Thanks for all the feedback fellas.. I have my eyes on a 07 or 08 right now. I'm 6'2" bout 190 so Ill tweek everything just a bit to fit me lanky frame.
This makes little to no difference in the real world. I've had an 09 since it was new and from 08 and up its all about the same on track.
I agree that at the end up the day, the rider is the biggest variable. A 3-5hp difference isn't going to make or break anybody. But since like you said, they are the same from '08+, and the '08 will likely be cheaper (since it is older), that would be the one I would look for. If im buying used, might as well get the one that is cheaper, especially if it is a lil faster.
Therein lies the problem. They are 6 years old now and finding one in good condition might be difficult. If you are lucky, you can find one that was a barely ridden streetbike. Then you can pick it up relatively cheap and strip it down and go through everything.
Idk. My 06 and 09 dynoed with equal power same dyno. 06 had dynojet pc and an arrow pipe, the 09 has bazzazz and Leo Vince. I doubt that difference would make up 3-5 hp
What if you have a 06 R6 with a 08+ motor and 09 ECU??? Would that make it a "Good, Great & OK bike" ? :jester: Then you add a R1 front wheel (lighter).... ooohh
The thing is, you could take 5 bikes straight off the showroom floor and they might dyno 4hp different. HP can vary even on brand new stock bikes. Then of course you have the millions of variables when it comes to dynes/tuning/parts/usage/etc. Like Eddie said, the '08 is a lil better. I had a couple of shops specifically tell me to look for an '08. According to the tuners I have talked to, typically speaking the '08 makes more power. But we agree, at the end of the day it doesn't really matter. '06's are still capable of winning races and the rider is always the biggest variable. I'm just saying if I had a choice between paying $8k for a 2010 or $5k for a 2008, I would definitely go for the 2008 (assuming the bikes are in equally good condition). You would have a bike that is potentially a lil faster, with enough money left over for suspension.
Personally the 06/07 R6 was about the same as my 08. I had a 07 "B" bike and a 08 "A" bike both stock motors. 07 had PC III, some cheap exhaust don't remember the brand and GMD re-valved forks. 08 has YEC ECU, Graves exhaust and Ohlins 25mm cartridge forks (for the differences). Same day, same tires I was .3 sec/lap slower on the 07 on average. I did have 08+ bodywork and tank on the 07. My $.02
I agree the rider is the biggest variable. My advice is '08 and above due to the fact the parts are pretty much interchangeable '08-'13. The '06-'07 are great bikes but, parts interchangeability are limited to the two years. Overall, you can't go wrong with any of the years.
There are very few parts that aren't interchangeable if I remember correctly between the 06-14 model years...
Really the hp difference, although slightly different, is not the contributing difference between the two. It's more in regards to the power curve from 10k to redline, the variable velocity stacks bring a significant increase in midrange power and is great for corner exit acceleration. It's all about how you use the power rather than how much it makes. If that difference is worth spending the extra money on one, then so be it, that's your choice. But the biggest factor, as stated, is the rider. There are guys from R6-Forum on the West coast riding 06-07 models and making very competitive lap times at their local tracks. Really the only difference between the two are body/tank, engine, and front forks; nearly every other component is interchangeable.
I will say the best "big guy" bike in my opinion is the old SV1000. I have an 06 SV1000 and I am 6_5 255