GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Yup, that's right.  Ater much consideration, I thought I was going to have to choose between the Ninja 650R and the new SV650Sf.  I went to our dealer and checked both out many times this past summer and, other than the ginormous canon of an exhaust canister on the SV, I thought it was a shoe in for the spring just edging the Ninja with it's angular, agressive styling...then this came out:

(http://www.yamaha-motor.com/assets/content/images/600/09MS_FZ6R_blk_S3_78ef33fa.jpg)
(http://www.yamaha-motor.com/assets/content/images/600/09MS_FZ6R_yel_S4_37be83bf.jpg)

It's the new Yamaha FZ6R.  In my opinion it combines the best of both bikes with some perks of its own.  It has a more agressive style like the SV650SF, the exhaust like the Ninja, and enough items borrowed from the R6 to make me drool.  Now I need only pick a color  :dunno_white:.

For reference, the SV650Sf is a full-fared V-twin priced at $6999, the Ninja 650R is full-fared parallel twin like ours at $6799, and the FZ6R is a detuned r6 four cylinder for $6990 (black) or $7090 (yellow).

I hate to say it, but I think Yamaha has the winner...but I promise I'll stick around to annoy you all with my Deals Gap Rally threads.

**edit** for poll purposes...here are the other two contenders:

SV650SF
(http://www.suzukicycles.com/images/ProductImages/colorVariations/500/SV650SK9_grey_7F7F7F.jpg)

Ninja 650R
(http://www.kawasaki.com/ImagesMain/Products/ActionShots/9b6f99e8-b83e-4200-b9ab-6ed221c5e535.jpg)

meh I still think that thing looks like yamaha took a regular sized bike and squished it.  It looks like a giant, crazy tall bike with little bitty wheels.

Plus it has integrated rider's and pillion pegs...which STILL doesn't make sense to me. I mean, didn't they decide this was a bad idea in the 80's?

lol i just solllld my yamaha.... and got my suzuki and a honda for it.
the gs500 for me, and a honda vtx1800c for my boyfriend.
its a rly nice bike...
(i had the 06 R1 raven.)
lots of upgrades too =]
heres some pix of the one i had.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/myspacecrazed/100_4725-1.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/myspacecrazed/100_4732-1.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/myspacecrazed/100_4727.jpg)

hope you enjoy it and one day my bf and i will see ya @ the dragon, we wanna go sooooo baddd

What am I missing here? The fully faired "R" model is $300 less than the half faired FZ6. What's the difference?

BTW, my GS will go up for sale soon.  You can see in my avatar that it has a Corbin seat, tank bra, and the oem quarter faring and chin spoiler.  The chin was an ebay basket case, and it could use a little more fiberglass and sanding.  The forks need new seals...the weep a little right now, and it's due for a valve check.  It's been rejetted, the exhaust has been extensively modified.  No fender at all, rear tail light flipped, and turn signals relocated.  The grab bar and rim lips have been polished.  It has drag bars, but I have the oem bars as well.  It has Avons on it now.  The front tire is in good shape, but the rear will probably need replaced for next season.  It blue-books for $1900, but I'd let it go for $1200 obo.  I know that people will be interested in the after market parts, but I really want to keep the bike in one piece right now to improve its marketability.  If it looks like I can't sell it, I may sell off the bolt on bits in February.  The bike runs like a champ and has never given me a single issue.  I will also post this up over on the for sale section.

i also eyeballed that yamaha.  :icon_mrgreen:

Quote from: makenzie71 on October 05, 2008, 05:38:49 PM
meh I still think that thing looks like yamaha took a regular sized bike and squished it.  It looks like a giant, crazy tall bike with little bitty wheels.

Plus it has integrated rider's and pillion pegs...which STILL doesn't make sense to me. I mean, didn't they decide this was a bad idea in the 80's?

plus its got that damned stinger lookin thingy sometimes known as a rear fender  :dunno_white:

i like a nice sexy rear!  :icon_twisted:

I like your wife too  :icon_twisted: but this bike is FUGLY well teh rear fender is though

Yep, they took a perfectly good moto and made this thing...

The bike is heavier than the normal FZ6 and, from a quick once-over, has a smaller gas tank, a cheaper swingarm, a different frame (maybe part of the weight), and put in a split seat instead of the more useful banana.  They also took away the nicely tidy undertail exhaust and stuck a chunk of can on the bottom of the bike.

We'll have to see what it's like when it's finally available to look at, but from what I see on the site, it looks to me like they made a budget-part bike and slapped fairings on it.  I imagine it will do well.   :flipoff:

(http://www.suzukicycles.com/images/ProductImages/colorVariations/500/SV650SK9_grey_7F7F7F.jpg)

Anyone that thinks that the tail on the SV650SF is any more beautiful than what's on the FZ6R is just kidding themselves.   :bs:  IMHO, both are fugly from the rear.  But take a look at the exhaust on the SV...have you seen a new one in person?  It's HUGE!  People may not like the exhaust on the FZ6R, but it's much more preferable over the pillion-burning cannon on the SV.  The bodies on both are very similar.  I'm sure the SV has a more narrow profile since the FZ is a four cylinder.   I plan to wait until I can compare both to make a decision, but the FZ6R is more than intriguing for sure.  BTW, If I want a 'banana' seat, I'd have to go with the Ninja.  The SV has the same type of seat as the FZ...well no, that's not true...the FZ's seat is adjustable. 

Oh, and I don't like the look of the FZ6, nor do I like the SV650s.  I've never liked the half-faring.  Either naked (SV650) or full-fared.

Quote from: oramac on October 06, 2008, 03:35:22 PM
(http://www.suzukicycles.com/images/ProductImages/colorVariations/500/SV650SK9_grey_7F7F7F.jpg)

Anyone that thinks that the tail on the SV650SF is any more beautiful than what's on the FZ6R is just kidding themselves.   :bs:  IMHO, both are fugly from the rear.  But take a look at the exhaust on the SV...have you seen a new one in person?  It's HUGE!  People may not like the exhaust on the FZ6R, but it's much more preferable over the pillion-burning cannon on the SV.  The bodies on both are very similar.  I'm sure the SV has a more narrow profile since the FZ is a four cylinder.   I plan to wait until I can compare both to make a decision, but the FZ6R is more than intriguing for sure.  BTW, If I want a 'banana' seat, I'd have to go with the Ninja.  The SV has the same type of seat as the FZ...well no, that's not true...the FZ's seat is adjustable. 

Oh, and I don't like the look of the FZ6, nor do I like the SV650s.  I've never liked the half-faring.  Either naked (SV650) or full-fared.

True dat.  Actually, I'm in the same boat and the new Ninja650 knocked itself out of the running with the price hike and suspect looks.  The SV is the most aggressive seating position from what I can tell (the FZ6R has bars, right?) and it looks "sad, depressed, and morose".  The headlights are what kill it for me.  But the FZ6R is an I4 (which I covet) and it comes in GS500F yellow/black/gray/white.  That way I can keep my yellow gear when I upgrade :wink:

Seriously though, I've gone through the same stream of thought.  I'm also considering the Hyosung GT650 if they get their act together in the next year or so; they seem to be making progress.

Good luck with your decision either way.  If you do end up on the FZ6R us know what you think of it.

i like the new yami in black, i also love the R1 in white.  but a twin, v or parallel is definitely different in performance and sound.  both have their strong points.  on the track i can spank anyone riding a twin.  but the in-lines has better top speed and are a bit lighter, usually.

Just get an R6.  You'll LOVE it.

except...

get an R6s...  NOT the R6r...  the R6r models are just butt ugly IMO.

Quote from: annguyen1981 on October 07, 2008, 03:45:30 PM
Just get an R6.  You'll LOVE it.

except...

get an R6s...  NOT the R6r...  the R6r models are just butt ugly IMO.

1.  I don't want an R6
2.  An R6 is more expensive
3.  Insurance on an R6 is more expensive
4.  Plates for an R6 are more expensive
5.  Tires for an R6 are more expensive
6.  I don't want an R6

Seriously though, I'm not looking for a supersport.  If I wanted a supersport, it would be a GSXR600.

if i bought a supersport it would be a cbr600    :dunno_white:

Quote from: annguyen1981 on October 07, 2008, 03:45:30 PM
Just get an R6.  You'll LOVE it.

I had an R6.

It's a great track bike, which means it's lousy on the street.  You give up that upright see-over-traffic position, you have a track suspension which isn't as compliant on crappy roads, you have no hard bags, you have a rear seat it's hard to strap things to, you have supersport insurance and supersport theft-target-age.  The FZ6 is my commuter/touring/errandmobile, and it's far better than my R6 was at that.

(http://i36.tinypic.com/npge2f.jpg)


I now have a GS500 as a track bike, and it's far more satisfying to pass a GSX-R on that.

looks schmooks.

ride the damned things already !

i'd ride em.  :laugh:

I'd vote 1978 GS750E, oramac...where's the voting thing?

Quote from: makenzie71 on October 07, 2008, 08:34:46 PM
I'd vote 1978 GS750E, oramac...where's the voting thing?

Ok...they don't sell new 1978 GS750E bikes...

Hmm...poll...OK

From gathering info off the website, I like the headlight setup on the fz6 better, the components and brakes are slightly better if I'm reading things right.  the 07+ bikes have nice 4 pot monoblocks up front and I'm not sure about the back.  Underseat exhaust is way sexier than the fz6r.  I am torn because the fully faired bike is less money and has an adjustable seat.  It looks fat in the middle though.  I just don't understand the whole thing.  I wish they could take an fz6 and slap on plastics that don't look like a bloated dolphin.  I may end up in an fz6 and put on aftermarket chin spoiler and call it a day.  I really like the whole thing.  If only they had inverted forks, and more adjustable suspension they'd be perfect.

Quote from: bombadillo on October 12, 2008, 05:06:31 PMI wish they could take an fz6 and slap on plastics that don't look like a bloated dolphin.

You can buy factory lowers for an FZ6.  You just have to do it through a Canadian dealership.

The half-fairing is perfectly functional, however, so I have found better things to throw money at.

There's a reason why a newer bike with more plastic would be cheaper, and it's not that they improved the components.

Quote from: Roadstergal on October 13, 2008, 10:34:14 AM

Quote from: bombadillo on October 12, 2008, 05:06:31 PMI wish they could take an fz6 and slap on plastics that don't look like a bloated dolphin.

You can buy factory lowers for an FZ6.  You just have to do it through a Canadian dealership.

The half-fairing is perfectly functional, however, so I have found better things to throw money at.

There's a reason why a newer bike with more plastic would be cheaper, and it's not that they improved the components.

True that.  I actually saw an FZ6 with the lower fairing and it didn't look half bad.  However, I still don't like the angle and placement of the dual-headlights (no offense to you or any other FZ6 owners) or else I'd probably look at getting one myself.  It's on par with the SV650 in the headlight dept.  Still, with the "euro" headlight it may be worth looking into.

They're a lot more pointed and slanty than the SV headlights.

You can't see it when you're on the bike, though.  Once I got a few miles under my belt :p, I realized that functionality matters more to me than aesthetics.  The fairing is very functional; on cold and/or wet days, the pointy bits keep wind and rain off of your hands.

(http://www.roadstergal.info/10_28_07/698.jpg)

Wow, it even LOOKS more functional than the SV's mini-fairing.  Thanks for posting the side-by-side (well, front-by-front) comparison.