were serious about the Thundercat, ditched the standard front end and put racing shocks on. It also took the world supersport chamiponship. (If I remember rightly in the hands of Fabrizio Pirovano)
But the damage was done and along with the similar targetted Suzuki RF600R the sales were affected.
As to the bike itself - In looks it was different enough from the other 600's to stand out, slightly quirky but attractive. The headlight shape always reminded me of a cyclops. The inline 4 cylinder was smoother than the CBR and was more usable in real world riding. The brakes at the time were excellent as they were a single cast unit but like most Yamaha brakes they need constant attention, or the result is seizing calipers in as little as a couple of months riding.
The handling is very good, considering the bikes age, and if you give it a decent rider you will have to push very hard to lose it on the roads, and then you would be pushing past legal speeds anyway so does that count?
The fuel tank is wide and makes the bike feel a lot bigger than it really is, added to this a wide seat makes it quite comfortable too. The handlebars don't throw too much weight on the wrists which give it that bit more endurance. For a full tank of petrol you may be looking at about 140 miles (approx 19 litres), but there was no reserve switch. Instead you had an annoying petrol warning light which would come on dimly far too early and then slowly brighten as your journey progressed. The amount of fuel left was easier to judge using the trip counter then the light.
Apart from the downpipes rusting through, the only real problem was the dip beam at night. The penetration was awful. Wether this was to do with the shape of the lens, or the bulb was designed too far back in the reflector I don't know, and neither did the local bike dealers. The main beam was fine, but the big problem was in rural areas on twisty roads with no streetlighting. Dipping the headlights due to oncoming traffic would cut down your depth of vision so much it was disconcerting especially on unfamiliar roads.
The Thundercat was superceded by the R6 but was still sold for a few more years alongside the Fazer 600. There are still decent second hand ones out there and for a decent price too, as the price never recovered from that CBR comparison.
As for this particular one, my Dad still rides it, ( he wil be 69 in February 2007).
Advantages: Cheap, good looks, comfortable ride, pillion comfort Disadvantages: Easily rusting Steel downpipes and rear swingarm
A bike for under £2000 - not an easy choice! With the budget set i started hunting! Having had an SV650S previously (forced to sell due to getting married!) i really wanted another.
As i was trawling EBay for one, i came across a Thundercat on there where the owner had sneakily snuck in the letters "Not SV" in the title! Upon looking at it i was shocked - £1600 for an S reg bike with 25000 miles on it - full service history and in the latest yellow ... ...(damage a main concern with re-painted bikes!) so off i went - it was mine!
It took me a while to get used to a four from a V twin, enen though it was alot more work working the gears i started to enjoy it. My wife thought it was gorgeous too, and agreed it was far more comfy than my previous SV was!
Only disadvantages are you have to watch the steel downpipes and the swingarm for rust and the gearbox between 1st and 2nd can be a bit of a pig! ...
fezza101 15.08.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Yamaha YZF600R
Comfort
Handling
Looks
Features
Fuel consumption
Quick review of Yamaha YZF600R
hi own a thudercat to the envy of a few friends find this bike absolutly fantastic as it has that destinctive roar of the air box i find what you say to be true about the brakes i regulaly have to check them as this bike is a serious contender on the road o to 100 mph in 7secs is quick enougth for any mad biker with a death wish i ride mine for fun and enjoyment i hope to keep it for a very long time as it still has a few tongues wagging in the bike world cheers and happy riding take care ...
nobbilyknees 03.02.2008
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Yamaha YZF600R
Advantages: Quick, Good looking, Agile, Cheap to run, Easy to clean!! Disadvantages: Tiring over long distances, need a paddock stand.
This sports motorcycle when launched in I believe 1996 was one of the best in its 600cc class. I brought one from new in 1997 and can say I was thoroughly impressed with it. Very quick, very agile, and surprisingly quite comfortable for a sports bike. Its not quite big enough to going touring with a pillion over any great distance, but it got me and my wife from Devon to Berkshire quite happily in about 3 1/2 hrs. The bike was fine, we just couldnt ... ...and there isnt much to choose between the two. Engine is solid, brakes excellent. Not a great deal of protection from the sports fairing, but then there never is these days. If you are thinking of buying one I would definately say "Yes". The other thing I found was that if you are a big person, unlike other 600's the thundercat doesnt look too small for the rider, possibly it is a slightly bigger bike in terms of height etc. or possibly it is just ...
groomoid 11.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Yamaha YZF600R
Advantages: Eye catching style, Very good feel, Powerfull 600cc engine, Greate Storage Capecity Disadvantages: hard to find one
Yamaha YZF600R is a Dream Bike, and it looks so stylish and strong bike. Anybody can fall in love with it in first sight! ya...its right. I really love this bike. Its a '''600''' '''CC''' '''SuperSport''' '''Motorcycle'''. Its inline 4 cylinder engine and 90 bhp (67 kW) the YZF600R Thundercat is a comfortable and road minded sports bike. Sumitomo One piece brakes also make it a good choice for track racing. The bike has one of the most comfortable ... ...room for the toolkit, disklock and a decent lock and chain, and mine also had an alarm unit fitted which took up some of that space. the YZF600 is good safe choice which wont disappoint. I would recommend this bike over the R6 for a beginner's bike, because it will help you get a good feel of sportbikes before going to something more powerful. ...
nirajmistry 31.07.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Yamaha YZF600R
