Doom and gloom. Turn on any news channel and it’s all we hear. The credit bubble has completely burst and we are paying the price with an economy that hasn’t looked this bad since knickers and wingtips were in style. Like all of the credit-dependent industries, the motorcycle market has taken a decent sized hit – unless it’s scooters and dual-purpose bikes, that is. This is why, more than ever, a pocket-book-friendly sportbike is in need. Yamaha’s answer to this is the FZ-6R.

For our first taste of the new economy-friendly ride, Yamaha invited us up to utterly beautiful Santa Rosa, California, the heart of wine country, to drink in some of the finest roads North America has to offer. Sunny skies graced us for the day of testing, though temperatures in the low 50s and high 40s made for some frozen extremities.

Despite chilled internals, the revamped machined proved a formidable opponent for any twisty road one could throw its way. A lack of suspension adjustment and low footpegs limited pace some, but for those new to the sport finding those relatively high limits will take time. On the other hand, Yamaha hit the nail on the head with the adjustability of the seat and handlebars, something that will benefit beginners far more than adjustable suspension.

Brakes are more than up to snuff for the lightweight machine and one of its shining points, as are the ergonomics. Engine-wise it is down some compared to the standard FZ-6 up top, but gains in the low to mid-range translate into better street manners. On the plus side, miles per-gallon rating is up well over 40, which will be another selling point.

But the key selling point; the one which the young American consumer puts above all the rest? A full fairing with Supersport-inspired styling. It’s what the people have asked for in overwhelming numbers and Yamaha has given buyers another formidable option with a very reasonable price at just at a tad shy of $7,000. For a full review with all the technical info and video check out the links below:

2009 Yamaha YZ6R First Ride Review
2009 Yamaha YZ6R First Ride Video