2009–2011 · Sport Tourer · A variant of the FZ6
Differences between the standard FZ6 and the Fazer
The R6 Heart, Street-Tamed
The FZ6 Fazer runs a 600 cc inline-four derived from Yamaha's R6 and retuned for road use, good for 98 hp at 12,000 rpm and 47 lb-ft at 10,000 rpm. That motor sits in an aluminum twin-spar frame under a half fairing, with wide bars and a 31.3 in (795 mm) seat, so you get sportbike hardware arranged for long days instead of short bursts. At 410 lb (186 kg) wet it is one of the lighter machines wearing a sport-tourer badge, and it carries 5.1 gal (19.4 L) of fuel. This is the practical end of the class, not the plush end.
It rides about the way those numbers suggest. Low in the rev range it is calm and easy to live with in traffic; wind it out and the four comes alive past 8,000 rpm and pulls hard to the redline, which is where the character lives. Handling is honest, stability at speed is genuine, and there is lean angle to spare on a tight road. It suits the rider who wants one bike for commuting, backroads, and weekend mileage without spending much to keep it. The honest caveat is age: steering head bearings go notchy on plenty of these, and fork seals can start weeping around 16,000 mi (25,000 km).
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 98 hp (72 kW) @ 12,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 47 lb-ft (63 Nm) @ 10,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 600 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 298 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.7 in (1440 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.3 in (795 mm) |
| Wet weight | 410 lb (186 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.1 gal (19.4 L) |
| Top speed | 130 mph (210 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 42 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
The FZ6 Fazer (RJ14-Fazer) builds on the standard FZ6: the upgraded hardware, the key spec changes and where its character shifts. The full ride, specs, scoring and verdict are all right here on this page.
| Spec | Standard FZ6 | Fazer | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 459 lb | 410 lb | -49 lb |
Nothing in this section comes from a press launch. It is what has reached me over the years: paddock conversations, owners talking at club nights, and the messages and emails riders send me about the bikes they live with every day. On this Fazer the chatter is unusually consistent. The praise lands on the same few things over and over, and the complaints that surface are narrow and specific rather than aimed at the machine as a whole.
The sentiment riders repeat most has little to do with outright performance. They describe a machine that commutes all week, covers distance at the weekend and still entertains on a good road, without asking much back. Durability underpins that. Owners consistently report piling on miles trouble free as long as routine servicing gets done, with the electrics holding up as well as the motor. Value comes up constantly too, since what these now change hands for on the used market is a fraction of what they cost new, and plenty of riders say that combination is exactly why theirs is still in the garage.
The other constant is how it steers. Riders talk about light, neutral steering with genuine feedback through the wide bars, a chassis that stays composed through corners, and a bike that is easy to shuffle around at walking pace. Precision on a twisty back road comes up again and again. The engine earns the same kind of loyalty. Owners describe a four that wants revs and rewards being ridden hard, yet stays smooth and civil when the road turns dull. Comfort gets its share of mentions as well, with the upright seating position, the shelter up front and a roomy saddle making it easy to live with day to day.
The complaints are narrower. The clutch draws the most of them, with a heavy action that wears on your left hand in stop-and-go traffic and at slow speeds. Wet-weather braking is the other recurring one. Riders describe it as unpredictable once the road is soaked, and a fair few end up swapping pads because of it. Suspension gets mentioned too, with owners calling the setup firm, harsh over broken pavement and short on feedback when they push, and next to nothing there to dial out. A smaller group brings up vibration at sustained highway speeds through the bars and pegs turning tiring on long hauls.
Wiring harness breakage causing stalling
Internal wire breakage at the steering head (often code 19 error) can cause the engine to cut out when turning the handlebars to extremes, usually cold.
Throttle Position Sensor failure
The Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) can fail, causing the FI warning light to illuminate. Replacement is inexpensive but fitting can be fiddly.
Water ingress into fuel injectors
In wet conditions, water can enter the fuel injectors, leading to an engine that won't start or runs poorly. Often benefits from using the bike in fair weather.
Gearbox detent spring weakness
A broken or weakened gearshift detent spring can cause imprecise or sloppy gear changes; the spring is cheap and easy to replace.
Excessive seat heat after prolonged spirited riding
The underseat exhaust and catalytic converter can radiate considerable heat into the seat, causing discomfort on longer runs.
Premature steering head bearing wear/corrosion
Many owners report notchy steering and bearing failure, often requiring replacement with tapered bearings for a permanent fix.
Fork seal leakage
Fork seals may begin to weep oil after about 16,000 mi (25,000 km), requiring replacement.
Error code 19 / sidestand switch malfunction
A faulty sidestand switch or wiring can cause the engine to cut out intermittently; manipulating the wiring harness can help diagnose.
Clutch lever vibration/rattle at high RPM
A metallic buzzing noise from the clutch lever around 8‑9,000 RPM is a known quirk; placing a finger on the lever usually silences it.
Where this Yamaha FZ6 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the FZ6 is actually built for.
On the Dragon or the Cherohala this bike rewards clean lines instead of horsepower. It is light, predictable, and leans far enough that you spend the day working on technique, not hanging on.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
For 200 to 400 mile days on the Blue Ridge or Highway 1 it fits, as long as you accept a modest fairing and no cruise control. Steady, cheap to run, and genuinely happy in the twisty parts.
Made for Highway 1 / Big Sur · Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway
It will not win a horsepower argument on Angeles Crest, but it turns in honestly and holds a line all day. If you want to sharpen your riding on a budget, this is a lot of motorcycle.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
