HIDDEN TREASURE

Remember the 2005 YZF-R6? This one-hit wonder is worth searching out...

- JON URRY

2005 YAMAHA YZF-R6

At a quick glance, nothing really stands out about the 2005 Yamaha YZF-R6. The silhouette is instantly familiar as it is basically the same as every other R6 since the model was launched in 1999, and the paint schemes aren’t particularly eye-catching either... well, unless you are viewing the limited edition R46 model, which is generally best not studied too closely for fear of damaging your retinas. But look a little closer and you will start to notice the small but important details that make this generation unique.

First on the list are the R6’s forks, which in this year changed from the previous generation’s right-way-up items to inverted units. And they are equipped with radial brake calipers, replacing the conventionally-mounted units on the older model with larger discs and even a radial master cylinder – all taken from the YZF-R1, no less. And the front tyre size is different too, now a 120/70, where all older R6 models carry a 120/60. So, that’s the obvious alterations... what’s under the skin?

Unless you get your measuring devices and toolkit out, you won’t spot that the throttle bodies have been increased in size to 40mm, intake trumpets tweaked, and fuel-injection setting revised – but they have. Okay, the rest of the motor is unchanged but these mods are enough to see both its claimed power and torque boosted when compared to the older model.

And finally, the chassis features a thicker area around the swingarm pivot point and revised shock settings; again, small updates that would fly under most riders’ radars. All of which begs the question – why?