Yamaha FZ 750 opinions?

[Darylw27]

So with my 2 year restriction now begun I'm on the hunt for a 'big' bike. I came across the FZ750 for £450 with 51k miles on the clock. It looks like it is in decent nick, but i've not really heard much about this bike, how well it restricts and what not. The fact it is £450 as well is slightly off putting, however it could be due to the millage and age as it's '89.

So if anyone has any info on this bike such as reliability, how it handles restriction and so on, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Blau Zedong]

Keith is a fan of the breed. Without seeing pics it's hard to say but I feel something newer and smaller would be better if you are a 33bhp fag.
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[jjdugen]

You will be going back in time to the days of wierd wheel sizes, borderline suspension and ancient brakes. But you will be getting a motor that was the basis of Yamaha's 4 strokes right through to Thundercat / Thunderace. I am willing to bet that the engine is one of the longest ever made! You do get a five valve head with steep downdraft carbs, one of the first to go this route (now more or less the standard on performance engines). Given that the electrical system hasn't been chopped up too much, you also get a piggyback field coil alternator, far more reliable than the crank mounted permanent mag units.
They are dated as hell, but seem to carry their age with some dignity. Generally, quite a good machine. But, a £400 bike will be riddled with age realted faults and these are a big old bus that has the potential to devour money. Caveat Emptor.
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[Teflon-Mike]

Agree with above really; for 33bhp restrict, its probably not the most practicable start. And any more 'complex' twenty odd year old bike, doesn't suggest an easy time, for dependable every day transport.

They were a great bike, in their day though. Created at the height of the evolution era with major advanced being made almost weekly; Yamaha, the last to build a big four-stroke, last to make an across the frame air-cooled 'four'; went away, sat down with a clean sheet of paper, and to make a water-cooled motorcycle, created the FZ.

Brought to market in 1985, withing a year 18months of Honda ill-fated VF series, and Kawasaki's bench-mark setting GPZ6 & 900R, and while Suzuki laboured trying to avoid going water cooled with the 'oil-boiler' GSX's... brought together all the 'ingredients' of the modern sports-bike, and it has remained remarkeably 'unchanged' in topogrophy from the layout set by the FZ.

Its engine was water-cooled, with the cylinders inclined 45 Degrees to slant under what is essentially a 'beam' (Genesis) frame from headstock to swing arm spindle. (Had lower cradle loops, but removable) Cylinder inclination allowing down draft carbs and a large air-box under the tank, later leading to full 'Ram-Air' induction. It had multi-link mono-shock rear suspension, and conventional tele-forks up front. Yamaha got it 'right' all most straight off the drawing board, and it did, briefly, set a new bench-mark for performance.

But it wasn't a full-on 'Performance' bike; it was a sporting street-bike. This was probably its major failing.

It was a very, very competant 'All-Rounder', but the Suzuki GSX-R was pushing 'sports-bikes' down the 'race-replica' route, and against the fully faired Kawasaki's and Suzuki's, it was a little 'concervative', and the 750 'class' was waining, with the 500 class having grown to 550, and by then a full 600...

For probably ten years or more, it remained a very well regarded, and they held prices very well. A lot being brought in from the USA as 'Grey-Imports' in the 90's, along with the 'Tax-Buster' 700 model, that was the same bike but sleeved down to fall under a US import tarif capacity limit.

I looked long and hard for one in 1997, when I bought my VF1000; and had actually gone to look at a US-Import FZ700 when I found it, and have pondered them ever since.

NOW though; I dont think I would be 'keen' to take one on as a 'project'; I certainly wouldn't want one as a 'cheap ratter'; as there are much easier bikes to live with on the cheap, that do the job as well. If I was to get one, I would be looking up market for something nice and original, that would make a very 'useable' classic, for longer ride-outs and rallies and leisure riding, with possibility of occassional commuting, but NOT an every day rider.
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[P.]

Wouldn't see a problem with the 33hp.

Flat mates barge GSXR750 is restricted....or was...
Apart from being slow, it coped ok!

[jjdugen]

As usual, Mike gives it his all... A good synopsis of the breed. As it happens I have recently been involved in bring a 'Fazer' version back to life for a friend. This is the mildy custom styled version, but essentially the same running gear. I have to say it was one of the easier jobs I've had this year, engine with 26000 miles up still sweat as a nut, no shims worn. Only really needed a frame clean up and spray and the carbs cleaning (thoroughly!!). It performs VERY well, far better than the chassis, though the crazy fat back tyre and 16'' front wheel do not assist in razor sharp handling. I should imagine the true road FZ will be a better proposition.
The half faired original with that acreage of engine and near virtical carb bank looks very different to the mundanes of eighties UJM's.
If it runs well I would be inclined to give it a go, its one hell of a lot of metal for the price.
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[Kickstart]

Hi

There were 3 basic models. Early ones with 4>2 exhausts and 16" front wheels, later (and most common) with 4>1 exhausts and still a 16" front wheel and the late bikes with a 17" front wheel

The engines are very tough. The weak point is the bearing behind the front sprocket which suffers if the chain is over tightened. Complete engine strip required to replace it. Valves are shimmed and meant to checked at 28k.

Build quality isn't bad. Not so good as a VFR750 but way better than a n early 1990s CBR600.

Top speed is around 150mph, but plenty of power everywhere and no real power band (although a Micron 4>1 will give it a big flat spot at low revs). The engine formed the basis of the FZR1000 engine (and later Thunderace, unrelated to the Thundercat), and if you want to tune one then various bits can be fitted to the FZ engine (easy to take them to 911cc), or if you don't want to keep the 6 speed gearbox you can fit the FZR engine. ~160hp is possible with a lot of work (and a large wallet), but it will be nowhere near 750cc by then.

Seat was rejected by the Spanish inquisition as being a too cruel form of torture.

Tank is a decent size giving a decent range (well past the point where the seat has killed parts of you anatomy) and even the fuel gauge isn't too far out. Electric reserve which works fell. Headlight is decent.

Weight is a long way forward and low down. Don't expect to manage to do a stoppy on one as it will almost certainly just lock the front wheel instead.

Really should put mine back on the road. Now has an Ohlins shock on it which I had rebuilt but is set up way too soft, but a pig to get at to adjust. So barely touched it in years.

When I bought mine I also considered a GPX750. A few years later in Aus for 3 months I had a GPX750 and it confirmed that I had made the right choice with the FZ being a far better bike (GPX seat was better though). Early GSXR was a far more crude bike and far sportier, but the FZ was more powerful with a more modern architecture, but weighed a fair bit more. The other main competitor was the VFR750, but these were quite a lot more expensive depite being reputedly sold at a loss.

Few more details on the models.

1FN type (the exact model name varies between some markets). Half decent adjustable and rebuildable rear shock. Half fairing, with a belly pan in some places. Vented brake disks (ie, a gap between the surfaces of the disks). Air assisted forks.

2MG type. Quite a few detail changes. Different pistons, a touch more power, very different ignition system (cdi, coils, etc are not interchangeable). Full fairing. Non vented but instead drilled disks. Different shape airbox and tank with a flush fitting fuel cap. Small extra bits on the top fairing to provide a bit of protection for your hands. Quite different rear suspension linkage and cheaper shock and forks.

Late type is very similar to the 2MG, but gained the wheels and brakes from the original FZR1000.

All the best

Keith
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[Darylw27]

Thank you for the replies everyone, very helpful. After being so set on getting it, I took a step back and considered everyones opinion. Now I'm kind of split in two minds, the impatient side is screaming out just do it, but the risks of having such an old bike which could turn out to be a lemon may ruin riding for me. I already had a dodgy NSR which was plauged with ignition problems and thinking back to the frustrations I may just wait until I have a bit more cash. Any recommendations for something such as an SV or maybe the ER6F? I've heard quite good things about them both.

[temeluchus]

I've owned two 2MG FZ750s.

Keith and Mike have pretty much covered it all so my 2p will be brief.

I can confirm the seat was obviously designed by a particularly nasty sadomasochist.

They are a bit heavy pushing them around, but great on the go-they can handle all their power and are quite capable of a very fast pace. Motor is pretty tough and very tractable. Build quality is generally pretty good, I don't recall any particular bugbears.

MAKE SURE the valves have been done. If in doubt check the clearances-it can be daunting, the motor has a very awkward three part head to work on so its often left.
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[Kickstart]

[Atomic Punk]

I too had a FZ750. I used it for despatch riding around London and regular trips back home to South Wales.

Mine used to just go off the clock at 150mph apparently.

Found it easy to do the basic maitainance on, very reliable until some scrote nicked it.

I then moved upto a FZR1000 Genesis in Tech 21 livery with the insurance money.

I liked the riding position of the FZ's you felt like you were more part of the bike, unlike the larger Kakasakis of the time like the ZX10 I had.
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[nicole6776]

Can Yamaha revive it as they have now discontinued supersport R6? The new Yamaha R7 is no replacement for the R6