99-02 R6 ONLY 2nd gear slippage problems - warranty issues

To whomever it may concern:

I don't have a bike right now, but I sure as hell am not going to buy an R6 after reading this thread. I won't even consider buying a Suzuki for the reason of them being reluctant to honor warranty claims - I had no idea Yamaha would be the same way!

This is obviously a Yamaha-600 problem - thousands of YZF600R's (not just R6's) have had this problem, it's well known, even written about in magazines. If you were going to mount a class action lawsuit, get the YZF600R guys involved, too. Threaten first though, and see where it gets you. Yamaha may just suck up and issue a recall if they get some bad press. Someone needs to head this up and get a PO Box, just for this purpose. Write all the sportbike magazines and tell them you are collecting names for a class action lawsuit becuase of Yamaha tranmission falures and refusal to honor warranty claims, and tell them to publish it in their announcements/press releases section. Give them the address to write to like this: Yamaha Motor Corporation Class Action Lawsuit Information, PO Box XXX, Anytown, USA XXXXX. I will guarantee that you will have some letters in there from Yamaha Motor Corporation and some lawyers willing to take this on contingency (no charge unless you win).

All I can say is good luck, and I hope someone is willing to take on this task! All the fuel is there; you guys just need a hero to go in there and light the fire.

Raphael Bernard
Avid Bike Shopper

This doesnt make me want to buy yamaha. I dont need my 2nd gear slipping once I hit 11k miles. If this is the "catch" to owning an R6, then count me out. Honda looks just as good (well almost) but the quality sure is there.

99 R6 Red
About 8000 miles now, probs started around 6500 and now to the point where I cant use 2nd at all.
Symptoms exactly as described.
I bought the bike 2nd hand so I didn't follow up anything with Yamaha. As yet haven't fixed it because dealer wants £700, thinking I will try to source a 2nd hand engine and replace it myself for about £600.

I know the previous owner, I know he thrashed it quite hard and I know I DO thrash it as well. (Why have a sports bike if your not going to use it.)

Nearly got chucked off due to this myself, when accelerating in the wet. Gear jumped, then a BIG wheel spin, out sideways and only just hung onto it.

That's about it, if you would like any further info re this or any other issue please email me.

RIP Ariah...

Best Regards,

Chris Tucker.

Before I bought the R6 I was hanging around a YZF600R message board quite a lot. This problem appears to be much worse on the YZF600 than on the R6, which is one of the reasons I bought an R6 instead.

Anyway, one solution commonly suggested was to fit an after market item called the "Factory Pro Shift Kit". By all reports it's a pretty simple install, make the shift feel MUCH better, and eliminates the 2nd-gear-blowing-up-problem.

Unfortunately it's not available for the R6, I just checked their website. Not only is it not available, but they actually make a point of saying - and I quote "Never going to happen...." They go on to explain why it can't be done, mentioning "The original R6 and R1 shift mechanisms are oddly designed".

www.factorypro.com/

The easiest way to get a better feel and change is to install a reverse pattern shift rod. Instead of 1 down 5 up, it becomes 1up 5 down and the shift from 1-2, 2-3 etc is much more positive. All you need is a bent shift rod (thousands of them around) and to turn the rod linkage upside down and inside out. Takes about 5 mins to do, but you do need to refamiliarise yourself with it before going out and spanking the bike.

R.I.P ARIAH

I hope someone can continue in the Efforts that Ariah was doing to resolve the issues with the 2nd gear slippage problems.

I dont have a solution to the problem but, If folks on YZF's added a shift kit to ease the onset of a mechanical failure then there is a option for us.
Lockhart phillips sells a shift Kit similar to factory pro one.
I dont have the catalog part # since im at work, but will post it monday when i get in.
It was on my list of things to upgrade since the tranny has always felt like my old 91 Fzr 600. *Clunck* Kuchnk*

Man, there went me geting a R6 right out the window... I think I'll wait and get me a used 600RR....

I feel terrible for u guys.. My old 91 CBR 600 has around 60k on the clock.. and still shifts as smooth as a silk... and I know its been ragged the hell out of the last 40k miles.. REALLY ragged for the last 10k that i've had it..

Hope you guys can get this problem resolved...

But I had a thought, I'm fairly new with the whole motorcycle thing (been riding less than a year) but, couldn't you just change the gear ratio's of your tranny to make them slightly closer ratio?

just a thought

Unfortunately the problem isn't the ratio, it's the dogs on the gear aren't strong enough. The 99 - 02 r6's have 3dogs on each gear while the new (fixed the problem) r6 has 5 dogs on the gear. (Funny how that happened isn't it)

5 dogs is obviously a stronger/better design than 3.

Very interesting..
5 dogs - changing the design sounds like an admission of guilt to me.
It will be interesting to see how many of the new R6's suffer tranny failures after 10,000 miles. I bet they don't.

I am sure Yamaha will insist that 'only people who know how to change gears properly, purchased the 03 R6'.
Yeah yeah....

Ok.... time to reorganise. Anyone who's had the second gear problem can you mail me at mattosman@ozemail.com.au and put 2nd gear in the subject and i'll re-create the list of people and go from there. Is that ok?