On the line up - 2008 Yamaha YZF R6

If guys at Pickup Yamaha are to be believed, then Yamaha India is soon going to launch the 2008 Yamaha YZF R6 somewhere in and around April this year. Went to check the news out and I really found a test bike parked inside the show room.

I did check out with guys that if they have any info about 2009 R1 being launched anytime over here but they didn't have any. Even they said that they are unable to import the 2009 R1 on customer demand (well most of the guys over there didn't knew that there is any 2009 R1).


Though the dealer did not allow a test ride (because they were very seriously under the impression that this is at 1000cc bike and would be costing much much higher than the R1), I did try to push the bike around a bit to get a feel.


Off the hook the bike feels very much like the 08 R1, having almost the same seat height as the 08 R1. In fact the seat height is 0.6 inches more than the 08 R1. The console too shares it's ergonomics with it's big brother. A little push forward and backward would let you know that the bike is much more flick able than the 08 R1, with the R6 being a good 10.9 kg lighter and you very easily feel the difference with a little push.


One thing which I found missing was the steering damper, but I really feel that a bike of this genre should have such safety features. But nevertheless the bike shares Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I) and slipper clutch configuration from it's big bro.

All I was feeling while I was leaving the outlet, another great bike from Yamaha, but how so out of reach!!

Note : I've deliberately not named the Pickup Yamaha outlet and have not posted detailed images of the bike coz of hula-hoo created on some bike forums of some images/videos being posted and then later removed due to bike company sacking employees on grounds of leaking of info.