And a couple of supporting articles:
- Yamaha Unveils All New 2006 YZF-R6 and FZ1 Fazer
- Kawasaki Introduces Redesigned 2006 ZX-10R

I really like the looks of the Ninja 650r.  The new R6 is great as well.

http://www.hypersensory.com/gallery?g2_view=core:ShowItem&g2_itemId=461&g2_GALLERYSID=c0851b2c076b120718b199f275c6021c

Yamaha has the 2006 models on their site now http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/lifestylehome/home.aspx

Yamaha is also releasing a budget version of the R6 that is going to keep the 05 bodywork with standard (not upside down) forks.

I'm loving the approach that Yamaha is taking.

Quote from: GT EyeYamaha is also releasing a budget version of the R6 that is going to keep the 05 bodywork with standard (not upside down) forks.

Why take a track bike and make it a lot less trackworthy?

Pandering to poseurs, IMO.  The I-4 is pointless on the street.  You trade off all of the fuel efficiency goodness of bikes for quick revving and high-end power.

Quote from: Roadstergal

Quote from: GT EyeYamaha is also releasing a budget version of the R6 that is going to keep the 05 bodywork with standard (not upside down) forks.

Why take a track bike and make it a lot less trackworthy?

Pandering to poseurs, IMO.  The I-4 is pointless on the street.  You trade off all of the fuel efficiency goodness of bikes for quick revving and high-end power.

Because it makes money. Besides, some people can't afford the brand new R6 and a budget model would be welcome. And if you're going to take the stance that an I-4 is pointless on the street, you might as well throw out usefullness of any sportscars. My m5 makes 3-4 mpg less than regular 5 series, my buds M3 thats in my sig pic makes 5 or more less than any comparable 3 series. Is it useless on the street? Nope. Does what it's supposed to do at a higher opperating cost.

is it just me, or does the '06 zx-10r look aweful?

Quote from: GT EyeYamaha is also releasing a budget version of the R6 that is going to keep the 05 bodywork with standard (not upside down) forks.

I'm loving the approach that Yamaha is taking.

Yam may be taking the same approach that Kaw took with the 6R and 636.  They push the 636 in the dealerships while 6R is a cheater in a high state of tune for AMA Supersport racing and is never involved in the magazine 600 class comparos as its shortcomings on the street would be exposed.  The new R6 redlines at 17,000 RPM and one wonders this is a great leap forward or just another high strung track weapon?  

In comparison, the Gixxer 600 is known for its midrange power but suffers a top end deficiency in AMA Supersport.

Yamaha anounced their 2006 models finally. You can find them on the Yamaha webpage as well. I like the new R1 LE. Custom Ohlins suspension, Mareschini wheels, that hot 1970s paint job? Oh hell yes.

The new FZ1, though... I like the styling of it for the most part, but there are a few things that irk me. The exhaust look awful. Like a bowling pin stuck to to the side of it. The shield also looks too tall. Aside from that though, it looks nice... Couple that with 140 RWHP, fuel injection, and a comfortable seating position and you've got a winner.

I can't wait to see Suzuki's '06 lineup though.

Quote from: VTNewbMy m5 makes 3-4 mpg less than regular 5 series, my buds M3 thats in my sig pic makes 5 or more less than any comparable 3 series.

My GSX-R gets half the mileage of my GSs.

And yes, an M5 and an M3 are not used to their capacity on the street, not even close.  I've done track, and I've seen what they can do.  Dan Tackett's infamous drive of the M5 around the Nurburgring is a nice example.  The saying in the BMW club is that the ///M stands for ///Marketing these days.

That was tangential - certainly, an M3 or a GSXR are wasted on the street.  But my bias is that the handling and the braking should be as good as or better than the suspension.   To keep the power and detuene the platform it rests on... that is silly, to me.

QuoteBesides, some people can't afford the brand new R6

Then they probably can't afford the insurance, either.  

I understand that Yamaha wants to sell bikes, but from the buyer side - it makes no logical sense.  It only makes hey-guys-I-got-an-R6 sense.

Quote from: Roadstergal

Quote from: VTNewbMy m5 makes 3-4 mpg less than regular 5 series, my buds M3 thats in my sig pic makes 5 or more less than any comparable 3 series.

My GSX-R gets half the mileage of my GSs.

And yes, an M5 and an M3 are not used to their capacity on the street, not even close.  I've done track, and I've seen what they can do.  Dan Tackett's infamous drive of the M5 around the Nurburgring is a nice example.  The saying in the BMW club is that the ///M stands for ///Marketing these days.

I couldn't agree less with you and agree more with VTNewb. Just because certain vehicles (whether it be a car, bike, truck, boat, plane, whatever...) are more at home on a track than a street, doesn't take away from it being a credible everyday vehicle. I think what VTNewb is saying (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that the extra gas you spend and any other little inconvenience is well worth the excitement you get from driving a performance vehicle, even if it is only doing 35mph around the neighborhood. I completely understand that.

I guess it's a matter of priority then. For you, the gas milage is a large priority where as the feelings that are provoked while riding are a priority to VTNewb. Different strokes for different folks. I guess it's not that I disagree with you, but more as I side with VTNewb's perspective. To say an M3 or GSXR is just completely wasted on the street seems a little hardheaded to me, though.

So it looks like they are gonna lock in the 2005 R6 as the next 'nothin going on but the rent' bike (like the YZF600R).  I'm cool with that.  I look forward to possibly getting one in a few years.

back to the new R6, I would like to hear some more about that stubby, little exhaust can.  It sure doesn't look comfortable for the rider's right foot  

I personally think that Suzuki, and now Yamaha, are both wasting development time and money on those goofy exhausts, because 90% of them are just gonna get chopped off in the first month of ownership anyway :dunno:

Well, what we'll probably see is a lot more aftermarket companies build more stubby exhaust cans now. I personally think it looks great. Bored of undertail exhausts.

for making a budget version of a hot bike, i'd much rather have them cut down the engine but keep the suspension/braking.

Quote from: roguegeekthe excitement you get from driving a performance vehicle, even if it is only doing 35mph around the neighborhood.

I've driven performance vehicles at 35mph around the neighborhood.  You might as well be driving the street version.  Most guys I know of with Ms who have never been on the track would be perfectly happy with a non-M that has been rebadged, as long as you didn't tell them.  And that's poseur, to me.

Quote from: roguegeekTo say an M3 or GSXR is just completely wasted on the street seems a little hardheaded to me, though.

They really are.  I do not deny the hardness of my head.  But I challenge anyone to drive a performance vehicle balls-out on a track to say that there is a real thrill to puttering around at 35 in it.

Quote from: indestructiblemanfor making a budget version of a hot bike, i'd much rather have them cut down the engine but keep the suspension/braking.

Exactly what I was trying to say (you got it more concisely).

Quote from: Roadstergal

Quote from: roguegeekthe excitement you get from driving a performance vehicle, even if it is only doing 35mph around the neighborhood.

I've driven performance vehicles at 35mph around the neighborhood.  You might as well be driving the street version.  Most guys I know of with Ms who have never been on the track would be perfectly happy with a non-M that has been rebadged, as long as you didn't tell them.  And that's poseur, to me.

Quote from: roguegeekTo say an M3 or GSXR is just completely wasted on the street seems a little hardheaded to me, though.

They really are.  I do not deny the hardness of my head.  But I challenge anyone to drive a performance vehicle balls-out on a track to say that there is a real thrill to puttering around at 35 in it.

Well then this is easy then. My work has allowed me to have driven over 3200 different vehicles over the last 6 years, from a Kia to a Lambo. I would say only 3% of those were on a track and driven hard, but they were mostly the high-end performance vehicles and that's still a lot. The most recent of these vehicles were a pre-production Corvette C6 Z06 (my god!) and Porsche 997 S4. There is a real thrill to driving these cars at high speeds as well as neighborhood speeds.

Like I was trying to say before. It's not that you're wrong. It's that it's just your opinion. It seems very holler-than-thou of you and I definitely don't agree with it.

You don't have to track your car to be a performance vehicle fan. Infact, I tracked my car a couple times then stopped because of how much strain it puts on it. I don't want my baby ruined.

Quote from: roguegeekIt seems very holler-than-thou

"YES IT IS!!!!"    :lol:

Quote from: VTNewbI don't want my baby ruined.

That's the attitude that, IMO, makes a performance vehicle a non-performance vehicle.  Saying you don't want to track a performance vehicle because you're afraid of runing it is like saying you won't have sex with a beautiful woman because you're afraid it'll make her hair messy.

I think the new generation of bikes suck, I dont like the cheesy looking fairings at all, they look chincy.  I also dont like the tails, I like a nice pointy tail with ample space between itself and the tire dont get me wront there but the tails are so thin theres like nothing there, imo the 04 05 GSXR tail is perfect as are the fairings, that is a really nice looking bike to me, much better then the new R6.  

I also like that faring on the ZX10, I bet that big hole for the exhaust does alot for the aerodynamic numbers.