R6-forum.com TEST RIDES the 08 Yamaha R6 at Laguna Seca!
The 2008 Yamaha R6 U.S. Press Launch was held in Monterey California at Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway this year. Being the largest Yamaha online community in the world we were once again invited to the Press Launch to see what the all new R6 is all about. Put very simple, looks can be deceiving! This bike is ALL NEW from the ground up!
The event started out with a super nice dinner and lodging accommodations at the very exclusive and luxurious resort Bernardus Lodge in the heart of Carmel Valley. When Yamaha puts on an event, just like all their bikes, they do it up right! After arriving at the Bernardus Lodge we had a nice meet then dinner with the Yamaha guys. This included the product planning team, marketing team, media relations manager, testing team, the project leader and engine designer for the R6 from Japan, and also Graves Yamaha Factory rider Josh Herrin. Everyone with Yamaha is very easy to talk to and open to any questions about the bike. You can tell all these guys love motorcycles. After the dinner and a GREAT night’s sleep in the 5 star room I had, it was up and going early to head over to Laguna Seca Raceway to see and ride the all new R6.
Upon arriving at the track we unloaded our gear and Yamaha had breakfast provided for us and we got ready for the 2008 R6 technical presentation and then the rest of the day to ride the bikes.
The 2008 Yamaha R6 is brand new from the Ground up. This bike may look very similar to the previous year but the bike is literally all new! Let’s get a little history of the thought process Yamaha used for focus on this bike. In the past 6 years supersport bike sales of all brands and sizes have risen 52%. And of those sales, 51% of the bikes are the 600cc category. The R6 itself has grown 44% in sales since its inception in 2001. The riders that are buying the 600cc bikes average age is 30 years old with an average of 9 years riding experience. The R6 riders fall right along these same lines. These riders are also averaging approximately 6300 miles per year. R6 riders average 7,700 miles of riding per year. Something else that seems to be occurring more now is that R6 buyers are actually buying the bike as an additional bike rather than as a first bike or replacement bike. And with that additional bike the numbers and trends are showing that the track miles are increasing tremendously! From 2004-2006 there has been an increase in track miles in the 600cc industry of 44%. Furthermore, if you look at just what R6 owners are doing compared to the rest of the 600cc industry the R6 owners have increase their track riding by 86% more annual track miles!!! This leads into where the focus for building the R6 goes. When you look at the R6 compared to the other 600cc bikes, the R6 riders overall are doing much more track riding and racing than all the other brands. But at the same time there are still a lot of riders that use the bikes for commuting and short spirited street riding. So, with that in mind the designers for the R6 wanted to focus on track riding/racing but at the same time improving the street-ability for the new R6.
Yamaha does its research and listens to its customers. Customer feedback said that stated that styling is a very important character to them for the R6. This is why the aesthetics of the 2008 Yamaha R6 are similar with subtle changes rather than huge changes. Customers like the look of the bike. Also, Yamaha wanted to keep the strong reputation that the R6 has on handling and improve on a good thing! They sure did! I will go into that further on my ride report.
Now I want to explain to you what the focus was on the R6 and what was done to achieve that goal. The previous year model R6 was a awesome revolutionary bike. I know this because I raced one for 2 years in WERA racing. Yamaha really didn’t need to go and make huge changes to a bike that was actually very good to begin with. But in the ever increasingly competitive field of 600cc racing and motorcycle sales you can’t sit back and rest or you will end up at the back of the field. Yamaha did their homework and took and excellent bike and made it even better!!!! All the things that the previous year R6 did well, it they kept and improved on, and then any weak points they addressed. Resulting in, possibly the best 600cc bike to date!
Re: R6-forum.com TEST RIDES the 08 Yamaha R6 at Laguna Seca!
ENGINE
The engine is basically the same 599cc base motor as the previous years with some minor changes that focus on improving strength, performance and durability. The goal of these improvements were to boost the midrange performance of the bike (Boy, did it ever! More on that later)
First of the changes was a in the ram air intake, it was slightly changed allow for even more airflow to maximize airflow efficiency. This was also done to match the YCC-I. Yamaha chip controlled Intake like on the 2007 R1.
Another change is a revised mapping setting for the dual injector fuel injection system. This resulted in better throttle response, a better direct feel from the throttle to the rear wheel and even better reduced engine braking feel.
Secondary fuel injectors have been updated and with injection beginning at 6000rpm and a max injection volume at max torque point of 10,500 rpm. This is 1000 rpm lower than last year. What does this result in you ask?
Improved throttle response
Improved fuel atomization
Increase intake and combustion efficiency
Evaporating fuel cools intake air
All this goes towards a better midrange
As I mentioned, YCC-I is all new for the 2008 R6. This is the same type system that was introduced on the 2007 R1. This has switch able funnel lengths from tall (66mm) to short (24mm) at 13,700 rpm with over 60 degree throttle open angle. This results in:
Optimized Mid RPM acceleration when tall
Optimized High RMP acceleration when short
Wider power band
More linear power that’s delivered across the RPM range.
Again, this is what riders were asking for in the R6 and Yamaha listened.
All new domed piston crown with slightly convex shape are on the 2008 R6. This results in an increased compression ratio up from 12.8:1 to 13.1:1. Again improved midrange pulling power and also improved top end power delivery.
The exhaust camshaft timing has been changed while the intake timing remains the same as the 2007 model (Again, resulting in more midrange/top end power and more liner power band).
The engine itself received over 50 improvements. Some of which include
New valve springs made of improved allow, same spring rate
New material and wider connecting rod bearings
New material journal bearing with increased oil supply
All this goes towards overall engine performance, durability, and friction reduction.
Same system slipper clutch at 2007. With adjustability! It comes with 3 spider springs so that more or less can be added or removed for more or less slipping. This system allows for even better engine braking feel and better corner entry.
Exhaust remains essentially the same but with a cross over member between center cylinders allowing for 83% larger area. It also has the closed loop system with O2 sensor. All this results in:
Lightweight
Centralized mass
Closed loop feedback for accurate fuel metering in all conditions.
All this results in 3 more HP on the top end with a giant improvement in the midrange (plus a much smoother corner entry that before).
Re: R6-forum.com TEST RIDES the 08 Yamaha R6 at Laguna Seca!
CHASSIS
The chassis for the 2008 R6 may look very similar to the previous year model but it is actually all new also! Changes include:
New Deltabox Aluminum Frame
New Magnesium Die-Cast Subframe
New Aluminum Swingarm
New Inverted Front Forks
New Piggyback rear shock
New Dunlop radial tires
New Dual Front discs with radial mount 4 piston monoblock calipers
Then new frame was basically increased in rigidity in areas the needed to be increased and decreased in areas that needed to be decreased. These results in an improved front feel, quicker response handling and sooner rolling acceleration capability
A Yamaha first is the all magnesium sub frame. This sub frame is a full pound lighter. And this weight loss is in the highest part of the bike so it really results in improved mass centralization and ease of “throwing” the bike around. Magnesium also offers an outstanding strength to weight ratio.
The all new swingarm may look the same but it has been beefed up for more rigidity to match the improved frame. This result in an optimized rigidity balance and improves rear end feedback to the rider (with better traction under acceleration).
The front is still the same system with the: HI / LO adjusters, but new for 08 the fork outer tubes are 10mm longer. The lower triple clamp has been increased 5 mm. The spring rate has also been increased 2.5% to 9.0 N/mm spring rate. In addition there is a greater range of adjustment! All this has a lot of benefits:
Improved front end cornering feel
Separate HI/LO for more precise compression damping adjustment
Ride height adjustability for different size tires
Increased rigidity during hard front braking
Increased spring rate to match the balance of the new total new chassis
The rear shock has been changed to the R1 style shock with the compresson adjusters. The same high /low adjustement is still there but it is all in one knob. Also a HUGE upgrade for 2008 is rear shock right height adjustment! This allows for change in geometry for different size tires, and also an option to lower the bike for added street comfort riding.
The Ergonimics for 2008 have also been changed.
Seat is 5 mm forward
Handlebars are 5 mm forward and 5 mm down
Front and rear height adjustment allows for more relaxed street riding position and geometry changes for track riding and racing
(-This gives the rider a more direct feeling to the front end of the bike. It also improves the front end cornering performance by placing more weight on the front wheel-)
The front brakes for 2008 are the same but with 310mm dics. The radial mounted 4 piston mono block calipers with Brembo master cylinder remain the same. The disc thickness is increased .5 mm to help with heat dissipation.
Finally Yamaha brings back the Dunlop qualifier tires. Dunlop has improved on an already excellent OEM tire!
Re: R6-forum.com TEST RIDES the 08 Yamaha R6 at Laguna Seca!
STYLING
Yamaha did not want to make drastic changes in the R6’s styling. As the old saying goes, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it! Studies also show that R6 owner’s satisfaction with the current styling of the R6 is much higher than the industry average. So, subtle changes were made while keeping the identity of the R6 somewhat the same. These changes include:
Headlight Cowling is redesigned. The rearview mirror mounting point has changed to the cowl support stay.
Redesigned upper edges of the side fairing and redesigned upper surface of the gas tank. And also removal of the lower air scoop on the mid fairings to give it smoother side looks.
The tail section is all new as well.
For accessories there are actually 15 carry over accessories from 2007.
There is also a whole line of new accessories for the 2008 R6.
(-As I stated in the beginning, this bike may look the very similar to the previous model, but in reality this bike is all new from the ground up, including the tires-)
Re: R6-forum.com TEST RIDES the 08 Yamaha R6 at Laguna Seca!
THE RIDE
Now time for the fun part! Let’s ride this bad boy!!! I picked the all new black paint scheme to ride. This paint scheme comes complete with the factory racing logos on the lower. It is a very nice touch.
I was fortunate enough to be able to race the 2006 R6 for 2 full years in WERA racing. I won a lot of races on that bike and got to know it in and out. What it does well what it doesn’t do well. So I was very excited to see how improved the 2008 R6 really was. I am not going to lie, as most of you out there, I wasn’t expecting a huge change. It sounds like a lot of changes on paper but in the real world are you going to notice it? YES!!!! Boy was I surprised!!!
Laguna Seca is actually a really good test of the R6. It has lots of turns, elevation changes, fast turns, slow turns, hard braking areas and nice flowing areas. It also has some nice bumps to test out the suspension. The weather of the day was cool and overcast so going out on cold street tires on a new track to me, and a brand new motorcycle was a bit sketchy at first. So, I decided to just cruize around the track nice and easy to get a feel for the new bike and track. This would also give me a really good chance to see how the bike would work under street conditions. After one lap, there was two things I instantly noticed, the midrange power and how well it turned in. Now mind you, I have no idea how the track goes, what turns to what etc. So it is not different than if I was riding through town on my bike. The 2006 bike turned it really well, I mean really well, almost effortlessly! The 2008 R6.….IS BETTER!! It turned in so good that it almost caught me by surprise the a cou ple of times by running onto the inside of the rumble strips of the track in the turn. So, it doesn’t only just turn in fast, once turned it holds the line really nice but at the same time it will allow you to change you path mid turn if need be without upsetting the bike. This obviously it attributed to the changes in rigidity in the frame and swingarm. This is going to be huge for the tight twisty roads and also on the very physical tracks where you change direction a lot. It is almost like you can think the bike into the turn.
You may think that turning in so fast you are gong to loose that mid corner stability. That is what I thought. As the day got warmer and I got more familiar with the track I was able to start pushing a bit more and putting down some decent laps. Laguna has some really fast sweeping high speed turns that are a good test for stability, as well as the corkscrew. I can honestly say that this bike felt very very stable everywhere on the track. I never had a moment that I felt the bike was out of control or that I had to fight it at all. The most impressive thing is that once up to speed I was able to make mid corner adjustments or even exiting adjustments with ease. If I felt I was on the wrong like exiting wide I could just turn it in a bit more and finish the turn off with no issues at all. In turn one at Laguna it is a double apex turn. It tried this turn many different ways from one long turn to turning in, standing it up a bit, and then bringing it back in tight. The R6 did both without fail and both felt really good. So, for me the changes they did on the handing were huge, and I was surprised too. I really wasn’t expecting it to be that noticeable and they were.
Now, the next thing I wanted to focus on was the midrange. As stated earlier I just cruised around the track early. I had the bike in taller gears and also lower rpms. Knowing exactly how my 06 R6 race bike was in the lower rpms I wasn’t expecting much, I was quite surprised the first turn when I expected a big lull and the bike actually jumped out of the turn! As it warmed up again I was able to see the full effect of this in a lot of different areas. Not knowing the track at first I would come out of the turns in the wrong gear many times, and where it isn’t optimal to do it racing it surely doesn’t put you dead in the water like the previous model did. Another nice feature of this is you don’t have to keep the bike wound out and screaming to keep it in a such a small power band. The power band is actually pretty wide. There were areas of the track I could carry one gear through two full turns with a short straight between them. For example between turns 3 and 4, I could hold the same gear all the way though them and get a great drive out of both turns. So the midrange upgrade not only sounds good on paper, it actually is even better in real world riding!
Re: R6-forum.com TEST RIDES the 08 Yamaha R6 at Laguna Seca!
THE RIDE cont.
Something that really surprised me was how well this bike wheelied coming out of several of the turns in different gears! I really wasn’t expecting that, and especially on a stock bike. This improvement for the 2008 R6 is definitely going to be a big plus for the average street rider, occasional track rider, and hardcore racer. It really is a huge benefit in all forms of riding. The great thing is that is isn’t at sacrifice of top end power, or is it too much midrange. It is like they took the same power of the previous bike, improved the dips in the curve, added some and at the same time added some top end. Basically taking a great motor and making it better. With the max torque being lower in the rpms it will really help at the track in the ease of getting a good exit drive out of the turns. This bike is actually easier to ride fast than my race bike was. That brings me into the suspension.
The suspension of the new R6 is very good. That was expected. With all the adjustments you are really able to dial in the stock suspension really good. I had the Yamaha techs do some adjusting for me to get the front end feeling better. With just a few turns of preload and a couple of high speed compression clicks the bike went from diving and feeling soft up front to feeling really planted and stable on the front end. No matter what I tossed at it. I was even able to slide the front end on the brakes a few times with now issues. With the 2008 having the ability for much greater ride height adjustment for different size tires it is really a good setup. The shock settings I had for the day worked really well for me. I actually have run the stock shock on my race bike for 2 years so I was able to do a direct comparison. The 2008 shock felt just as good. No weird squatting or sliding around on the rear end of the bike. And with it also having the option to change the ride height t hat really allows you to dial the bike in for all kinds of tires and riding conditions. You could change it from street to track and set it up more forward and aggressive for the track and then lower it and make it more of a comfort ride for street riding. Best of both worlds all in one bike!
Something else I was very interested in testing out was the changes they made to allow for smoother corner entry. Another very noticeable change! You could really go into the corners hard and just bang through the gears and let the slipper do its magic. In the past the bike sometimes would really be easy to get sideways on the engine braking and with the improvements the best way I can describe it is much smoother. You can still slide the rear tire going into the turn, but it is such a smooth slide and never did anything too fast. It just flowed really well and that gives you the confidence to go in hard on the brakes and even if the bike is a little out of shape it is so smooth that you can still turn in and not miss your turn in points, resulting in quicker lap times. The brakes were amazing as we have all come to expect from Yamaha. I tried all day to get the OEM brakes to fade and just couldn’t do it. It was a cool day but I got on them hard and stayed out for a long time, never even a hint of fade. Riding like this I was obviously pushing the OEM Dunlop qualifiers quite a bit. There tires are amazing! Not a wiggle out of them all day. Even sliding them into the turn they still stuck like glue as I exited, lap after lap. At one point I ran through a full tank of gas without stopping and the tires felt great the whole time. I actually probably could have pushed them harder but with nothing on the line I didn’t want to risk it. Something I did notice was they really got up to temp pretty quick. The day was overcast and very cool. High temp never got above 60, staying in the 50’s most of the day. This isn’t the most ideal weather for great grip, but these tires would be sticking very good even after going out cold and only one lap of warm-up I was able to push them pretty hard. These tires are not the same Dunlop Qualifiers that are on last year’s bike. There were developed by Dunlop especially for the 2008 R6, and they work really well.
Overall the bike was really fun and confidence inspiring to ride on the track. As stated before looks can be deceiving but this bike is all new, literally from the ground up. Even the bodywork is upgraded with some really cool styling points. The tail section looks really good, nice and sharp looking. The mirrors actually mount directly to the fairing stay and not through the bodywork now. That is a nice little thing. But that is what Yamaha does best, the little things. And you add up all the little things they have done to this bike and put it with the bigger things you have one very good bike. Yamaha has upped the ante again and if you don’t want to get left behind you should seriously look at grabbing up one of these bikes!
Re: R6-forum.com TEST RIDES the 08 Yamaha R6 at Laguna Seca!
By: Shane McCoy "SpidermanSS' and SPECIAL THANKS to Chad Clifton "Gawarrior" for attending the event and writing the article and summary (next time hopefully someone won't run into him and mess up his SHINY new suit a few weeks before the event)!
On an interesting note: Chad was honored to have met and had a chance to talk with several of the R6's developers from Japan! Project Leader Kouichi Amano and the Engine Designer Nobuharu Takahashi. See the attatched image!
Special thanks to the Yamaha crew as always for hosting the event!
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