Forgotten Classic? The Air-Cooled Yamaha FZ600

[Teflon-Mike]

Just been pondering air-cooled simplicity; reminded me of the old air-cooled FZ600.

https://www.airtech-streamlining.com/images/FZ600_1.jpg

I remember when it came out in the mid 80's Yamaha were rather lagging in the four-stroke arena, where Kawasaki had forged ahead with the water-cooled GPz600 & 900R's. The middle-weight capacity had crept up and up, from 350-400cc to 450, 500, then 550's and with the launch of the GPz to the full 600.

Honda, after much egg on thier face over the VF series, entered the 600 class with the CBR600, making much of Hondas 'accross the frame four' heritage, and the weight saving not having 'Honda' cast into the clutch cover was allowed by having all enclosed jell-mold bodywork.

Suzuki, not wanting a 600 to step on the toes of thier 750 'sports-Bikes' offered the steel-framed, jell-mold GSX600F, with oil-boiler motor.

Yamaha had the rather dated XJ550, and the popular RD-YPVS, and the FJ1200, that had hastily been re-packaged as a 'Sports-Tourer, just a little too little too late, to go head to head with the last of the air-cooled accross-the-frame, big-bore fours. They were punting an ace in the FZ750 'Genasis', but for a short while, the most advanced, and certainly most audaciouse, machine in their brochure was the V-Max! They still listed the veritable old XJ650, much cruiserified in the US brochures!

Considering that they took nearly a quarter of all the World GP titles going, in the 1980's, were at the cutting edge of the sport, and pioneering technology.... what they were offering the average chap in the street, was... err... a BIT behind the times!

There was rumor of an 'all new' generation of FZ750 derived machines on its way, and it came in the form of the FZR1000... and that was it. At least in the UK. Other markets got the FZR750.. but we just got the flag-ship 1000 and an updated 750 with more bodywork.

Nothing seemed to be offered in this new 600 class.... but it was; they slipped the FZ600 quite quietly, and I recall press being rather bemused by it.

Treading the 'Race-Replica' path forged by Suzuki's GSXR's... in a sector they didn't offer a 'race-replica'?! Giving the FZ600 the full fore-arms and shins flat on the dining table riding position, thin, lightweight full-faired bodywork, and sharp, or at least 'hard' suspension & geometry... but... but... holding back half the 'Genesis' package, that water-cooled slant-four with fave poppets per pot... slapping in instead?........ a bored out, air-cooled XJ550 lump?!?!

Recall that the press rated its handling, but considered it a bit too focused for every-day road use, while motor was harsh and unsophisticated and under-powered.

As probably one of the last air-cooled 'sports-bikes', as well as one of the earliest 'race-replicas', what made it something of an oddity in its day, I would have thought, might have marked it out in the world of 'Classics' as something a 'bit special', today.

So I thought I'd have a look see if there were any 'Classic' re-evaluations of them....

Possibly because the model code, was later bequeathed to the 'Fazer', though, I cant seem to find bog all apart from some hazy stat sheets and brochure pictures.

How, for example does an air-cooled FZ fare, in the modern world, as a classic, against, the pioneer GPz600R for instance? Thats something of an unsung hero; too 'contemprary' to to be distinguised from just an 'old sports-bike' as a 'classic', with limited tyre choice due to silly wheel sizings. Or the CBR600? That went on to define a new standard for an all-round 'sporting' road-bike; though early Aero's seem even less loved than old GPz600's, and GSX600F's, merely ridiculed.

Has the FZ600 been written out of the history books?

Seems that history doesn't seem to have been kind to any of the pioneering 600 class bikes; BUT the one that most stood out? what happened to it? Does any one else even remember it existed?

My muse for the day...
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
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[STONEY!]

Had a few of em, not worth tuppence sold a nice one for £300 and a rough one for £500 go figure!

[base]

I had one, it was a great bike

[pepperami]

[chickenstrip]

I love the look of the sports bikes of that era, but of course, I would - that period is when I was really learning to ride bikes properly - I had a GSXR750 slabside, then the 1100, then FZ750, followed by an RG500. Had a ride of a mate's GPZ600R, then his FZR1000 Genesis too, and wound up with an FZR1000 EXUP myself. I do vaguely remember the FZ600, but never saw many around. What year was it first released in the UK? Looks sweet enough.

[twostroketit]

These are very popular in classic racing at the moment.

At the Race of Aces this year there was a race in which there was about 30 FZ600's racing... And one XJ600. Nothing else, that was the entire grid.
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sup up your beer and collect your fags

[27cows]

Had one and it was OK. XJ600 in sporty clothing to act as a fill in till they got round to the five valve head models coming out. Nothing wrong with the FZ. It just looked like it had more than it really did
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The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[yampug]

can't beat air cooled simplicity.

[stevo as b4]

I'd step on one to get to a GPZ600R, less so a fugly GPX though.

I think the FZ was a simple idea, but didn't come out in Japan as an FZ400 at least 1-2years earlier, which if they'd done a 600cc job on it then it would have been around well before the GPZ etc.

I seem to remember reading that they were about 58bhp r/w, so they would certainely have had the chassis to use everything that that motor could give. They did look quite compact and small, and you can see a bit of the nutter linage in them that was used to great effect in the FZR600.

In fact I'd say the early FZR is also a forgotten hero, as it was pretty much a 4stroke LC in terms of excitement, and almost as fast as an RD500LC, but handled like a scapel and was razor sharp compared to every other 600cc sportsbike of the time.

The only thing it didn't have was a motor to beat the CBR or GPX/ZZR, but it looked about 100% more like a race bike with lights than any of the above.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Yamaha getting caught with their trousers down and having to quickly rustle up a sporty 600. Result was shoe horning the XJ600 engine into the FZ400 frame. Tight enough fit that they had to use smaller carbs to get it to fit.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[stickybackbob]

I have an FZ600 lying about in my back garden, in the same paint as the OP's post too

Had it about a year but not ridden it yet as it needs a bit of tlc after being laid up for a while by the previous owner.

Selling price seems to depend on where you sell them. Classic mags appear to charge a premium even for rough stuff, ebay is anyone's guess depending on the position of the moon in uranus, etc.

Due to the relatively low value of these bikes, small (non-essential) things seem to kill them off. Seen a few restoration projects advertised and usually bought by the guy with the rose-tinted specs. He duly pulls it apart, starts fettling it then finds that you can't buy one of the fairing brackets (left one, I think) and so it goes to the breakers or back on ebay.

[virus]

Forgotten for a reason, they were shit...

A parts bin special in a piss poor attempt to beat the zook oilboilers, a last minute attempt to 'keep with the times' so to speak.


Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[Teflon-Mike]

[chickenstrip]

[base]

it was a parts bin bike, but given its price, it was a great tool, and maybe rose tinted specs, but its what "I cut my teeth on" in my early days of biking, it was a great B road tool, bikes (and cars too) have moved on massively, back then there weren't many main stream cars that would give bikes a run for their money like these days

ok this video is 1990 and of a zxr750 but i remember these days like yesterday, a lot less traffic, no camera vans, just traffic plod, great days. look at the cars!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcChhLUviS0

[MarJay]

Asthmatic pre divvy engine in a 400 chassis with tiny carbs and 18" wheels?

No thanks.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Blau Zedong]

It's a horror show, a horrible steel frame and YPVS esque running gear hosting a fairly dull il4 engine with undersized carbs. I bet the 400 version is nearly as fast thanks to having an engine designed after 1910. Also every fz600 I've seen has been as rotten as smiler's gums.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[Matt B]

I really like the look of these back in the late 80s and they were a bike that a lot of people had on their wish list.

Biggest problem for me back then was firstly I couldn't afford one, secondly they put out a stonking 54.6 bhp. The RD350LC I was riding kicked out 47 bhp and weighed 30kg less!
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[stickybackbob]

[stevo as b4]

I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid a very rare restored or decent one. Yeah it's not powerful, but then neither is a Diversion 600, and the FZ is better looking.

In fact sticking out my neck, I'd have one over the far more capable but far more ugly Suzuki GSXF600.

It's also got a better spec than things like GS500's or ER5's etc.

[virus]

[MarJay]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Can't remember any tests of the FZ600 when new being that impressed. Liked the handling but otherwise pretty much at best damned with faint praise.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[spnorm]

[Kickstart]