Has your stock R6 motor popped?

I'm in the market for a new track bike and I have been doing a lot of research. It seems most "internet experts" are stating the 06/07 motors will blow more frequently than the other 600's. Some say the same about the 08's. I'm hoping to get actual owners posting their experience. Maybe you could post up how many track/race miles you've got too.

Edit: for apples to apples maybe we should keep this about stock motors.

 

I have 2 track bikes. one is an 03 CBR600RR, had it for 5+ years, flogged the ish out of it year after year, and just keeps coming back for more. The second is an 06 R6. Popped the motor in its first race.

I think the R6 can be an awesome race bike, I'm going to do a SS build on mine because I see a ton of potential in it. BUT... if you grab an R6, don't be surprised if your stock motor spins a rod bearing or something.

I may or may not have bought this one had I researched a bit more like you are. I really don't know... there is a lot of good and bad with them. I think if you find one in good shape, you shouldn't be afraid to go after it.

 

07 R6, 18,000 miles bone stock motor. Never been opened, I have nearly 4,000 track miles on it.

 

IIRC the R6 issues stem from an oiling issue with the crankshaft. I would consult a food engine builder (KWS, Reuben @35 Motorsports, etc..) for some good advice.

 

Never blown 08 with 4 seasons on it. I believe 06-07 had smaller rod or main bearings which had a tendency to fail but the problem was corrected in the 08 revisions.

 

^^This^^ :up:

 

Thing isn't very strong, but the chassis is set up like a dream, and it's as reliable as they come :up:

 

We are taking "track-bike", right?

 

I went through $40grand worth of r6 motors in about a year and a half. I'd say most of it was due to engine builders (about 5 different builders...mostly supersport builds) that sucked and/or just couldn't figure it out. I had a stock one that never popped that I beat the shit out of....and one other one that I got second hand.... I ran the shit out of it and it never popped... I think Rozema had built that one. The rest....tons of em....all popped. Rod bearings, broken rods, crank bearings....etc

 

Yes sir. The thing is a tank, it's not easy to get to change direction fast, but it's as stable as they come

 

I just blew my first motor ever. 06 R6 with 22k miles. I am the third owner. Previous owners logged track and hard street miles. I'm thinking it blew from the last owner doing mile long stand up wheelies @ 100mph. Any recommendations on sourcing motors online?

 

If I dont sell my bike in whole, I will have a solid motor for sale.

 

wow... mine went at 7k. 4k of those track miles. Bought the bike with 1800 miles and it still had the original qualifiers on it so I know the previous owner wasnt hard on it.
Funny thing... mine blew completely bone stock. No pipe or anything. Even had the snorkle still in.

 

Weird.


I know one thing I always do is ensure a complete warm up, and never let it idle.

 

That reminded me of this http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=156883&highlight=plastigauge

 

My buddy has blown two 07 r6 motors over the last 3 years. Bottom end bearing issues

 

How apropos. My garage-mate’s stock ’08 just popped this past race weekend ... something up top (it hasn’t been opened yet to see what). He bought it new, put a few street miles on it, then converted to a full race bike. I think it has one and a half seasons on it, and maybe like 1,500 total miles. He’s pretty fastidious about his stuff too.

On the other hand, I bought my stock ’08 as a salvage with about 5k miles on it. The bike is in the middle of its third season of racing.

I would +1 on Rozema; ran the crap out of an ’06 R6 he worked on, sold it and it’s still going strong for the trackday guy who bought it. Mine will probably take a trip down to Mark for some primping at the end of this season. Garage-mate will probably take his to Rozema too.

 

there are lots of threads on this very topic, do some more research..

here are some things to think about.. and i'm only 1 rider, and just a regional guy at that, but wanted to give a long term GOOD example too
- there are more r6's on the grid than any other bike in mid wt, thus likely you will see more r6 motors go than other bikes..
-valves are TI, not steel like in the 2nd gen motor, thus don't last as long. Some builders will tell you 10 race weekends and change em. Too many riders go way too long before changing them out and they break. TI is light, but doesn't last.
- the 06-07 according to a bulletin put out by yamaha in 07, should have 1 smaller (tighter) crank bearing installed. It was more likely a STOCK 06-07 would have a crank (bearing) issue than a supersport built motor, because most of the builders "in the loop" KNEW this from taking the engine apart and discovering early on the oiling issues. Loose "clearanced" motors may have made power in grandad's hotrod, but doesn't build sufficient oil psi on a 3rd gen r6, especially when there is silly low oil psi below 4,000 rpm anyway.
-the motor hp drops off after mid 14's.. so don't shift em at red line. overev is nice in some instances, but you will be better off shifting before 16k.

As some stated above, don't let the bike sit and idle for long periods, and warm things up before you go on track, put the right bearings in the bottom if it's an 06-07, and on any 3rd gen r6, don't go too long before changing the valves.

fwiw.. since racing (regional only) four 3rd gen bikes since 2007 (got 2 new ones in 07, then got a couple of 08's in 09), i have NEVER had a low end issue due to a crank bearing or oiling issue on the low end. My 07 superbike motor was freshend up 4 or 5 times (can't even remember) and is silly fast (put it in one of the 08 bikes).. i had a carrillo rod BOLT break at Homestead a couple months ago and that was the FIRST failure of that motor in nearly 5 seasons of racing it (freshened up each season).. Note to self, never reuse rod bolts more than twice. the crank looked awesome aside from the dings the rod made before it was kicked through the front of the block. Only issue on a supersport motor was the 2nd weekend in 07 (looong time ago), had a valve break but that was potentially a keeper that was out of place (assembly)

 

I once rode an R7 that popped..

Does that count?