fzs600 super MPG! And cluncky 1st to 2nd gear issue.

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

I bought a 1999 Fazer 600 a month or so ago from Garth on 'ere. It's on around 17,000 miles, give or take a bit, and bloody tidy for it's age.

It's got renthal bars, a k&n filter, a dyno jet kit, a stainless 4-1 with a Harris racing can, and -1 tooth on the front sprocket.

It is by far one of the most grin-inducing bikes I've ever had the pleasure of riding. And somehow, given I'm either thrashing it, or crawling through gridlock, I seem to be getting ~50mpg out of the thing.

How???

I've never had a bike that is so economical, and none of my bikes that have had similar grin factor have come close on MPG. It's witchcraft!

Anyway, I'm having trouble getting the change from 1st to 2nd to be smooth, I've played with the chain tension, I've tried changing at different revs, fresh oil, cleaned the chain etc... I've basically tried all the tricks I can think of, but I can't get it consistently smooth.

Given the gearbox is what killed off my divvy 900 I'd like to iron out any issues where possible.

Any suggestions?
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Snowdonia Rider · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Oct 2014 Karma :

Technique perhaps? Although I assume you've probably tried that. What's it like finding neutral on it?

If it's got a dyno jet kit I'd imagine it's been set up properly on a dyno, that would explain the fab MPG. I got my bike set up on a dyno and it sips fuel now, very noticable difference.
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P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Similar bottom end to the Thundercat? If so, mine was always a bit clunky, and has been said to lunch 2nd gear if ridden like a tool/hooliganisms and single wheeling.

davebike · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Nov 2013 Karma :

Yes it the Thundercat engine and yes the gearbox like lots is clunky 1 to 2 and 2 to 1
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P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Amber Phoenix · Traffic Copper Joined: 01 Feb 2013 Karma :

I find my Fazer is slightly better at 1st - 2nd after a fresh oil change. Every Fazer owner will have their preferred choice of oil, but I read somewhere that Castrol Power1 can help smooth it out a bit. It was certainly better, but who knows if it was just fresh oil or choice of oil.

Also double check clutch adjustment and cable too. A while ago I started having hassle with clutch slipping when trying to push on. I found a kink in the wire inside the clutch cable on mine, which when replaced sorted things out.

And yep 50mpg is pretty average. More sedate and long distance riding can get you up to ~55mpg odd. But where's the fun in that?!
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Andy_Pagin · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Nov 2010 Karma :

1st to 2nd issues seem to be a feature of Fazers.
Economy wise I average 45mpg London commuting.
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weasley · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :

Yeah, the Cat has a similarly agricultural 1st-to-2nd. Chain tension helps a bit, as does decent oil (I find it worst when the oil has got really hot and thin, like stuck in traffic in the summer for example).

I think I tend to short-shift into 2nd mostly - it has bags of torque so will easily pull in 2nd. Obvs if I'm making a quick getaway I'll rev out in 1st but then will be anticipating a mechanically unsympathetic upshift.
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0l0dom0l0 · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Karma :

I had the same issue with both of mine.

I always found that believe it or not the gearbox felt very fresh and the clunk was noticeably smoother after filling with wilkinons semi-synth 10W-40 for £12 a gallon lol.

But yes the are very economical.

Think I got nearly 250 miles out of my 2002 on one tank full.
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Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

Aceslock · Spanner Monkey Joined: 12 Dec 2014 Karma :

My Thundercat is exactly the same....... try adjusting the clutch a bit, this has helped i found......
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weasley · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :

Oh, and I rarely go under 50 mpg, even when pushing on. That big mid-range is probably the main factor.
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c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

It's got Castrol fully synthetic in it, as that's what I had left over from my VFR. I've also got enough halfords semi synth laying around for the next oil change too so that'll be the next lot.

It doesn't feel so much like a clunk, more like when you change gear but mess it up a bit somehow and it feels like it's being batted around between the gears. A bit crunchy almost.

I may have been a bit spoiled by the VFR, that was silky smooth.
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0l0dom0l0 · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Karma :

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

I always short shifted 1st to 2nd, because with -1 it's fairly short.

However, compared to my 1st FZS600, believe me, that gearbox is bloody good for a fazer!

I normally oiled the linkage every week, so doubt its that.
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M.C · Super Spammer Joined: 29 Sep 2015 Karma :

The gearbox on the MT-03 is extremely clunky, it's possible to shift smoothly, just takes a lot more effort than say with a Honda. Upside's you don't seem to get neutral on downshifts as often (2nd to 1st obviously).

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

Also, technique. Go slowly, feel it through neutral and into second.

From then on, up the gearbox, you can treat as normal. But slowly, short shift. It won't clunk then.
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Amber Phoenix · Traffic Copper Joined: 01 Feb 2013 Karma :

Oh and the more you're off the throttle when you go 1st to 2nd the smoother it is. I made the mistake of trying to set off once with choke still in and gawd the gearbox clunked then!
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drbaig · Crazy Courier Joined: 23 May 2012 Karma :

short shifting = no clunks. But changing down still clunks between 1n2. Yamaha engines I suppose. You have to be very deliberate with the changes.

I have always heard stories about great mileage. I can barely get 45mpg on my cat.
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Hahadumball · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Oct 2015 Karma :

theyre all clunky its a character of the bike.

i used to sit in double digits a lot on mine and would rarely drop below 50-55mpg

by far one of the most fun bikes ive owned, they pull pretty well
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c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

It does seem better slowly, but that's no good for the traffic light gp, or santa pod for that matter!
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

Hahadumball · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Oct 2015 Karma :

to be fair.. id own one again, for sure, i miss mine a bit too...

theyre always ready to just go
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Fin: no matter how much I look at It I can't understand what was going through my head, all I remember is going about 80 and redlining it to stop it seizing.
360 Deg... Five 1/4 turns. :- Teflon-Mike 18 Jan 2015

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

I'd like to ride a bog standard one for comparison.

This genuinely feels quicker than my VFR was - there's no way it is, I can't see the mods making up for a ~30bhp deficit, even being ~40kg lighter.
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pompousporcup... · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Apr 2015 Karma :

Another thundrcat owner. 1st to 2nd clunkyness is apparently a Yamaha thing. Don't have it with my kawa

I tried various things to try eliminate it. At the moment I very rarely get a bad shift. They're smooth as silk - I tried short shifting and to some extent it works. What I do it accelerate in 1st until about 6k and shift up without fully letting off the throttle and letting the revs dip too much. After its in second the rev ranges gets abused lol finesse is key

If you let the revs dip too much you're gonna have a bad time.

#iwishigot50mpgmorelike35/40

Pigeon · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :

Does the fazer have a worm gear push-rod affair?

If so, it might be worth re-setting the cable slack and re-setting the push-rod clearance.

Hahadumball · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Oct 2015 Karma :

you sure its got dyno jet kit? i can think of a billion people who have tried to jet them and not been able to get it right.

k&n doesnt change much just works well with the exhausts to remove the 5k flatspot

they are surprisingly quick

this may or may not be my old one

1080p it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0mE1YP4vuw
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Fin: no matter how much I look at It I can't understand what was going through my head, all I remember is going about 80 and redlining it to stop it seizing.
360 Deg... Five 1/4 turns. :- Teflon-Mike 18 Jan 2015