YAMAHA YZF-R6 (2003-2004) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 2003, Yamaha launched the YZF-R6, a 600cc sports bike that was in its first year when it featured a major update with the introduction of the fuel-injected engine that delivered more power and torque in the low-mid rpm range.

The engine ran a lot smoother thanks to its fuel injection system and revised exhaust canister that provided an exhilarating experience in the high-rev range both on track and through the twisties.

Also, the Deltabox received a major revision, which made the bike narrower and stiffer thanks to a clever manufacturing technique such as the Yamaha Controlled Filling (CF) aluminum die-cast procedure that allowed the chassis to be assembled with two welds rather than 16.

For suspension, the bike packed an adjustable 43 mm telescopic fork on the front and an adjustable piggyback monoshock on the rear, while the braking performance was handled by two 298 mm discs with four-piston calipers on the front and a 220 mm disc with a single-piston caliper on the rear.

In the power department, the 2003 Yamaha YZF-R6 took its thrust from a 599cc four-stroke four-cylinder liquid-cooled fuel-injected engine that delivered three horsepower more than the previous model with an output power of 123 hp at 13,000 rpm and 68 Nm (50 lb-ft) of torque with a peak at 12,000 rpm.

All the power produced by the engine was converted into speed by a six-speed manual transmission that pushed the bike to a top speed of 262 kph (163 mph).