Yamaha FZ-600
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Manufacturer | Yamaha |
|---|---|
| Production | 1986–1988 |
| Successor | FZR600 |
| Class | Sport bike |
The FZ-600 was Yamaha's first true attempt at a 600 cc "Race Replica" with the growing interest in MotoGP Road Racing taking hold in the mid-1980s. Many FZ owners confuse their bikes with the later FZR models due to similar name and body styling.
A major difference between the FZ-600 and its successor, the FZR-600, is the Delta Box One-Frame the FZR-600 incorporated, like the one used on the earlier FZR-400s. This gave the FZRs more rigid support, tighter handling and reduced weight. Another notable difference was that the FZR-600's engine was tilted forward to a significantly greater angle, thus providing a lower center of gravity and even more handling capability. The almost horizontal angle also allowed the carburetors to be mounted vertically above the intake manifolds, letting gravity help the venturi, and opening up the door for extensive performance mods like velocity stacks. The FZR-600 owed much to its predecessor, such as the sleek body stylings, responsive suspension, and race oriented-spirit.[1]
The Yamaha FZ-600 was produced from 1986 to 1988 being replaced by the FZR-600 (1989–1996), which was then replaced by the YZF600 Thundercat (1996–2002). The FZ engine was closely derived from the XJ-600 motor, which can itself trace its lineage back through the XJ-550 to the XJ-400, a Japanese home market model. This motor was also used in the YX600 Radian. It also shared brakes with a huge number of other Yamaha Models before, during, and even after its production. The same front brake master cylinder was used on the FZR-600 up until the end of its production (1999). In 1986 Yamaha produced the FZ "pure sports" version, with more performance oriented modifications. The FZ-600's main competitors when it was released were the Kawasaki GPZ600 and Honda CBR600F. Suzuki's GSX-600 Katana was given little consideration, with the GSXR-750 getting all the attention at the time.[2]
