YAMAHA FZ-6S FAZER
It's like having two bikes in one.
South Africa is – for whatever reason – big bike country, and as a result mid-sized bikes seem to be relegated to the also-ran category.
This is has led to a number of smaller-capacity gems slipping under the radar instead of getting the accolades they deserve. One such a bike is the subject of this review: Yamaha’s capable but relatively unappreciated FZ-6S Fazer.
I bought my Fazer new in 2008 and have used it daily for my 130 km commute between Pretoria and Joburg. On weekends, it doubles up as my marshalling mount – as a Think Bike marshal, I expect my bike to handle anything from sedate 50-km/h jaunts accompanying competitors in cycle races to high-speed dashes to the next intersection during motorcycle events like the annual Motorcycle Toy Run.
Spending almost three hours in peak-hour traffic on the N1, ergonomics take on a very important role for me. In this departement the Fazer fares well: the seat-to-footpeg distance seem to be tailor-made for my 1.78 m frame, and combined with the upright seating position it makes for a very comfortable commuter bike.
Yamaha’s decision to endow the Fazer with a mildly detuned previous-generation R6S motor turned out to be a stroke of genius. In doing so, they have created a bike that retains a lot of the performance of the R6 while giving it a bit of much-needed mid-range punch (albeit in a rather small dose).
The characteristics of the engine gives the Fazer the feeling of being two bikes in one. At commuting speeds, it is an extremely docile bike that will probably not intimidate even the meekest of riders. However, once the engine spins past the 9 000 rpm mark the other side of its character emerges: the engine sound changes from a restrained purr to a throaty growl, while the numbers on the digital speedometer swop places with ever-increasing urgency.
Handling is on par with its performance, thanks to its weld-free die cast aluminum frame which is torsionally much stiffer than a welded steel frame. The Fazer may not be an outright challenge for the sport bike set in the twisties, but it is never left too far behind. Braking, on the other hand, is not the bike’s strongest point, despite the brakes being upgraded for the 2007 model year. However, this is not really an issue during normal riding, and it is only on the track that I find myself wishing for more authorative binders.
The FZ-6S model is probably reaching the end of its lifespan – with Yamaha including the down-spec FZ-6R in their local line-up, I wouldn’t be surprised if the -6S is replaced with the bigger-engined Fazer8 within the next year or so. If so, it could bring a slew of used examples into the marketplace at very reasonable prices.
Should this happen, do yourself a favour and grab one. You could do a lot worse than buying one of these highly underrated 600 cm3 all-rounders.
This is has led to a number of smaller-capacity gems slipping under the radar instead of getting the accolades they deserve. One such a bike is the subject of this review: Yamaha’s capable but relatively unappreciated FZ-6S Fazer.
I bought my Fazer new in 2008 and have used it daily for my 130 km commute between Pretoria and Joburg. On weekends, it doubles up as my marshalling mount – as a Think Bike marshal, I expect my bike to handle anything from sedate 50-km/h jaunts accompanying competitors in cycle races to high-speed dashes to the next intersection during motorcycle events like the annual Motorcycle Toy Run.
Spending almost three hours in peak-hour traffic on the N1, ergonomics take on a very important role for me. In this departement the Fazer fares well: the seat-to-footpeg distance seem to be tailor-made for my 1.78 m frame, and combined with the upright seating position it makes for a very comfortable commuter bike.
Yamaha’s decision to endow the Fazer with a mildly detuned previous-generation R6S motor turned out to be a stroke of genius. In doing so, they have created a bike that retains a lot of the performance of the R6 while giving it a bit of much-needed mid-range punch (albeit in a rather small dose).
The characteristics of the engine gives the Fazer the feeling of being two bikes in one. At commuting speeds, it is an extremely docile bike that will probably not intimidate even the meekest of riders. However, once the engine spins past the 9 000 rpm mark the other side of its character emerges: the engine sound changes from a restrained purr to a throaty growl, while the numbers on the digital speedometer swop places with ever-increasing urgency.
Handling is on par with its performance, thanks to its weld-free die cast aluminum frame which is torsionally much stiffer than a welded steel frame. The Fazer may not be an outright challenge for the sport bike set in the twisties, but it is never left too far behind. Braking, on the other hand, is not the bike’s strongest point, despite the brakes being upgraded for the 2007 model year. However, this is not really an issue during normal riding, and it is only on the track that I find myself wishing for more authorative binders.
The FZ-6S model is probably reaching the end of its lifespan – with Yamaha including the down-spec FZ-6R in their local line-up, I wouldn’t be surprised if the -6S is replaced with the bigger-engined Fazer8 within the next year or so. If so, it could bring a slew of used examples into the marketplace at very reasonable prices.
Should this happen, do yourself a favour and grab one. You could do a lot worse than buying one of these highly underrated 600 cm3 all-rounders.