YAMAHA YZF-R6 (2008-2009) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 2009, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Yamaha YZF-R6, a motorcycle that shared the updates with its liter-class sibling and brought forward a more powerful engine mounted in a new optimized frame with a design orientated on higher sporty performance.

For the 2009 model year, apart from the Black with Blue and White and Red with White paint jobs, the YZF-R6 was also available with a new livery such as the Orange with White colors.

The compact and lightweight aluminum Deltabox frame was a MotoGP-inspired innovation called the "straight frame concept" by Yamaha that offered optimized rigidity balance for a light and agile handling with the engine used as a fully stressed chassis member that offered a light frame design.

As for suspension, the bike packed a 41 mm inverted fork on the front that provided 120mm of wheel travel with ultra-precise feedback and a fully adjustable piggyback monocross absorber on the rear with 120 mm of wheel travel.

In the performance department, the bike featured a compact and lightweight engine with titanium intake and exhaust valves and lightweight forged pistons for fast engine response. The 2009 Yamaha YZF-R6 took its thrust from a 599cc four-stroke four-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 129 hp with a peak at 14,500 rpm and 66 Nm (49 lb-ft) of torque available at 11,000 rpm.

As for braking performance, the bike was stopped by two 310 mm discs squeezed by a couple of four-piston calipers on the front wheel and a 220 mm disc with a single-piston caliper on the rear wheel.