Sold the GS and bought a....

[Suzuk-E]

1994 Yamaha FZR 1000
12,500 miles
D&D exhaust








and yes, I'll be changing my name.

[reminor]

Congrats!!!  Another GS-to-literbike jumper. (Nothing's wrong with that! I see myself doing it in the future I am eyeing FZ1 though.)

So what's your experience so far in comparison with the beloved GS500? How does it feel? All and any details are really appreciated.

TIA

[Suzuk-E]

Just rode it home. 40 mile drive. wow. just...wow.

I feel SOOOOOOOOOOOO much more secure on the freeway. I commute to work, 30+ miles a day. I can't wait to ride to work in the morning. The ride is so much smoother. The motor doesn't vibrate the bike. The throttle response...so nice. My main concern was feeling in control of such a big bike. No problem whatsoever. I love it. I'm 5'8 and I can sit flatfooted. I'm so happy with my purchase. Dunno how I'ma sleep.

a 40 mile drive...and the exhaust is cool enough to rest my hand on. thats nuts.


uhmmm....the license plate is like..in the wheel well. Dunno if I like that. Seems like a reason to get pulled over.

[bettingpython]

You'll be alright as long as you engage your brain. Mid 90's model liter is nothing like a modern liter. Enjoy the ride.

Tag mount location legality varies from state to state. Oklahoma says it has to be visible from 50' and be illuminated at night by a white light. I am completely illegal but haven't been screwed with yet.

My bike is on the left.

[max_boost]

Nice looking bike.  I sold my GS (to my roomate) and got an SV.  I still like riding the GS from time to time and am currently looking for a project GS for me and my younger brother (18) to work on.  There was an 89 for $500 locally but it sold before I could snatch it up.

[cafeboy]

Congrats. Good looking bike.

[Jake D]

Nice bike.  Way too much is made of the liter bike jump.  Once you learn throttle control then you know throttle control.  You'd have to be pretty ham fisted to mess it up too bad, IMO.

[Suzuk-E]

You'll be alright as long as you engage your brain.

Exactly.
I'm no speed freak. And definitely not a stunter.
To be honest i like riding (and life) too much to take any risk on my bike...beside the inherent one.

[Suzuk-E]

Question;

So I can ALMOST sit flat footed on my bike. ALMOST.

I've never adjusted any suspension setting on my bike. Not sure what was adjusted previously. I think I'll take it into the shop and have them set it up for me.

If I adjust the shock rebound...will that lower the height a lil bit?

[Mk1inCali]

The "rebound" control only affects the way the suspension decompresses (ie, rebounds away from bottomed out).  It won't affect your ride height.


Agreed that too much is made of the litre bike jump, yes they are faster, but not 2x as fast as a 600 I4.  I went from the GS to a YZF600 for about 10K miles, then jumped on my current Ducati, which, being a litre-twin from Ducati, has very snappy throttle response.

Going back to the GS now, even with the 1/5th turn throttle and advancer (along with intake and exhaust mods), feels like a diesel truck compared to a sports car in terms of engine responsiveness and willingness to rev.

[Suzuk-E]

Ah, okay. Are there any other ways to alter the ride height without purchasing parts or modding? (i.e. dogbones, tires, and altering the seat...)

When I tell people what bike i got there like "okaaaay, don't kill yourself".

Sheesh. I'm the same rider. If anything I feel MORE safe on this bike.


Wait a sec...

The "rebound" control only affects the way the suspension decompresses (ie, rebounds away from bottomed out).  It won't affect your ride height.

Won't that cause the bike "decompress" more when I sit on it? Thus lowering it?

[Mk1inCali]

Ah, okay. Are there any other ways to alter the ride height without purchasing parts or modding? (i.e. dogbones, tires, and altering the seat...)

Won't that cause the bike "decompress" more when I sit on it? Thus lowering it?

You should have a spring preload adjustment available on the shock body itself, which will give you a bit of leeway as far as static ride height (as you are on flat, even ground, just riding along).

Decompress the suspension = raise back up to normal ride height.  You want the suspension to remain more compressed, but the damping control is exactly that, just varying how fast it will come back up, not how much it comes back up.  You will need to mess with spring tension/length or dogbones/tires/seatfoam to alter ride height. 

[Mk1inCali]

Sheesh. I'm the same rider. If anything I feel MORE safe on this bike.

Ditto for me, I don't really like riding the GS too much on the street anymore, I have less power available at any point in time if I need that, I have less braking, and it's definitely not as stable, as far as 2-up capabilities or hitting stuff in the road.  I would hate to go back to the GS full-time.

[werase643]

look at the top of the shock....the 94 750 had ride height adj....1k should also??

[Suzuk-E]

Hmmm, i may go this route.

http://www.r6messagenet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51561&highlight=shave+seat

[werase643]

measure the dogbones  #10    http://houseofmotorcycles.bikebandit.com/parts/Yamaha/FZR1000F/1994/420335

buy some steel bar stock and drill 2 holes
figure a 1/3 to 1/5 ratio
start with 1/2 inch longer
should drop the seat 1-2.5 inch

make more till you get it where you want it

[Suzuk-E]

Loving this bike!..and I've gotten a ton of compliments.


I decided to just shave down the seat with an orbital sander.

[yamahonkawazuki]

woot !, you got a fazer 

[nightrider]

Sheesh. I'm the same rider. If anything I feel MORE safe on this bike.

Ditto for me, I don't really like riding the GS too much on the street anymore, I have less power available at any point in time if I need that, I have less braking, and it's definitely not as stable, as far as 2-up capabilities or hitting stuff in the road.  I would hate to go back to the GS full-time.

12k later i've suspected my GS is a little light and sluggish in comparison to other bikes, none of which I've ridden. Im starting to be tempted by others but I figure as long as the GS keeps running it's not an expense.

[Suzuk-E]

I put my GS on craigslist for $2000.
Sold it for $1700.
Took the next day off of work.
Met dude at the dept of licensing to do the title stuff.
Drove all over Western Washington and test drove 8-10 bikes from craigslist and dealerships.
Went home and read reviews.
Decided on the FZR.
Took the FZR to the Yamaha dealership to be checked out.
Mechanic said if I didn't buy it he was gonna.
Rode it home 40 miles with a grin that looked a lot like this ---->