Bargain-basement fun has never been so good! Steve Cooper explains…
Want a practical classis that will tour, scratch, commute and maybe even cope with a track day with a few upgardes? Then look no further than the Yamaha YZF600R. It’s the perfect platform from which to tailor an accessible, cost-effective, relatively modern middleweight that still qualifies for classic insurance.
Background
Enjoy everything More Bikes by reading the monthly newspaper, Read FREE Online.
As Y2K began to loom into view, Yamaha was looking how to replace the ageing FZR600 which had served them well enough from 1988 to 1995. The old bike had been built as a sports bike that could be pressed into use as a sports tourer. The firm’s YZF-R6 had replaced the FZR and was significantly more sports bike in nature, but the guys in Iwata had a plan. Take the motor from the R6 and lop off some of its top end power, replacing it with more grunt and flexibility. They then carried out some cost savings on the running gear and, voila, the Yamaha YZF600R aka Thundercat.
The bike
If outright speed and surgically precise handling are top of your shopping list then look elsewhere – this is not what the Thundercat is about. Go Suzuki Gixxer or Ninja if that’s your thing. The middleweight spots tourer is all about getting to a nirvana-like balanced state of speed, handling and comfort allied to a goodly level of reliability. The bike offers an easy-going riding experience for two people to hurtle around Europe for a fortnight with luggage and not suffer muscle spasms, cramp, aching limbs or numbness in the process.
Some will argue the bike is too soft and bouncy but that’s the price you supposedly pay for a decent ride quality. In reality, Yamaha were probably saving a few yen here and there in order to reduce costs and/or boost profits. Given that the youngest example is now almost 14 years old, it will certainly benefit from a full suspension service. And as the Thundercat has such a loyal following (yamaha-thundercats.org/ OR facebook.com/groups/1732147073671489/ OR yzf600r.com/) you’ll easily be able to pick up tips on how best to upgrade the suspension for your specific needs. Obviously the sky’s the limit, etc., but owners tend to be cost-conscious so chances are you won’t need to spend too much in order to gain excellent handling.
The motor is a peach even now and the 100 or so horses on hand are normally sufficient for the bike’s intended purposes. Reliability is good as well, given that it’s based around the R6 motor that was capable of churning out a fair bit more oomph. To put the power unit into perspective numerous owners have ventured it’s a viable alternative to Honda’s sublime VFR750 – which is some compliment!
The fairing and screen are a decent size and better than many of the period, making for a better, more relaxed long-distance ride. Some will pick up on the fact that the bike is no lightweight but that at least means it won’t be skittish on the road. No one seems to complain about comfort either, which has to be good news if you’re planning on riding longer distances. There is, of course, an alternative within the Yamaha family in the guise of the Fazer 600, but the weather protection and long-distance capability obviously lag behind the Thundercat. The bike looks remarkably different in the range of paint schemes Yamaha offered but you certainly couldn’t say any of them are bland, dull or boring!
Styling-wise, there’s a lot going on yet everything gels remarkably well. Some bikes built off the backs of out-and-out sports machines seem to look like they’ve received short measure from the styling teams, but not here. It may very well be a bargain-basement model secondhand bike now but that’s certainly not how Yamaha saw it when it was designed.
Despite its low price and age, the Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat punches well above its weight; boasts four cylinders in a world now peppered with twins and triples; delivers a good, honest 90+bhp to the rear wheel; and offers a level of rideablity many newer machines fail to achieve. Seriously – you’d be extremely hard pushed to beat it for the money.
Lineage and Legacy
Nothing that followed the Thundercat comes in at the same price – period! The bike ran parallel to the Fazer 600 but appealed to a different market sector. The post-2004 FZ6 has some of the ‘Cat’s attributes but misses out on the full fairing. The options of more modern machinery throw up options but also bring in compromises and raise the costs substantially. About the closest you’re going to get in terms of age, size and cost is Suzuki’s GSX600F – a decent enough bike but a little odd aesthetically and arguably not as refined as the Yamaha here.
Why you might want one now
Bargain bikes don’t often come along and they can sometimes be compromised in all the wrong areas. However, with the YZF600R Thundercat you don’t need to make concessions because of its keen pricing.
If you want mountains of torque and class-leading handling you’re into Ducati or KTM territory along with the attendant costs, ditto outright speed with the likes of ‘Busas, R1s and Blades – you gets what you pays for as the saying goes. If you carefully appraise your riding needs you might very well find our subject bike this month meets many of them. Remember – a three grand Thundercat will take you as far as you like, saving you thousands over something more focused.
And when you get back you’ll be able to sell for pretty much the same as you paid and there aren’t too many cost-effective classics that will offer you that as an option!
Typical Prices
Buy on condition with these bikes. Many view the YZF600R as a cheap hack and treat it accordingly – avoid such examples like the plague! A 19,000-mile example can be had for just over £1800, which has to be a steal. Sub £3000 will deliver a sub 10k example on your drive, which is still supremely good value.
Extremely tidy older versions with middling four-figure mileages are also around the three grand mark. Even the newest one we found was sub £3500 so nothing here is going to rinse your wallet. The cheapest on offer at the time of writing was a 43,000 mile, 2001 model at £1200, which looked tidy enough. What more could you ask for?
Faults and Foibles
ENGINE
Pretty robust if regularly serviced.
ELECTRICS
Throttle position sensors can play up, corrosion and poor earths can cause problems.
SPROCKETS
The front sprocket retaining nut is a poor design and can work loose.
EXHAUSTS
Mild steel and prone to corrosion so check carefully.
COOLING
Check radiator and oil cooler for obvious damage from road debris.
GEARBOX
Some high mileage examples have second gear issues so check for untoward vibrations.
BRAKES
Excellent but only is the calipers are regularly cleaned and serviced.
SUMMARY!
Cost effective classics really don’t get much more cost effective than the YZF600R Thundercat. The bike is comfortable, reliable and fast enough for most applications. In a world where three grand buys very little this 600 middleweight has to be a genuine bargain.
Advert
Enjoy everything More Bikes by reading the MoreBikes monthly newspaper. Click here to subscribe, or Read FREE Online.
