Today, I finally got round to finishing off the Thundercat and took it for a good spin. I do like it... I just think I like my dads GSX1100G a heck of a lot more, so I've decided that it is time to move on from 600s for good and get myself a hairy chested 'real mans' bike. ;-) (Unlikely to be said GSX1100G either much to my disgust, as the old giffer also likes it too much to sell it) Details of the bike: 1999 T Reg Yamaha Thundercat YZF600 30k miles from new, with service history. MOT til June 2010 Standard black over silver over orange paintwork - pics available on request. Work carried out: Brand new set of Bridgestone BT021 tyres Forks stripped down and new seals / dust covers fitted, fork oil replaced (I've used 10w rather than 5w as I'm on the larger side, and it feels better for it IMHO). Front calipers stripped down, pistons cleaned, new seals and pads fitted - obviously the brake fluid was changed at this time as well. Downpipes / collector box rubbed down and refinished in matt VHT paint - not a perfect job, but it now looks respectable and there was only surface rust on the pipes before I did this, so these are very healthy IMHO (a common Thundercat failing). Engine filter service: oil and filter changed (Silkoline semi synth), plugs cleaned (these had obviously been changed in the recent past), and the air filter cleaned. Carbs balanced. Valve clearances checked. I've done 30 trouble free miles on it today with these being the only miles covered since all the work above was carried out, and it rides really well, with smooth power delivery and nice, what I'd call 'intuitive', handling. In short, a good all rounder. Negative points: Two small hairline cracks on the front mudguard, and one hairline crack on the offside fairing lower which appears to have been bonded at some stage in the past, but this has been done sympathetically. Oh, and the offside engine casing has a small scuff on it which would tally with the crack in the fairing above. Other than that, it's pretty tidy for the year and it rides superb... I just don't really get anything out of riding bikes like these any more unfortunately, and so I'd rather sell it and get a muscle bike instead. Excellent on fuel, cheap to insure, good performance, and in terms of sporty 600s, fairly torquey. That, and pretty comfy overall. The price: £1500... and to be honest, given the work carried out, if I can't get that for it I may just hold onto it and get the benefit of the work I've done to it, for now. It's currently sporting a rather natty oval ART end can which I bought for it - that's available for what it cost me, or the bike will go with the standard can. May consider a trade on something big and lardy along the lines of a GSX1100G. Located in Kent Testrides available if you bring proof of insurance and the full asking price in cash as a deposit.
