chrisw

Rather than get a double bubble I'd get an Airflow screen. My mate but a double bubble on his CAT and it didn't look very nice at all ... practical yes/pretty no. I put an airflow on my old CAT and the lines of the screen where the hump is flow better than the double bubble. Personal opinion I know but just to throw another angle at a purchase. Agree with Kitty on the indicators .... loose the big clunky things and go for something smaller, makes a worls of difference. Looks as though the number plate holder has already been chopped.

I'm pretty sure they do one for a cable speedo .. not sure how it works thought. And I could be completely wrong as well. Bike show at NEC this weekend so take a trip there and have a look round as they'll be a couple of manufacturers who sell there own brand other than accumen.

Hi Andy Just read the mail and see you've got some now. Was going to recommend the latest Oxford ones as they have a variable switch on them not just OFF/WARM/HOT ... the dial switch is bulky though.

I agree with everything on here but stick to my original comments, about whether an early model is suitable for a newbie. And I can't deny the r6 is a great bike, I actually have one (2004). I think Boozehound gave a good example of how an earlier model R6, can be daunting to a new rider, and stated the twitchiness of the bike. If no spills then yes we get to love them. All any of us can do is give our own experiences and knowledge we know and let any buyer make there mind up knowing all the fact not just one side. But on the upside, Pauls considering a 2003 (hopefully a fuel injected model not a late registered bike). These are for less twitchy and more rider friendly, low end power is naff up to about 6k, then it starts taking off at 9k and all hell breaks loose and it's like riding scalded cat. (ooerr)

Hi there Paul, Welcome to the site and best of luck for the upcoming test. R6's are great bikes. Whether it will be suitable for a first bike depends on many factors, such as your age/year of bike/use/insurance requirements What year are you thinking of getting as this changes my answer the 03/04/05 models would be OK, but I've always warned about the earlier models for newbie riders, these were a more unpredictable machine and the backend could step out with out much warning. One magazine once wrote " Unless you have 10,000 miles of Sports bike riding, don't even consider one of the early R6's" (My ex lost a friend who had this very thing happen to her, she'd passed her test, bought a 2000 (i think) R6 and had only been riding 2 weeks, so wasn't familiar with reading the bike. Going round a long gentle corner probably pushing it just a little, the back end stepped out causing a fatal crash) I've said this before, and I don't mean to scare anyone by saying that lot, and the chances are that you'll be fine, but it would be wrong not to be give information so you can make your own informed choice. Personally I think a Thundercat is a better machine for a newbie rider, it's more predictable, not so race orientated, it's nearly as quick on both acceleration and top end as an R6, comfier, lower insurance group, cheaper to run .. but like I say that's a personal opinion. What ever you choose I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Get the Alternator checked to make sure it's pushing out enough power to run the bike and charge the battery. Or maybe the battery is on it's way out, possibly even the rectifier/regulator is intermittently playing up. The odd bump start shouldn't cause a problem, so I wouldn't imagine the starting problems are related to you running concerns, but if it's not running right cover the basics first, such as: i) Are the Spark plugs in good condition. Remove, Clean and replace if necessary. ii) Is the air filter clogged up. Remove inspect and replace if necessary iii) Are the plug leads in good condition. remove a plug and hold it in with some insulated pliers touch the electrode against the engine and turn the starter motor, you should see the spark between the electrodes, also run the bike (all assembled) in the dark (unlit garage) to see if the current is escaping through the leads and arcing across each other) iv) Are the carbs syncronised correctly. After ruling these out then if the problem is still apparent and not in the head (according to some mechanics 90% of running problems are actually in the riders head and nothing is wrong with the bike). then you need to think about getting a competent mechanic to have a look at it.

Possible that the Battery has had it, if your able to lend one off a mate you could try connecting it and see if it's that. On the original problem of stalling and not statrting again, sorry to state the obvious but it has got fuel in it hasn't it.

If the noise is what I think your saying then this noise is usual, comes from the top right hand side of the engine. My 04 R6 has done it since new and even race prep mechanincs have told me they all do it.

My 04 R6 waits until 100 before the fan kicks in, and I'm sure it was the same on my last bik .. a Thundercat.

Yeah hardly what you'd call Fair Justice !!

Possibly a sticking thermostat.

I use 'Kleeneze' Sticky Stuff remover !!

Hi Case and welcome to the Forum. On my Cat I used to put Bridgestone BT010 (Sports) on the front and a BT020 (Sport/Touring) on the rear, handling felt good (enough to get my knee down without worry), I rode is quite hard and would get 6000 miles before needing to change tyres, but always replaced as pairs not the 2 rear to 1 front that some people do. They were good as Summer and Winter tyres (as much as you can expect in Winter).

You don't need to take the swing arm off, just cut the chain off. New chains are supplied in the right length with a link for joining the 2 ends that is pressed together and the rivet pins squashed down. Make sure that before you remove the old chain, you loosen the front sprocket cover and loosen the sprocket bolt.

Best bet I reckon would be to make sure there's oil in it ... remove the HT leads off the plugs so the bike won't start, even loosen the plugs to reduce compression make sure the battery is fully charged and in good nick then kick her over, hopefully she'll just spin, but even if she doesn't budge it's more likely to be a sticking started motor than the engine seized

I always use Parafin and a tooth brush to clean the chain on my R6, it cleans all the crap out and doesn't harm it, I ride about 15k miles a year and get about 15k from a chain (all weather use). After cleaning I spray water all over the chain to get rid of the loose gunk, and then on a Paddock stand start the bike up click her in gear and give her a little throttle so as to fling any hidden crap and dispel the water from the chain. Then whilst she's running and still in gear I spray Wurth Chain Lube on the chain from the inside of the chain and hold a rag on the outside so as to capture any excess lube from spraying over the wheel/tyre, I normall spray a bit on the rollers from the outside as well so they get lubed up against the sprocket.

People can't answer what they don't know !! Not many people will have experianced the EXUP valve let alone an 06 R6.

Way too thirsty, everyone I know who's got a hornet moans like hell about the fuel consumption.

Rather than go for another Manufacturer, why don't you choose something like the Thundercat (YZF 600 R), It's a little bigger than an R6, more comfortable, uses the same engine, albeit slightly de-tuned for better Midrange, it's solid, reliable, excellent MPG. Better that than go for 99 - 02 R6 equivilent from another Manufacturer. Kwak ZX6 - Most people who I know have Kwaks all moan about startng them when cold and build quality is questionable. Honda CBR600F - The XR3i of the bike world, everyone one's either got one or knows someone who's got one, boring to own boring to ride. Suzuki GSX600R - Similiar to R6 in that it's too much of a hooligans bike and again build quality is questionable. Poor Cam Chain tensioners, annoyingly rattly front pads.

Hi there, They are a piece of Cake to fit. Make sure you buy one that is specific to the R6, this way it is simply a case of lifting the tank, locating the plug unding it and pluging in the new one, then run the dispay to somewhere convient, I've got one fitted to my 2004 R6 and located the unit between the clocks and the screen (I've got the Yam Tinted Race Screen fitted), with a home made bracket. It's in the perfect place to see it in my opinion (other than via Head Up Display). Then a matter of putting the bike on a rear paddock stand and going throught the programming routine.

Hi Kriss Just be careful with one of the older R6's as they aren't very forgiving. The front end comes up too easily and tank slappers are common, also the back end is twitchy. I've replied to this same topic before from someone else, so you could search for this to get more info. But to state some info from experienced riders/journalist, you should have at least 10,000 miles of sports bike riding before buying one of the older R6's. I know you say a bike will only go as fast as you make it but if your currently driving an Evo, your going to be the kind of person who like's there speed, and because a bike is so easy to do that you will ... regardless of what you say. On something like the 99-02 R6 you need to be able to read exactly what the bike is telling you, otherwise it will throw you off, as a novice rider your just not going to have that experience. I myself ride an R6 but I bought an 04 which is more predicatable, so if you can afford to buy newer then an 03 - 05 R6 would be better. What ever you decide mate, have fun but be safe.

In the end the guy is going to be more than happy with a 2004 Fazer, it's a smooth predictable ride so unless he's stupid with the throttle he isn't going to kill himself. And as he gets more experianced, the bike doesn't need to be changed, as in the right hands a fazer will do mcuh of what most 600 supersports can do ...but he'll be doing it slightly more comfortably. He's going to use it for commuting, so lets put things in concept. Fuel consumption : Good (lots better than a Hornet) Tank size : Good for this size bike (19litres I think) Tyre wear : Good, should get about 6000miles to a rear tyre. Comfort : Good Reliability : Good Commuting suitability : Good

Wlecome to the site, I don't think it matter too much what Yam you've got ... we'll always try to help out. Unfortunately I've no experience of the RXS100

Too right we have electric starters I've seen the older bikers walking down the street with their right leg twice the size of their left leg from all that naff kick starting !! But please ... accusing us of going over to Suzuki's .... that's just insulting !! I bought one (gear change indicator not Suzuki) cos on the R6 it's that high revving, that when I first bought it I was always going for 7th gear ... now I don't really need it but it still has a use now and again.

Yep .. got one fitted on my 04 R6, fitted it between the clocks and the screen. Took the screen off, made a brakcet to mount it, put screen back on, it's out of the way an only requires a slight nod to see it rather then looking down near the yokes.