With a retail price ranging from $9,199 for the blue to $9,499 for the Yellow and Black Anniversary Edition, it better be bad because it's the highest priced 600 on the market.

The 'Yellow Anniversary Edition' 2006 Yamaha R6 will run you $9,499.

The 'Raven' 2006 Yamaha R6 will run you $9,299.

Yamaha recognizes the growth in trackday use, so the R6's easily detachable license plate and rear signal bracket will make short work out of prepping your streetbike.

Even though Yamaha provides a passenger seat on the R6, it would be better to leave it empty and get your kicks by wailing aorund a track instead.

On the dash is a LCD display with a lap timer (which I never used), digital speedo, dual tripmeters (with the handy 'miles on reserve' function), odometer, temperature, and an array of idiot lights that include hi-beam, neutral, low fuel and a turnsignal indicator.

An LED tailight finishes off the pointy tail section of the R6.

2006 Yamaha R6

The 'Team Yamaha Blue/White' 2006 Yamaha R6 will run you $9,199.

2006 Yamaha R6

The 310mm floating front discs are connected to the brake lever via a pair radial mount 4-piston calipers. Grab a handful of these big dogs and your eyes will be bugging out of your head - but at least you won't hit that mini van.

The R6 motor is right at home in the 11K-14K range at The Streets of Willow.

A new key feature on the 2006 Yamaha R6 is its suspension. An inverted 41mm fork with adjustable preload and rebound damping also features both high- and low-speed compression adjustability.

Even for guys like Turd Fergusson, the 2006 Yamaha R6 inspires confidence at all angles. The bike is light and nimble yet holds a fine line - that's a nice combination.

The 2006 R6 is the first production motorcycle to incorporate fly-by-wire technology, or YCCT (Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle), and as far as I'm concerned it gets a thumbs-up.

As Yamaha's Brad Banister put it so succinctly: 'The R6 is exactly what we said it was - the most awesome, the most technologically advanced 600 ever built.'

The 50th Anniversary Edition is worth the extra cash. Apparently they are the hot ticket, so if you want one you had better get a hold of your local dealer ASAP.

The black Raven R6 will run you $9,299. It is not as flashy as the blue or yellow, but it looks wicked.

The OEM Dunlop Qualifier tires were grippy all day should serve their purpose quite well right off the showroom floor for street or trackday use.

YCCT - Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle - uses an ECU to dole out smooth, efficient power from its twin injector fuel-injection system.

Yamaha pulls no punches when it says the R6 doesn't compromise anything on the street for performance on the track - it's the other way around.

The 599cc motor is as compact as they get these days. Lurking beneath the magnesium valve cover are 16 titanium valves and linerless, direct-plated ceramic-composite cylinders.

There's more than meets the eye on this stubby GP-style exhaust system. This is the first time Yamaha's EXUP exhaust powervalve has been utilized on one of its middleweight machines.

The 2006 Yamaha R6 is being billed as the most technologically advanced 600cc sportbike ever produced.

As we all know, this is a glorious era to be riding thoroughbreds like the 2006 R6, so please join us in a moment of silence as we thank the God of Speed for this blessed age.

Check out the up close and personal view of the R6 slipper clutch in this cutaway. You can also see the intimate detail of the EU3-compliant exhaust system.