Buying a YZF Thudercat or early R6? - SV650.org

Grant66 · 13-03-13, 06:59 PM

My step son is looking for a bike, his budget is £2500.

Basically he wants it for a bit of leisure fun.

So a couple of questions:

He's had a Thundercat before, but would he be better off with a R6?
Is the gearbox on the R6 dodgy?
Apart from the usual things (signs of crashing and general maintenance condition), is there anything I should be specifically checking (costly problems)?
Anyone know of a good example for sale, ideally in the Bristol area? Like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-Yamah...item5d3adc255f

Wideboy · 13-03-13, 07:02 PM

thundercats also have iffy gearboxes

The_Ric0 · 13-03-13, 07:43 PM

I had a 2001 r6, watch out for the dodgy 2nd gear, I was lucky and mine was fine until it got nicked... Haven't heard any other major issues, apart from loosing your licence in 3 seconds

squirrel_hunter · 13-03-13, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wideboy

Stretchie's Thundercat has an iffy gearbox

True.

Grant66 · 13-03-13, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Ric0

Haven't heard any other major issues, apart from loosing your licence in 3 seconds

It's not my licence

What are the symptoms? noisy, jumping out of gear

yorkie_chris · 13-03-13, 08:05 PM

Can jump out when you give it beans in second, especially on a "shock" load like transitioning from engine braking to accelerating.

I reckon the thundercat was a better bike to R6, they're both alright but the 'cat seems loads more useful. Depends what he wants to do with it.

Grant66 · 13-03-13, 08:32 PM

Mainly hoon round the Pyrenees like a nutter before taking it to Ibiza to do the same there.

Wideboy · 13-03-13, 08:38 PM

R6 for street cred and thundercat for comfort, both the same bike really under it all.

_Stretchie_ · 14-03-13, 09:26 AM

Thundercat is more rideable in general, it has better mid range than the R6 so better for getting around town and pootling but it has a big steel frame and is heavier than the R6 but both have fully adjustable suspension front and rear.

ThundercatWAS the sports bike but then very soon after they made it the R6 came out and the Thundercat was downgraded to sports-tourer status.

Gearboxes are a known common issue but by no means is it guaranteed to fail, I know of several Thundercats that have topped 60k and had no problems (however mine didn't but I take the blame for that with crap gear changes)

Thundercat is MUCH comfier too, I used to do about 1,500 miles a month on mine even without a second gear

Here's a nice exmple just up the M4 in Wiltshire

Wideboy · 14-03-13, 10:16 AM

yeh and make sure you acf it or that will happen ^^^

I put my ace away for a month after riding from Lancaster to Southampton in snow sludge without cleaning it and the thing seized up like a bugger. wouldn't even move

13-03-13, 06:59 PM	#1
Grant66 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Preston Posts: 656	Buying a YZF Thudercat or early R6? My step son is looking for a bike, his budget is £2500. Basically he wants it for a bit of leisure fun. So a couple of questions: He's had a Thundercat before, but would he be better off with a R6? Is the gearbox on the R6 dodgy? Apart from the usual things (signs of crashing and general maintenance condition), is there anything I should be specifically checking (costly problems)? Anyone know of a good example for sale, ideally in the Bristol area? Like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-Yamah...item5d3adc255f __________________ Formerly known as Gajjii Previous Bikes: Red Sk1 Curvy, Red MT-07. Current Bike: Black MT-09.

13-03-13, 07:02 PM	#2
Wideboy Evel Knievel Mega Poster Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Eastleigh Posts: 4,641	Re: YZF Thudercat or early R6 thundercats also have iffy gearboxes __________________ 05 DRZ400E RIP hovis

13-03-13, 07:43 PM	#3
The_Ric0 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Earlsfield, London Posts: 29	Re: YZF Thudercat or early R6 I had a 2001 r6, watch out for the dodgy 2nd gear, I was lucky and mine was fine until it got nicked... Haven't heard any other major issues, apart from loosing your licence in 3 seconds

13-03-13, 08:05 PM	#6
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: YZF Thudercat or early R6 Can jump out when you give it beans in second, especially on a "shock" load like transitioning from engine braking to accelerating. I reckon the thundercat was a better bike to R6, they're both alright but the 'cat seems loads more useful. Depends what he wants to do with it. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

13-03-13, 08:32 PM	#7
Grant66 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Preston Posts: 656	Re: YZF Thudercat or early R6 Mainly hoon round the Pyrenees like a nutter before taking it to Ibiza to do the same there. __________________ Formerly known as Gajjii Previous Bikes: Red Sk1 Curvy, Red MT-07. Current Bike: Black MT-09.

13-03-13, 08:38 PM	#8
Wideboy Evel Knievel Mega Poster Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Eastleigh Posts: 4,641	Re: YZF Thudercat or early R6 R6 for street cred and thundercat for comfort, both the same bike really under it all. __________________ 05 DRZ400E RIP hovis

14-03-13, 09:26 AM	#9
_Stretchie_ Large Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minsterworth, Gloucester Posts: 2,353	Re: Buying a YZF Thudercat or early R6? Thundercat is more rideable in general, it has better mid range than the R6 so better for getting around town and pootling but it has a big steel frame and is heavier than the R6 but both have fully adjustable suspension front and rear. ThundercatWAS the sports bike but then very soon after they made it the R6 came out and the Thundercat was downgraded to sports-tourer status. Gearboxes are a known common issue but by no means is it guaranteed to fail, I know of several Thundercats that have topped 60k and had no problems (however mine didn't but I take the blame for that with crap gear changes) Thundercat is MUCH comfier too, I used to do about 1,500 miles a month on mine even without a second gear Here's a nice exmple just up the M4 in Wiltshire __________________ How to amuze an idiot: Look right-> <-Look Left Last edited by _Stretchie_; 14-03-13 at 09:30 AM.

14-03-13, 10:16 AM	#10
Wideboy Evel Knievel Mega Poster Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Eastleigh Posts: 4,641	Re: Buying a YZF Thudercat or early R6? yeh and make sure you acf it or that will happen ^^^ I put my ace away for a month after riding from Lancaster to Southampton in snow sludge without cleaning it and the thing seized up like a bugger. wouldn't even move __________________ 05 DRZ400E RIP hovis Last edited by Wideboy; 14-03-13 at 10:18 AM.

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