I never was a big poster, but I have enjoyed this site. Thank you very much for the education on the GS.

The problem is I lost my Suzuki in my divorce. I would still be riding it if this was not the case. I haven't posted about this because of the heartbreak of losing the wife/bike.

OK to get to the point of this post is to give a review of the new bike for those who are looking to move to a larger machine.

I purchased an '02 Yamaha yzf600. The Thundercat to those of you from the wrong side of the pond......... I mean road .

You will never see these two bike compared in any bike magazine. So here we go.

The YZF 600 is an older design of sport bike. It has a steel frame and is pretty hefty. This is actually a good thing in some respects.  While the GS get washed on the highway by big rigs the YZF barely takes notice. The weight does take it's toll on quick switch backs. This is one area where the GS is superior to most larger machines.

The other thing that comes from the '90's sportbike design is the seating position. It is surprisingly comfortable. The foot pegs are in about the same position as the GS, but just slightly rearward. The clip ons are about an inch forward and down from where the GS positions the handlebars. It is almost a comfortable as a Katana, but not quite. I have done a 400 mile day on it with no pains. I am 5'8' with a semi muscular build. I can't get rid of the damn gut.

The seat hight is almost the same as the GS at just over 30 inches. In other words I am not flat footed on either bike, but that poses no issues.

What the YZF does have is some of the best breaks I have ever pulled on a motorcycle. I have rode a few GIxxers, Honda RRRRRRRs, and Ninjas, but none have had the breaks of this out dated Yamaha. Every bike should have breaks this good.

The suspension on the YZF is good. Fully adjustable. After about of month of riding it and 2000 miles I still haven't got it quite right. At any adjustment it is vastly superior. I never noticed how I 'rode around' the GS soft stock springs, but the confidence in a lean is so much better. If you do one mod to the GS CHANGE THE FRONT SPRINGS!   

The wind protection is better than the GS500f. I would prefer the 3/4 plastics of the GS to make maintenance easier.

I am not going to compare the engines. There is no point. The yzf make over twice the peak horsepower. Yamaha tuned to bike for better mid range, 8k-11k, so it is great for just about any task that a motorcycle is needed for. It actually makes more power than a Yamaha R6 till 11000 rpm. The YZF is still slower due to weight, but the weight is better 95% of the time.  The YZF is about 2-2.5 seconds faster than the GS in the 1/4 mile.

To answer the usual questions it will do 150mph easy, and yes power corrupts. I try my best to be good.

The insurance prize has to go to the GS500. What ever you would pay for the GS go and head and double it for a 600cc bike.

So here is the breakdown.

Dollar/smile- Tie

engine/power-YZF

Flickablitly- GS

Suspension/handling- YZF

Power-YZF duh!

Brake- YZF

Comfort-YZF, but it is close. I love the lower clip ons

Milage- GS, but it is close. The problem comes when you beat on them. The YZF uses more in F you mode. On the highway it is pretty close.

Good for new/returning rider- GS I would not replace my GS experience for any bike. A smaller bike will make you a much better rider.

Personal preferance- PRICELESS

Like I said if I could have I would still be riding the twin, but life took her away.

If anyone purchased a black and silver '05 GS500f  with scuffs on both sides, 14t sprocket, no grab bar, sick on bubble mirrors, nearly shot rear tire, 9000ish miles, from Alabama...................................

Take care of her. I miss her. 

Oh I almost forgot the pics!

Sorry to hear about the troubles you went through.
Glad to see you got a "new" bike though.. enjoy 

Sorry for the losses but you seem to be back on the right track 

I like the previous generation 600's ,they aren't as narrowly focused as current crop and yizzif 600 is my favorite

it does everything well ,sport riding ,touring ,commuting, but you know that already

The engine indeed stronger in the bottom-midrange than most current 600's and the brakes draw praises from anyone riding the bike 

They now became so sought after here that it's hopeless to find one for sale     

And to think it was under appreciated when it came out 

Enjoy it! It's lovely in blue 

PS  been here http://www.yzf600r-usa.com/ right ?

Sorry to hear of your losses. Good to see you're moving on. Speaking of..

We loved Cheaha State Park, but didn't come across THAT rest area

Enjoy the new ride, and don't let another one convince you to hitch too fast, they're crafty things

Thanks.

I got a YZF750 braced AL swingarm for that beast...PM if interested

them is the same brakes as the R-6 and R-1

good evolution of the fzr600

Yep we had one in the family just recently till dad swapped it for a BMW then a Yam FJR1300. I loved it. It felt like the real definition of a sportbike/touring bike.  Its an extremely hard thing to get right, you want a sports bike that you can go some distance on but want mainly sports, the SV comes to mind but its just not comfortable for touring and is still a relativly small bike. With the thundercat your getting true super sport power, in a supersport frame but abit more weight and alot more room making it idea for touring also. Ive taken a few trips on the Thundercat to the isle of man TT and it never failed to be exciting all the way there and then racing round the circuit.

The only flaw with the thundercat is the suspension, if you do alot of pillion riding the rear shock sags after a relativly low amount of miles and you will be looking to replace that but its no big cost with so many aftermarket ones available, also for more sporty feel upgrading the front forks is good too.

So sorry, it's never an easy thing to lose what you love. Time heals, and a sweet new bike certainly helps provide an upbeat mood! And it's gorgeous! I love my GS, she's a sweetie, but we hit the Rock Store today up above Malibu and I was looking.... at other bikes.... where she could probably see me... but she was a good girl all the way home! 

As a woman I'd like to note that men are tricky too, but usually less complex. There are great people of both genders out there, and sometimes a relationship falls apart because you both learned what you were supposed to from each other and it had to happen that way. You usually don't see it for several years down the road, because it feels so awful! So go slow, and try to listen to your heart, and try to be a friend first (I know that's tough, guys!) to any woman you might find interesting. Figure out who you are now, so you can recognize what you really want in a partner. My husband told my family he was going to marry me, and I said it was never going to happen just on principle, I'd had enough of the institution, and he was patient and kind, and I am wearing his ring, 2 years now, after I had given up forever. We are best friends, I have been looking for him since I was, like, nine! I found him when I was 45. Or, rather, he found me.

So hang in there and ride safe on that gorgeous moto!

Quote from: buzz on December 24, 2007, 06:04:13 PMyzf600

those are nice bikes. my buddy has a blue and white one that he tools around on and he loooooves it.