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| garth |
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garth
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| Fawbish |
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Fawbish
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| Dr. DaveJPS |
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Dr. DaveJPS
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 Posted: 14:20 - 13 Jul 2009  Post subject: |
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i used to own one. tbh they sound perfect for what you want,
though the headlights are crap (though there are mods that can be done) you end up riding by streetlights.
best mods i did to mine were an carbon can exhaust and some renthal bars plus a double bubble screen, that stopped the shoulder cramp i got on the motorway.
oddly enough i traded it in for my 950SM because whilst accomplished it just didn't thrill me like i needed it to.
though may regret the decision next week when i'm doing 4 days in a row of ~300 miles
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"intelligent inattention is preferable to unintelligent tinkering"
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| garth |
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garth
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| hedjehog |
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hedjehog
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| Posted: 14:50 - 13 Jul 2009 Post subject: |
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Current edition (August) of RiDE magazine has a long article / 'buyers guide' about the original model fazers (FZS600 98-2001 I think). I just sold mine. I was actually asked for my opinions for that article (because I filled out their 'Rider Power' survey last year - they must have e-mailed all fazer owners). PM me if you want my mini-essay on my one! Or I could post it here?
I highly rate it as an all-round bike. A reliable, comfortable commuter if you need it, but quick, focussed and powerful enough for fun if you want to push it. RiDE slags the suspension, and I suppose I can't disagree, but it never really bothered me either.
(oh and I've got a C70 as well!)
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1988 CG125 BRE; 2000 GPZ500S D7; VFR 800 FI-X; 1980 CB 250 RSA; 1998 FZS 600 Fazer; 1986 Honda C70 E |
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| garth |
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garth
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| hedjehog |
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hedjehog
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Posted: 15:48 - 13 Jul 2009  Post subject: |
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| garth wrote: | Post it here! |
Okey-dokey:
I crashed a VFR800 in the past, so my girlfriend made me get a smaller bike (I bought a CB250RS). After a while I yearned after a bigger bike again. So I bought the Fazer. I mainly used it for a 40 mile commute, as well as the odd weekend jaunt, and a couple of longer trips to see friends down south.
I found it a very good all-round bike. Mine had bar risers on which made for a comfy commute (the original screen was fine for me but I'm only 5'10''), and when riding in sporty mode I would have preferred a slightly more leant forward body position, so the original bar position must be an even better all-round, if you see what I mean. I serviced it myself so I can't comment on servicing costs, but it is mostly easy to work on. Centre-stand is handy (on any bike in this regard). However, the carb balancing screws are a pig to get at, and the front brake calipers need a lot of maintenance to stop binding when used throughout the winter. It had a rear hugger, and a fenda-extenda. During previous ownership the exhaust downpipes and collector had rusted through, so I put a stainless system on it (with the original end can). I also had a Renntec rack on the back, and a Givi box, which was invaluable and didn't affect handling. The suspension was not very communicative, which didn't lend itself to confidence, but was comfy.
The engine never let me down once (except when I left it and battery ran down) winter or summer. The radiator did develop leaks but I think that was from lack of care over the winter. I applied anti-corrosion spray (ACF50) over winter and this kept rust largely at bay, but it was never meant to be a clean or cosmetically tidy bike for me. It was mostly a work horse which I got very fond of. I also came off on the B roads on a corner on gravel, but the bike withstood it well: bent headlight bracket (bent back into shape fine), one new mirror, and cracked fairing (beautifully 'repaired' with gaffer tape - see picture!) and that was all (indicators were fine - and I rode the bike home). I did appreciate the power characteristics of the engine: on the commute, I'd stay below 7000 rpm and the power was there to cruise to work, if I wanted to push it I'd tuck in a bit and rev higher, change gear later, and discover a much more responsive, sporty engine. I suppose if you wanted to find fault it was quite lumpy and unresponsive below 5000 odd rpm. But still quite a lot of torque / acceleration left between 100 and 120mph (on the Autobahn, I'm told, occifer). I got about 40-45 mpg.
The bike had newish Pirelli Diablo's on it when I bought the bike which were great sticky tyres, but I squared them off a little on the commute (so not that suited) and they wore out after 4000 miles (which doesn't sound that bad - but they did squirm in a terrifying way in the wet at the end of their life!). I then went for cheaper Maxxis Supermaxx which were actually good all-round but did not offer quite as much grip wet or dry.
I did two longish trips (Norwich to London and back, Norwich to Brighton and back (after that snowy patch last year - cold and nervy!). Quite a comfortable seat, but reaching the end of my bum tolerance after about 120 miles with no breaks. Wind protection on motorways was OK, not amazing but adequate, and you could find the 'bubble' if you bent down behind the screen (I didn't pretend to be a missile - honest). Tank bag obscures the dials, but I suppose that's obvious. Two large luggage hooks above pillion pegs are handy.
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1988 CG125 BRE; 2000 GPZ500S D7; VFR 800 FI-X; 1980 CB 250 RSA; 1998 FZS 600 Fazer; 1986 Honda C70 E |
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| crackfinder |
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crackfinder
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Joined: 05 Jul 2009
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| Posted: 20:06 - 13 Jul 2009 Post subject: I've got a 1998 FZS600 |
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It's my first bike and I love it, 
I have to agree with hedjehogs "essay" lol,
I've only had it a couple of months but it really is a fun ride, as has been said though....lights are crap...I haven't attempted the mod yet, but will probably do it in the end.
mines a bit tatty been used as an all year round work horse by previous owners, but I love it to bits,
P.S. whats an "SM"
and P.P.S. hedjehog, are you in norfolk?? |
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| garth |
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garth
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| TUG |
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TUG
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crackfinder
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| Posted: 20:52 - 13 Jul 2009 Post subject: |
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| Keir |
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Keir
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| Posted: 20:53 - 13 Jul 2009 Post subject: |
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ive got a lovely  sick colour gold one at the minute on my commuting duties. does the job just fine, its actually quite pokey for a commuter when you get it going. i get around 55mpg too, which for a 600 il4 i think is quite good.
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Current : '08 Yamaha FZ1s
Previous: '99 Honda CBR 600FX, 03 ZX636 B1H, 99 Fazer 600 (red), 02 GSX-R 600 K2, 00 SV650s (red), 2008 ZX10R, 97 Bandit 1200N, 04 ZX6RR K1H, 04 GSX-R 1000, 98 Fazer 600 (gold), 05 Madness 110 Pit bike, 04 CR125R, 00 SV650s (black), 06 KTM 625 SMC, 99 SRAD 600 track bike, 03 SV650, 98 Bandit 1200N, Bandit 600SY, 03 GSX-R 600 K3, 01 GSX-R 600, 01 Fazer 600 (black), VFR 400 NC30 x3, 78 Honda Dream, 00 Speedfight 50 |
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crackfinder
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| Dr. DaveJPS |
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Dr. DaveJPS
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| Posted: 21:52 - 13 Jul 2009 Post subject: |
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crackfinder if you are going to do the light "mod" don't do the quick way (1 wire between the connector blocks) ( as this can fry the loom.
(i can't remember the correct way off the top of me head but if you look on FOC-U you'll find it)
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crackfinder
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| Posted: 22:16 - 13 Jul 2009 Post subject: |
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Dr. DaveJPS
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| Posted: 22:21 - 13 Jul 2009 Post subject: |
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i dabbled a year or two ago, found it useful for mods (and bought an exhaust second hand), but didn't stay as it didn't have that many great (funny) threads and i sold the fazer about a year ago.
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| kitty kat |
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kitty kat
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| Posted: 06:30 - 14 Jul 2009 Post subject: |
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I own a Mk1 fazer, as said, crap lights, there are mods available to improve them although I haven't bothered.
I have done over 59000 miles on mine in just under 3 years, I have thrown camping gear on it and been to Scotland, Norfolk, Cornwall, Dorset, East Coast on it. The only time I have to stop is for fuel or food, and with a 19 litre tank I get about 200 miles before I need to refuel. It is the most reliable bike I have ever owned, only needing consumables replacing. I have never had to start it using choke, even on the coldest days and it always starts first time.
I can travel through towns at 30mph, hoon it along the lanes, sit for hours on motorway, basically it does what is says on the packaging.
I have never had a complaint from pillions about it being uncomfortable.
I get about 14000 out of a rear tyre and I am running Bridgestone BT021 on it
At almost 71500 miles on the clock it still sounds as sweet as some of the newer fazers.
I wouldn't hesitate in recommending one for what you want a bike to do.
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 17 years, 25 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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