Sportbikes

2004Yamaha YZF 600 R Thundercat

50 fields on record

The 2004 Yamaha YZF 600 R Thundercat is a comfortable sports tourer. Its liquid-cooled 599cc inline four makes 98 hp and 66 Nm through a six-speed gearbox and chain. An 840 mm seat, 221 kg wet weight and 19-litre tank make it a practical sports bike.

Capacity: 599.0 ccm
Engine: In-line four
Gearbox: 6-speed
Dry weight: 186.9 kg
Seat height: 840 mm
Power: 98.0 HP (72.1 kW)

⇄ Compare with another bike ＋ Add to garage All model years

What’s new for the 2004 Yamaha YZF 600 R Thundercat

vs the 2003

Spec	2003	2004
Power	100.1 HP (73.6 kW) @ 11500 RPM	98.0 HP (72.1 kW)
Torque	65.8 Nm (6.7 kgf-m or 48.5 ft.lbs) @ 9500 RPM	66.0 Nm (6.7 kgf-m or 48.7 ft.lbs)
Top speed	—	236.0 km/h (146.6 mph)
Wet weight	210.0 kg (463.0 pounds)	221.0 kg (487.2 pounds)
Seat height	805 mm (31.7 inches)	840 mm (33.1 inches)
Front suspension	—	41mm telescopic fork w/adj. preload, compression and rebound damping
Rear suspension	—	Single shock w/piggyback reservoir and adj. preload, compression and rebound damping

Other years 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

How it rides

Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested

Off-road & trail5%

Cornering88%

City riding45%

Daily riding40%

Touring32%

Two-up30%

Track82%

Best for: Built primarily for spirited road riding and trackday-style cornering rather than commuting or long-distance touring.
Built for: It rewards a rider who enjoys revving an in-line four hard through corners and values sharp, lightweight handling over plush comfort.
Not ideal for: It is not a good fit for new riders, taller comfort-seekers, or anyone wanting a relaxed all-day touring or off-road capable machine.

Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.

Will it fit you?

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Your height

Inseam (optional)

Units

At 840mm, a rider of 68.9" with a 31" (estimated) inseam will reach the ground with balls of both feet on the 2004 Yamaha YZF 600 R Thundercat, with a cramped knee angle of around 75 degrees and a forward-leaning riding position.

Assumes about 30mm of suspension sag once seated. This is an approximation from category-typical geometry, not a measurement of this bike or of you - sit on one before you buy.

More bikes at 821-900 mm — Long Legs →

Find bikes that fit your height →

Reliability & safety

Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaints

Bike Reliability

How the score works →

out of 100Average

The 2004 Yamaha YZF 600 R Thundercat passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 79.4% of the time, 2.0 points below expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 40% of models.

All years of this model: 33 / 100 (below average) from 1,588 tests.

79.4%Passed first time

14.0%Failed outright

6.5%Fixed during test

14,000Typical miles

214Tests

Pass rate by miles ridden

0-10k

82.1%

10-20k

78.6%

20-30k

78.4%

30-40k

70.9%

40-50k

72%

50k+

70%

All years of this model.

Score by year first registered

1995199619971998199920002004200520062007

Against its rivals · ranks 6 of 6

#	Model (all years)	Score	Tests
1	Honda CBR600RR	57 Average	81,790
2	Suzuki GSX-R750	47 Average	145,807
3	Yamaha YZF-R6	39 Below average	146,823
4	Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R	37 Below average	175,171
5	Suzuki GSX-R600	35 Below average	186,470
6	Yamaha YZF 600 R Thundercat	33 Below average	1,588

Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.

From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.

Full specifications

Engine

Capacity: 599.0 ccm
Power: 98.0 HP (72.1 kW)
Torque: 66.0 Nm (6.7 kgf-m)
Engine type: In-line four
Power/weight ratio: 0.5243 HP/kg (dry)
Bore x stroke: 62.0 x 49.6 mm
Compression: 12.0:1
Cooling system: Liquid
Fuel system: Carburettor
Starting: Electric
Ignition: Digital TCI
Valves per cylinder: 4

Transmission

Gearbox: 6-speed
Transmission type: Manual
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Mulit-plate

Performance

Top speed: 236.0 km/h (146.6 mph)

Dimensions & weight

Wheelbase: 1415 mm
Overall length: 2060 mm
Overall width: 724 mm
Overall height: 1191 mm
Seat height: 840 mm
Dry weight: 186.9 kg
Wet weight: 221.0 kg
Fuel capacity: 19.00 litres
Front percentage of weight: 48.5

Chassis & suspension

Front suspension: 41mm telescopic fork w/adj. preload, compression and rebound damping
Rear suspension: Single shock w/piggyback reservoir and adj. preload, compression and rebound damping
Front wheel travel: 130 mm
Rear wheel travel: 120 mm
Rake (fork angle): 25.0°

Brakes & wheels

Front brakes: Dual disc
Front brakes diameter: 298 mm
Rear brakes: Single disc
Rear brakes diameter: 245 mm
Front tyre: 120/60-ZR17
Rear tyre: 160/60-ZR17

Maintenance

Tyre pressure (solo): Front 225 kPa (33 psi), rear 250 kPa (36 psi)
Tyre pressure (two-up): Front 250 kPa (36 psi), rear 290 kPa (42 psi)
Tyre pressure notes: Solo: up to 90 kg (198 lb) load. Two-up: 90 kg to maximum load.
Engine oil: SAE 10W-30 or 20W-40, API SE or higher
Oil change: 2.60 litres
Oil change with filter: 2.90 litres
Fuel grade: Unleaded
Battery: YTX12-BS, 12 V 10.0 Ah
Spark plug: NGK CR9E or Denso U27ESR-N, gap 0.7-0.8 mm
Coolant capacity: 1.95 litres
Brake fluid: DOT 4
Maximum load: 180 kg

Specs last verified against published sources: November 2026.

Compiled from manufacturer documentation and user contributions, corrected on an ongoing basis. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.

What changed, year to year

Differences highlighted

Specification	1996	1999	2002	2004	2007
Capacity	599 cc	599 cc	599 cc	599 cc	599 cc
Dry weight	187 kg	187 kg	187 kg	187 kg	189 kg
Seat height	810 mm	795 mm	805 mm	840 mm	805 mm
Fuel capacity	19 L	19 L	19 L	19 L	18.9 L
Bike Reliability ⓘ	20 Below average	47 Average	Too few tests	40 Average	52 Average