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Yamaha FZ's - test rides

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CoolBanana
Borekit Bruiser



Joined: 21 May 2011
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PostPosted: 13:48 - 30 May 2012    Post subject: Yamaha FZ's - test rides Reply with quote

My Gixxer was in for a service yesterday and I took out an FZ8 naked while waiting and then returned today to try out the FZ1. I wanted to see if the upright riding position would suit me better - as I've suspected it might when looking at the Street Triple as my next bike.

My impressions are:

1. The throttle responses of the FZ8 and my Gixxer are better than the FZ1.
2. The FZ8 is obviously lighter than the FZ1 so more manoeuvrable around town and both are better than my Gixxer at low speed.
3. The FZ1 has much more midrange and is a more engaging bike to ride than the FZ8 albeit the FZ8 is a smoother ride.
4. My Gixxer has faster acceleration and a higher top speed than both but the FZ1 is much stronger in the midrange where the bikes are most used on road.
5. The brakes (Brembo) on my Gixxer are better than both Yamaha's.
6. Both Yamaha's are much more comfortable than my Gixxer.
7. I never quite appreciated just how much wind my Gixxer shields me from - the 'naked's' really do need hanging on to at 80mph and above. But they feel good to ride.
8. The FZ1 and Gixxer both have reasonably good-sounding exhausts as standard.

I discounted the FZ8 immediately but GSX-R600 or FZ1? The supersports looks better on my driveway but it also hurts my wrists / palms within a few miles and I've never been out on it for longer than 50 minutes due to aches and pains! Aches and pains aside, it is a brilliant bike and its midrange is not bad at all compared to the FZ8.

I nearly ran out of petrol on the FZ1 and I had stuff to do otherwise my 1 hr 15 min ride today would've been a lot longer. No aches, no pains. The initial launch is snatchy but after that it is a very nice ride - the midrange thrust is very strong and more than enough on a naked I reckon and I was having a lot of fun riding it.

If I ignore the Street Triple and go Yamaha, to swop bikes now means a bit of a hit on my Gixxer as it is only a year old. To keep repayments similar to my Gixxer, I could get a brand new 2010-model FZ1 on a 12 plate or a used 2011 model on an 11 plate with 500 miles on it. The 2011 model has the updated ECU which improves the midrange slightly and is £4 a mth more but otherwise a straight swop as my bike is the same age with 490 miles on it.

What to do next is my homework for the day! I'm currently researching how the FZ1 is perceived compared to its competition and how it fares compared to the Street albeit only a test ride will ultimately show the differences to me.
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Bike: Ducati Monster 1100 evo
Previous: Suzuki GSX-R600 L1; Yamaha RZ350RR
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garth
World Chat Champion



Joined: 15 Dec 2004
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PostPosted: 13:59 - 30 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why don't you go and ride a street triple?
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map
Mr Calendar



Joined: 14 Jun 2004
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PostPosted: 14:00 - 30 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can I ask if there's any difference in the insurance?
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chris-red
Have you considered a TDM?



Joined: 21 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 14:03 - 30 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

You have had your brand new bike 490 miles and are going to chop it in? I really don't understand people like You, it isn't even run in yet!
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map
Mr Calendar



Joined: 14 Jun 2004
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PostPosted: 14:09 - 30 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

chris-red wrote:
You have had your brand new bike 490 miles and are going to chop it in?...

Bike st(d)ealers dream customer.
Make sure you ask for a new set of leathers to match the new bike Wink
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger? Very Happy
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CoolBanana
Borekit Bruiser



Joined: 21 May 2011
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PostPosted: 14:22 - 30 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

garth wrote:
Why don't you go and ride a street triple?


I will be at some point, I need to know first hand how it goes. Thumbs Up
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Previous: Suzuki GSX-R600 L1; Yamaha RZ350RR
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CoolBanana
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Joined: 21 May 2011
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PostPosted: 14:23 - 30 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

map wrote:
Can I ask if there's any difference in the insurance?


Quotes for my Gixxer and the FZ1 are about the same.
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CoolBanana
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Joined: 21 May 2011
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PostPosted: 14:32 - 30 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

chris-red wrote:
You have had your brand new bike 490 miles and are going to chop it in? I really don't understand people like You, it isn't even run in yet!


Very Happy I understand people like me perfectly well - the bike is a toy, not a means of transport. The original intention was to use in on occasional weekends only and never in winter.

I've ridden bikes from the age of 7 - racing mini mx and then mx as a teen and then owned and ran a sports bike for daily commuting until my mid-twenties. When it was stolen I reverted to a car and borrowed rides on friends bikes now and again but getting my own was a luxury at the time.

Whereas my previous bike ownership was for sport or cheap commuting, now I can afford to splash out on a bike for fun only and that's what I'm doing - I also have come to realise I'm not a kid anymore and my preferred supersport doesn't provide enough comfort and this is chiefly why the mileage is so low. A more comfortable ride would encourage greater use but, even then, I can't see me ever doing more than a couple of thou miles a year these days as riding a motorbike competes with other hobbies.
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Previous: Suzuki GSX-R600 L1; Yamaha RZ350RR
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CoolBanana
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Joined: 21 May 2011
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PostPosted: 14:39 - 30 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

map wrote:
chris-red wrote:
You have had your brand new bike 490 miles and are going to chop it in?...

Bike st(d)ealers dream customer.
Make sure you ask for a new set of leathers to match the new bike Wink


Nice...except I don't like leathers and prefer textiles.

Yeah, Dealers - both bike and car - must like people like me since we generally buy new and change relatively frequently. As for biking, sure, I'm not a 'proper' biker anymore - even my meagre 30-35000 commuting mile experience is very much in the past and vastly superseded by my car usage - but I still enjoy my hobby and have been around bikes long enough to be able to ride them as I enjoy them just fine.
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Bike: Ducati Monster 1100 evo
Previous: Suzuki GSX-R600 L1; Yamaha RZ350RR
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