The '06 Yamaha R6 was put through its paces by Soup this week at Willow. image by kevin wing

Putter is off to flog himself at the Indy trade show (no we're not going) but before he left, he filed this brief report of our R6 test, which happened yesterday -- Editor

Okay, it doesn't rev to 17,500 rpm. So what?

Nobody at yesterday's press introduction missed the additional 1500 revs.

This potent track-day weapon has a peak-power-biased motor and features a list of impressive "firsts" for a Yamaha 600. These include a complete set of all-titanium valves, fly-by-wire throttle, EXUP exhaust valve, slipper clutch and high- and low-speed-adjustable suspension, front and rear.

Admittedly, the peak-power-biased motor is a relatively anemic until an indicated 9000 rpm (that's around 8000 rpm for you conspiracy theorists) and the power drops off a bit before 16k, but when kept in its sweet spot, the thing flat-out rips!

Bottom line: Having spent a day behind the clip-ons, I predict that the only ones returning 2006 R6s to their friendly, all-too-accommodating Yamaha dealers will be scammers, hot-headed, sour-grapes losers or those who purchased bikes they couldn't afford in the first place.