Just bought one on sunday with 6800 miles, my god its all i wanted in a bike, love the thing, have gone thru 4 bikes and finally found something balanced that i love riding
I had one as my first bike. Absolutely loved it and still miss it. Just did everything. I could cruise long distances or enjoy short blasts, whatever I was in the mood for, the cat does it all happily. Plenty of power and fantastic top end.
I just picked up an 07. I absolutely love the bike. My son has a 2000 GSX-R 600. He can pull me on bottom end but that's it. These are very capable bikes. I sold my vmax last year. And with gas prices I had to get another bike. Glad I chose this 1.
I have a 98' yamaha yzf600r. One of the best bike I have ridden in my entire life. Only problem I got was the fuel pump leaking till now, other than that this baby is fast and very comfy to ride. Seeing this video made me happy, because other people is adniring this bike like I do 🤙🤝. Anyways ride safe brothers.
Really compliments for you YZF600R "Thundercat". You're right,she is one of the last all around sport bike. After 22 years,i still use my YZF600R in all Europe. some track days,long travels or just shopping. I did some modify at the fork with different springs and a tune at the carbs. She run perfectly,fun to drive in mountains and also in circuit. Really low fuel consuption and manteining is really cheaper. The problem? Remove the fairing is really really hard and long to do! Apart that....i love her so much!
I have a 98 and it’s my first bike 22k on it now no issues. Had it for 4 years now and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Comfortable and plenty of power, good video btw
Just bought one for my very first bike. I’ve rode dirt bikes before but I was still VERY nervous. The throttle is SO sensitive. But after riding it around for a while it’s just a big softy lol such an easy to ride bike. I’m staying away from the high rpm’s though till I get genuinely good at riding!
I bought mine around the time you did and its also my first. I agree with the throttle and it being a softie. I havent been driving it very safe. 😂 Once you get into the poweband, the cat roars.
I bought a brand new one of these in '03 or '04....I rode it for a few months and wondered where all the claimed HP was. One day I was on a back road in New Mexico and finally gave the throttle a wide-open whacking. When that bike hit 11k RPM it absolutely ripped. All that bikes power is at the top end. Great all-around machine and completely underrated....
I'll be buying this as my first bike in 2 weeks. I've ridden plenty of dirt bikes but never a street bike. I was going to buy a 250cc bike but f that im going big or I'm going home lol im to tall for a 250. I think this bike will be perfect for my height. Can't wait to get my bike! It has the rare paint scheme too, With big YZF lettering down the front sides and Maroon in color. Im so excited!
This thread is great. I just bought a 2000 today with 16k miles for $2200. I’ve always rode dirtbikes and still do. This is my first motorcycle ever i rode it home 1.5 hours in the pouring rain nervous as hell with a dirtbike helmet on. Did fine though. Didn’t get it above 7k rpms the whole ride😂
Ive had a 98 black cat since 2015 , it had 30k ish then and its now on 74 k ive been all over the uk on it and its still makes me smile when i ride it. Ive pushed it to the limits and its never failed! Highly underrated bikes. Its my second big bike and i dont need anything else 👌
Cool review. Agreed with ergonomics POV. I have a 1999 YZF600R since 2000. But, IMHO, the right motorcycle displacement to start with should be a 125cc or a 250cc, as you have to master two essential aspects in riding any motorcycle, namely: braking and dodging. Whether on dry ground or on wet ground. The problem arises when you have to survive the risks of driving on the road and you don't want to have to pay (either hospital bills or being disabled for the rest of your life) and in that moment you will appreciate the common sense you had to learn the essentials: braking and dodging.
I agree completely I learnt on a 300 but jumped to quickly to big bikes and come off twice due to braking the wrong way or giving to much throttle coming out of corners
It's the only bike I ever regret selling. Great balance between comfy and fun. Solid engine, easy to work on, good value maintenance. At the time I wasn't keen on the looks. Ultimately they are unique and brilliant bikes for the money.
I completely agree that sports bikes are not selling well anymore because they are no longer comfortable and user friendly. 1978 - 2003 was the golden age of Japanese performance/street motorcycles.
This (1999 model) was my first street bike after growing up on dirt bikes. Bought brand new. Was maybe a bit much for first road bike, but it's very tolerant, and I was able to get comfortable quickly. Full exhaust and a jet kit later and it was pretty nuts. Sold it and got out of street riding after two years and realizing I was getting too comfortable and riding too hard (in my early 20s"). Fond memories.
My first bike was a used 07 yzf600r. Such a fun bike to ride and very comfortable. Miss that bike. Getting back into riding now and picking up a gen 1 hayabusa. Don’t care so much about the power, just want something comfortable for longer trips and I got all the stupid out of my system in my 20’s with the thundercat.
20 years ago, this was my first bike ever! I do not regret a thing - I absolutely loved this bike and cut my teeth on that choppy throttle. It's all about your state of discipline. I was 22 years old at the time.
I’ve had mine for three years with only a valve check being my biggest expense and don’t have to do that for another 30,000 miles!! Love it but would like a more comfortable bike for 2up riding, but will be keeping this til it pukes
😢 Got T-boned and binned mine around 10 years ago 😭. It was a real 'do anything' bike, a pleasure to own. I still think about it TODAY...!! 😍 GREAT BIKE.👍🏼
Had a 86 Gsxr750 and i loved it. So did others too. Have had tons of bikes and still do. Something about that bike would form a crowd where it was parked. I would come out of a store and people would be sitting in it, really annoying.Three hour trips were the most i have done on anything and the bike was fun and comfortable. Im six feet tall and also had a really nice corbin seat which may have helped. Definitely didn't hurt.
I bought mine 17 years ago this month as my first big bike (moving up from a modified 2 stroke 125). I think it's a great first big bike personally. Being a 4 stroke non EXUP powerplant, it's incredibly compliant but will take your inputs very well too (it'll go as fast or as slow as you ask of it without spitting it's dummy). That being said, I've messed about with my intake system and geared it down slightly, which has made it somewhat more snappy (less beginner friendly but still perfectly fine for general bumbling around). Don't know if it's just me getting soft from driving cars these days, but hanging on with those tweaks while attempting WOT seems harder work than it used to be 🤷♂️
Love how it leans weight distribution is great I have adjustable front brake lever helps when you come into a corner too fast and I did 145 on mine with some room to keep accelating comfortable 10/10
I have a one bought it as a first bike, mine has a dynojet kit K&N filter and end can ive also fitted a R6 shock, The thing goes like a scalded cat over 8k, I've had her about five years and give me no trouble so reliable. Only problem to look out for when buying is second gear slipping.
here in the UK you can buy a fairly good example of the 'cat for less than $2000 - remarkably good value, it is a versatile flickable machine with good brakes and a comfortable seat. I like the fairing styling.
Mine is a 1999 thundercat with 60.000 km. It was born 3 years before me and im sure that she looked for me till we found in the street. A 70 year old sir, a crazy rider, a person who manufactures pieces for competition cars who rides his old son’s motorcycle because reminds him of what is to feel the raw power. It was like a fallen angel since i was tremendously in love with that bike and when all my friends let me down he appeared suddenly into my sight. I bought it before i had my license cause i was so sure that the yzf 600r belonged to me. Eternally beautiful, sexy as fuck, fast like leaving hell after being burned. I already bought a suit for the circuit, I won’t die in a motorcycle. My god I’m desperate for riding this beast hearing the soundtrack thats going to be with me forever in this life.
I have a 2000, owned it since 06, only problem I've ever had was the o rings on the float needle seats started leaking but easy fix, otherwise it's been a trouble free fun bike, now has 16,000 miles on it. I love my 2000 so much that I had to buy another, picked up an 05 last summer with only 2,500 miles on it!
Love my 2004 yzf600r, had it around 5 years coming from a 2005 fz1 and couldn't find a clean fz at a good price and the seat looked very similar on the 600r so I swooped it and have put on about 18k miles on it, at almost 30k currently
My first bike was a thundercat, LOVED IT. Got rid of bikes due to personal circumstances for a couple of years before test riding a fireblade to get back into bikes. It was nowhere near as nice as the cat.
In Uk i think they stopped at a 03. I have a 02 and a 00 zx6r both a quite comfy, zx6r is a bit sharper, thundercat is a bit heavier feeling. Both very fast bikes I totally agree with everything said in this video.
This is my first 600 I got back in October, lovely bike but the guy I bought it from left it really messed up, thought it was great the first few days but then it became nothing but problems, when it runs normally it’s a blast though
I had a Tesla try to change lanes into me recently, grabbed some front brake, locked the rear (kept it locked) , hit her rear bumper, rear end wobbled but I saved it. Was going about 25mph. I credit the bike with saving me 😊
My only two complaints are the handles should be tilted down a bit more and it is a bit heavy to throw around too aggressively. Otherwise it’s an AMAZING bike
Nice bike, have a 2007 bought 2020 12k , 3rd summer as first bike and it's the perfect for long rides and have some fun. 100hp and 58lbs of torque . 🙄 Yamaha needs to bring back YZF
600 cruiser? Complete dog, 750 shadow is fun with cobra exhaust and straight bars. Any standard upright universal 500- 750 is more fun , easy to ride and has more performance. Ninja 650 ,Ninja 500, bandit 600, 90s Cb750, any Nighthawk, Fz6,kawi zzr600, Z750s etc, etc, etc. are among many to learn on. Any honda f1- f3 also.
I’m thinking about getting one in Europe, Greece. It’s a 2000 with 85000 kms on it Looks very comfortable probably comparable to my 1985 FZ 750 one of the first sport bikes Being at an old age how’s the weight on that bike, swinging it around while not running? Is it a heavy one? With it have 85000 kms what problems should I check for? Another thing since we are talking about weight gonna have the wife riding around with me travelling through the country, is she gonna be comfortable or am I gonna have to stop every 1/2 hour for comfort break?
My first bike,, was a 2010 CBR1000RR. My brothers first bike was a 2014 GSXR1000 and his twin's first bike was a CBR1100 super blackbird. They go as fast or as slow as you make them, you're in charge of the bike, not the other way round. By the way, these YZF 600R's are great bikes and I agree 100BHP is enough for the road.
I got this when i was 15 it was the best decision i made that year it was quick and great handling i put nob tires on it and used it as a dortbike😜😜😜😜😜
“Sport bikes don’t sell anymore” shit there are tons of them on the road. Most people that buy sport bikes or super sports know that it’s not gonna be the most comfortable thing on the planet. There are plenty of sport bikes with fairly comfortable upright seating positions. You can’t buy a BMW S1000(which I guess is more of a super sport) and expect to take a 6 hour trip on it comfortably. If you’re not riding for hours apon hours at a time you should be fine.
I'm saving up for one of these. Does anyone here have experience with reliability compared to a twin like the SV650? It would be my first sport bike and first bike period in over 10 years. Cost of maintenance is a big deal. I went back to school, and I won't finish for 3 more years.
i am also looking into getting this, but as my first bike. Found a good deal on one and I'm planning on taking a look at it this week, hopefully. Trying to find as much info about these so I can spot common problems
The CBR 600 F4 is also a great bike very comfortable something you can ride all day long the ZX6 d or e also is more of a sport touring bike like this and comfortable the ZX6R is considerably more hunched over believe it or not that two or three inches in handlebar height makes a big difference
There were 2 ZX6 models in the 90s the d&e are basically the same bike the e added ram air and a little bit of horsepower and those bikes are very similar to the CBR and YZF in comfort the zx6 r came out I believe in 95 and was aimed to be a direct competitor of GSXR 600.
@@71455olds 600 cruiser? Oh stop, any standard upright universal 500- 750 is more fun , easy to ride and has more performance. Ninja 500, bandit 600, 90s Cb750 are among the many to learn from
I have this bike even after being totaled by the previous owner and being the ugliest thing in the Midwest everything this guy said is true altho without the fairings on the front and bad fork seals 1st and 2nd mine likes to wheelie a bit but I'm also used to riding it and like 0-100 as fast as I can shift sometimes
I am thinking of buying one of these but last time I had a bike was 20 years ago Does anyone have same experience, like is the feeing gone after all these years , or after few minutes of riding it comes all back?
Maybe you like the idea of having a retirement with full mobility. I do. In this case, maybe you could consider take some lessons (e.g.: "Champschool" or other school nearby your home) before buying your next bike to improve a little bit your confidence, your breaking (e.g.: learn how to trail breaking) and your riding technic...
You are so right, grab one of theses while you can! All that is being sold today are the poser-"adventure-bikes" i. e SUV motorcycles. Cheap to produce watercooled twins bore me to death, i wouldn't be caught dead riding one of those poser shit-bikes with everything computerized and lcd BS for instruments... Puuu.leaseee.. that is not motorcycling! ;-)