Yamaha’s middleweight supersport nameplate was unveiled in 1998 and reached showrooms for the 1999 model year, positioned as a lighter, sharper, more track-focused companion to the larger R-series machines. From the start, it was aimed at riders who wanted a highly responsive 600cc class sportbike with an emphasis on corner speed, compact packaging, and race-bred character rather than all-around street comfort.
The model established itself quickly in Europe and North America and helped define the modern 600cc supersport formula for Yamaha. A major redesign arrived for the 2003 model year, bringing an all-new engine and chassis and marking a clear second chapter for the nameplate. Subsequent updates continued to push the bike further toward circuit performance, including electronically controlled throttle systems in the mid-2000s, variable intake technology and lightweight magnesium rear-frame construction in later development, and a significant 2017 update that refreshed styling and added modern rider electronics.
Over its life, the nameplate became closely associated with Yamaha’s 600cc racing efforts and with the supersport category as a whole, earning a strong enthusiast following for its high-revving engine character and agile handling. The street-legal production run ended after the 2020 model year in Yamaha’s major markets, closing a long, continuous chapter for one of the most recognizable middleweight sportbike nameplates of the era.