Soup :Exposed, the 2003 Yamaha R6, fuel-injected, lighter, faster ...:

See It Here First: 2003 Yamaha R6
by staff
Monday, September 09, 2002

The 600 Supersport wars will heat up immensely in 2003 thanks in part to Yamaha's just introduced today 2003 YZF R6. Originally launched in 1999, the race-winning R6 receives serious updates for 2003 and will no doubt be a contender for the coveted AMA 600 Supersport crown. Specifically, the 2003 is "ninety-percent new" according to Yamaha, with a new chassis, fuel injected engine and new bodywork. The chassis must have put many of the robot welders at the factory out of a job, as it incorporates "controlled filling aluminum die-casting" technology to construct much of the frame and swing arm. Now the tuning fork company can cast large pieces of the aluminum chassis as one section, and not weld together multiple aluminum parts as Yamaha did with the old R6 frame. Lack of welds and less actual pieces to tie together should make the frame inherently stronger --Yamaha claims that the frame is fifty percent stronger in terms of lateral rigidity than before. And lighter. The whole machine is eight pounds liger than the '02 model, at 357 pounds, dry. And, even if it isn't any stronger or lighter, the new process does yield an amazingly beautiful finished product, one devoid of any welds, overlapped sections and other cobbly-looking manufacturing scars. Both the chassis and swing-arm could easily hang in any gear-head's garage as an example of beautiful moto-art. To enhance traction and feedback, the new swing-arm is ten millimeters longer than the old one, thus Yamaha continues to build on the "long-arm" philosophy of the original R6. The engine is still a stressed member of the chassis. On top of the still canted forward engine, the 99-2001 series R6 carburetors are tossed in favor of throttle-body style electronic fuel-injection on the 2003 model. Thirty-eight millimeter throttle bodies push fuel to the engine, replacing thirty-seven millimeter carburetors. The airbox is larger, more efficient in design and of course incorporates ram air. Under the R-1 style fuel-injection (suction-piston style), the 2003 R6 engine is refined to improve intake efficiency, while lower in the one-piece cylinder and case assembly, Yamaha say they worked hard to obliterate pumping and friction losses. New crankshaft, con-rods, and bearings make revving easier, while lumpier cams (that don't sacrifice the R6's strong mid-range just to give big dyno numbers on top), new ignition and new pistons help add power. In the end, the 2003 R6 makes a claimed 123 horsepower with the airbox pressurized, three horsepower more than 2002. It all gets pushed through a close-ratio six-speed gearbox, stacked to create a lower CG. Cooling is handled by a large GP-style curved radiator and a liquid-cooled oil cooler. For suspension, the 2003 R6 gets a 43mm fork up front with adjustable pre-load compression and rebound. Brakes are 290mm floating discs in front with four piston calipers. Outside the beautiful chassis and improved engine Yamaha has fitted the 2003 R6 with new bodywork reminiscent of the R1. The headlight design is now described as "dual Gatling-style while the taillight is a dual-bulb LED design. Retail price is as yet unknown but should be right in line with the offerings from Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki in the 600 class.	The 2003 Yamaha R6: it's now fuel injected, weighs eight pounds less and has three more horsepower than the predecessor R6
	LCD's abound. This is where you will need to occasionally glance to see how fast you are going and for other info pertient to your ride.
	The new Deltabox III chassis features 50% greater lateral frame rigidity than prior models.
	The new R6's dry weight, according to Yamaha: 357 lbs.
	More long arm: the '03 R6's swing-arm is 10mm longer than the '02 model, yet the wheelbase is the same.
	Back in blue & black? Word has it that Jamie Hacking may be riding a factory R6 Supersport bike in 2003.
	With ram air, uh, ramming air down the throat of the new R6, Yamaha says she'll put out 123 horsepower, six more than without.
	This? It's the new lighter, liquid-cooled oil cooler.
	What's new for 2003 on the R6? Engine, chassis, bodywork, headlights, brake light and also, yes, the mirrors.
	Looks like an R1, eh? Yep, that was the plan.
	And, on top of all that, it gets racing-style five spoke wheels too.
	Sweet, eh? No, it's not a plastic mock-up. This is the actual R6 swing-arm, made with a new process to rid the bike of those ugly MIG welds. This one is lighter and stiffer than the 99-02 model--we all win (except the terrorists, of course).
	The frame gets it too. The old R6 frame had 16 welds holding it together. The new one? Two.
Say good-bye to jets. The new R6 gets the same style 'suction-piston' type fuel-injection that the R1 received last year. That's 38mm throttle-bodies and a pressurized airbox on top.	And a nicely sculpted tail piece & LED tail lights will be included at no extra charge on every R6 sold.
R6 fork offset grows to 40 degrees from 35, the rake is 24 degrees while trail is 86mm. R6 frames will come in any color you like, as long as it's black.	2003 R6s will come in Yamaha racing blue, silver or a special order black with red flames.
Stainless-steel head pipes meet with an aluminum exhaust cannister--inside the cannister: titanium baffles	Some say Rich Oliver never rode a four-stroke at VIR. Judging by this image, they are wrong.Check out the Gatling-style headlights.
Engine parts you never want to see exposed in real life.	'03 R6 gets a beautiful curved radiator that is 30% more efficient than the '02 model, what's more, it's actually 100% more liquid-cooled than the 1986 FZ600.