I've never written a review on anything before, but I felt compelled to write one on this bike. It's just that good. If you're looking for a bike with all the latest technological advances which do absolutely nothing in the real world, except maybe impress your friends, this is not it. But if you're looking for a great bike at a great price that does it all and does it well, this is the one. This is my second bike (I have a 2001 in black). My first bike was a used 450cc Honda Nighthawk. I don't agree with some people who claim this is a good beginner bike. If you're just starting out, get a used bike without fairing under 600cc's and definitely take a safety course. If this is your first bike, chances are you'll drop it at some point, and repairs are expensive. don't be fooled, this is a high-performance sportbike and it has to be respected. Ok, I'll list some of my likes and dislikes about the YZF600r. PROS: -Very comfortable. The seating position is a great mix of sport and touring. I've spent hours in the saddle with barely any wrist or back pain, and I'm relatively tall (about 6'). I sat on a bunch of other 600's including the ZX6-R and CBR600F4i. The plush seat and relatively upright seating position of the YZF beats them all in this regard. -More than enough power. Unless you're a lunatic on the road in which case you won't be riding for long anyway, this bike will satisfy your need for speed. I've ridden with friends who have 600- 900cc sportbikes and I have no problem hanging with them. -Good brakes and suspension. The front brake will stop you on a dime. The stock suspension is set a little bit soft, but if you tighten it up a little it's great for the highway and the backroads. -Great fit and finish. Not only does this bike look great, but Yamaha also paid attention to a lot of small details. The dash is nicely finished with no wires hanging out like other bikes in this class. The rear tire even has a hugger on it, which is a nice feature. -Reasonable price. Use the money you save on a good set of protective gear (jacket, pants, and gloves). CONS: Not much to list here, but there are a few minor things. -Mirrors could be set a little wider to offer better visibilty of the rear. -Somewhat clunky gearbox. This sometimes causes missed shifts from 1st to 2nd, but I hear this a common problem on this bike. However, a Factory Shift Kit (about $100) should solve that problem and result in cleaner, crisper shifts. OVERALL: Well, I hope you've made it through my long-winded review so far. Overall, this is a great bike and the last of a dying breed. It seems that most of the sportbikes out there are just skeletons, trying to lose more and more weight and gain fractions of seconds on the quarter mile. But all of this is meaningless in the real world. The YZF is a true real world sportbike that brings a smile to my face everytime I ride it. I hope this review was helpful to you and ride safely!!
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