News Yamaha announces the end of production for its R6.

A piece of SuperSport history is bowing out. The Yamaha 600 R6, one of the most effective and iconic track bikes in modern production, is in its final season. And this isn’t just a temporary goodbye while we wait for an upgrade or a new version. No, Yamaha is discontinuing the R6! It’s over, and it leaves us with a wealth of memories.

For me personally, it was my first encounter with a sport bike, almost a quarter of a century ago. A carburetor-equipped version—the thrill of which is still palpable when I think back on its insane engine. Nothing up to 10,000 rpm, and then the power just explodes all at once, catapulting you toward the horizon. Thrilling and unforgettable.

For many riders, it was a very well-engineered bike, with immediately usable potential and fast lap times within reach without having to upgrade half the bike. The first generation was known for its fragile engine, but everyone loved riding this bike, which had the size and performance of a 250cc race bike.

A Quarter-Century at the Top of Performance

The R6 hit the market in 1999. It immediately made a huge splash, with its minimal weight, its 599 cm³ 4-cylinder engine—far more responsive than the T-Cat’s—its chassis as sharp as it was precise, and its radical handling. With it, the track was in your eyes and in your body—no compromises. 120 chevaux for 169 kg—that was a fantasy back then.

It received a minor facelift in 2001, with a revised engine, a weight reduction to 167.5 kg, and a few chassis adjustments. But it was in 2003 that it took a major leap forward. It adopted fuel injection and a die-cast aluminum frame. The styling became a bit more aggressive, power increased by 3 chevaux, and the dry weight dropped to 162 kg. Astounding.
In 2005, the R6 kept fans waiting with an inverted fork and radial brake calipers.

2006 was a game-changer. Far more than its sharp design, the new R6 sent high-rev enthusiasts into a frenzy. Its completely redesigned engine could reach 133 chevaux (with forced air intake) and boasted a maximum rpm of 17,500. The tachometer even took things to the extreme by daring to be calibrated up to 20,000 rpm on the first models.

In reality, these insane RPM figures were a marketing ploy, and the R6 actually cut out around 16,000 rpm. Yamaha would later admit its mistake (especially in the U.S.), and everyone would quickly forget this episode to enjoy the exceptional performance of this generation of the R6.

2008 marked an opportunity for further improvement. It was also the period when electronics began to gradually take over. The ride-by-wire throttle arrived in 2006. Now, the R1’s variable intake system is being installed in the airbox. The engine delivers slightly better power in the mid-range, and power peaks at a maximum of 135 chevaux.

The R6 then continued its run without major changes until 2017. At that point, the wait was rewarded with a complete stylistic overhaul. It adopted the R1’s design, with a touch more refinement. Over time, electronics have taken over everything, and the Yamaha has benefited from this trend, featuring a shifter, three riding modes, traction control, and ABS. However, the Euro 4 standard forced it to sacrifice some power—it dropped to 118.4 chevaux.

2021 will mark the first warning sign. Yamaha isn’t making its track bike Euro 5-compliant. As a result, it’s only sold in Europe as a Race model (for track use only). It can still set the roads ablaze on other continents, but with increasingly stringent standards and the World Championship set to open its doors to other engine displacements, Yamaha is under no illusions: its days are numbered.

And 2027 will be the final nail in the coffin. After 10 riders’ titles and just as many manufacturers’ titles in the WSSP, the all-time record for wins in the category, and victories at prestigious races (Daytona 200, Tourist Trophy, North West 200), the R6 is bringing its adventure to a close.

One last lap around the track

But it’s not leaving without a going-away gift. In February 2027, Yamaha will launch a limited-edition YZF-R6 Race Base Model. Like the current model, it will not be street-legal, can only be used on the track, and will be built to order only (price: 1,375,000 yen). Only Japan will have access to this final R6.

After this run, no more R6s will be produced. It will permanently hand over the reins in the SuperSports championships to its sister model, the R9, which is already performing very well on the track.