After years of compromising with their middleweight sportbike, trying to provide riders with all-around flexibility, Yamaha decided to go all out with their first ‘race replica’ – the Yamaha FZ600. Designed to capture some of the increased interest in MotoGP, this bike got the “PURE SPORTS” decal so you knew they weren’t messing around.
Also their first 600cc bike with the cradle frame, it handled incredibly well (due in part to the light weight). It weighed 20 pounds less than its predecessor and 33 pounds less than its Ninja based competition – nearly a 10% savings. It was incredibly easy to ride this bike very quickly. The only weak spot may have actually been the engine. Producing 68 horsepower at the crank, dimensions of the airbox and carbs were limited by the frame’s tiny size. With that said, the powerplant was quite reliable.
This example (VIN: JYA2AY00XGA000852) was previously owned by the racer Steve Rapp – he sold it through Iconic Motorbikes in 2021 to the current owner who has kept it on display. It’s still on the original tires! It was recently serviced so that it runs – hopefully the next owner swaps out the tires and adds to the odometer reading!
Find this FZ600 for sale in Panorama City, California with bidding up to $6,400 and the reserve met here on Iconic Motorbike Auctions.
Disclosure: Bike-urious is a partner in Iconic Motorbike Auctions.