2005 Yamaha R6The winner of our Supersport shootout the last two years, Yamaha's R6 just got better for 2005. We can't wait to take it out on the track.
By Kevin Duke
The pace of development in the middleweight sportbike class continues at a staggering rate. Although it's been just two years since Yamaha, Kawasaki and Honda introduced all-new 600s, all are significantly updated for 2005. Yamaha's R6 becomes the first out of the gate, ready to hit dealers mid-November.
On the surface, the changes to the 2005 model-a new fork, front brakes and revised engine tuning-don't seem highly significant, and we were unsure how much difference we would feel when MCUSA was invited to sample the revised screamer on an introductory street ride in Southern California last week. Turns out our 2003-04 Supersport shootout winner has taken a small leap forward.
Changes to the motor are limited to a revised intake along with altered injection mapping and ignition timing. The fuel-injection's throttle bodies go up in size from 38mm to 40mm for more top-end power. The intake snorkels are not only larger in diameter to match the bigger injector bodies, but they also employ an old racing trick in which the outer two snorkels are nearly half the height of the inner pair, theoretically increasing both midrange and top-end power. Yamaha claims a more linear power curve and a gain of 3 hp at 13,000 rpm.
Now, a gain of 3 horsepower way up the tachometer is difficult to sense, even from a butt dyno that is constantly riding new machines. But we can tell you that the '05 R6 seems just as strong up top while retaining good midrange snap during freeway roll-ons.
The big difference in feel is the result of many small chassis changes. Sticking on an inverted fork and a taller front tire sounds like an easy task, and, as a Yamaha PR wag told us, "We were expecting to call it an early day and go have coffee."
But the key change-going from an oddball 60-series front tire to a taller 70-series Dunlop-forced Yamaha's engineering team to alter several other details to make them work in concert with each other. Going to this tire size that is almost universally chosen for sportbike use has two effects. First off, its larger diameter changes the steering geometry, and, second, it raises the front end of the bike.
Previous R6s, with its 24.0-degree rake and scant 86mm of trail, had the most radical steering geometry among the 600s, and this was the reason it was the nimblest of sportbike scalpels. But the '05 models now have a more middle-of-the-road 24.5-degree rake and 95mm of trail.
Graves Yamaha R6 exhausts looking good
Graves Yamaha 2006 R6Graves has been pretty quick off the mark with its hand made in the US of A full exhaust system for the 2006 R6. According to Graves, its got stainless steel headers, billet aluminum flanges and a titanium canister, which is all fair enough. But what the hell is the "O2 Bung"? Just kidding...it's some kind of sensor-pleasing gizmo.
There's a stack of race-spec kit on the site and its imported in the UK by Comptech who ran young Craig Fitzpatrick in the British superstock championship where he won a race and ended up fourth overall on a Comptech Graves Yamaha R1. Check out www.gravesport.com and www.comptechshop.com for UK prices and parts.
Yamaha DT 125 R
As a learner bike the DT is simply brilliant. You use and abuse this road and trail bike and it just keeps coming back for more ? hardly surprising when you realise that Yamaha introduced the 125cc stroker way back in 1988.
To pass your motorcycle test you have to master the U-turn, but on a DT you're laughing - the low first gear means you can trickle along without slipping the clutch. The wheelbase is longer than most street learner bikes like the Honda CG125 or Yamaha?s own chunky wheeled TW125, but there?s masses of steering lock and the turning circle is amazingly small.
Knobbly tires may not be the best rubber for emergency stops, but you?ll have no problems coming quickly and safely to a halt thanks to disc brakes front and rear. And you?ll be laughing when it comes to slaloming through the test cones.
To pass your motorcycle test you have to master the U-turn, but on a DT you're laughing - the low first gear means you can trickle along without slipping the clutch. The wheelbase is longer than most street learner bikes like the Honda CG125 or Yamaha?s own chunky wheeled TW125, but there?s masses of steering lock and the turning circle is amazingly small.
Knobbly tires may not be the best rubber for emergency stops, but you?ll have no problems coming quickly and safely to a halt thanks to disc brakes front and rear. And you?ll be laughing when it comes to slaloming through the test cones.
2006 YAMAHA ATV RAPTOR 700 AND 450 YFZ
Yamaha ups the ante on the 2006 Yamaha Raptor ATV making it a Fuel Injected Raptor 700. Also, Limited Edition 2006 Yamaha YFZ450 ATV, which has a true 449cc engine.The Yamaha Raptor 700 ATV has a 686cc power plant with Yamaha fuel injection EFI, which means consistently excellent performance. It also offers a new hybrid steel and aluminum frame with a controlled fill aluminum sub frame. This New Yamaha Raptor 700 ATV also has aggressive styling and long travel suspension with a cushier seat.The Limited Edition Bill Ballance 2006 Yamaha YFZ450 has a new 5-speed gearbox to squeeze more power the Ti Valve power plant. Also a new crank with a 1.4mm longer stroke. They added a accelerator pump for more throttle response and added a new timiming curve. Yamaha Also added 19% more cooloing capacity. On the head Yamaha moded the intake port for increased velocity.On the body you get a GTYR aluminum bumper, nerfbars and Pro Taper handle bars and the suspension the YFZ450 recieved dual rate coil springs and softer compression damping. The rear shock has a 13mm longer shaft with a new linkage for longer travel. The steering stemm has been raised 20mm.
