Rode it from SanFransisco to Sacramento. My friend tai bought it and I rode it back. 600cc liquid cooled 4 cylinder with a V&H SSR2 and a Stage 1 rejet (done years ago on the bike - something like right after breakin - thank god the previous 2 owners kept logs, teh previous owner did everything at home).
The bike is sweet, but the 5th and 6th gear is useless, no torque or change in rpm's when at 70mph. Once you open it up it feels totally different, i hit 95 trying to overtake someone. Its a bit addictive in power, but I think the bike needs some decent work. The bike is nice otherwise (got new dunlop 209 tyres).
The ride was painful, when i got off my right leg was hurting (near the groin) and it took some rest and some tylenlol to get back to be able to move. The riding position isnt the best, I prefer my GS position, plus I think i am a bit bigger than the bike (not sure how tai will fit, he is 6 feet).
I would love to have a bike which is smooth as it is in power delivery (riding in SF was a breeze) but the lack of feel of power is something i didnt like in the higher gears.
The bike will require a carb sync and the brakes to be redone, but otehrweise it runs good.
Tai has to be careful riding it, I loved riding it, it actually quite neatly dropped into teh corners..
Manjul
Must be a very good friend, letting you be the first to take it on it's maiden voyage....that is a very small bike, the Honda (f4) is a little roomier, IMHO.. :thumb:
the upper gears are designed for 100+ mph speeds. Thats why they felt weak while puttering along at 70, You weren't even in the meat of the powerband yet.
Quote from: JamesGthe upper gears are designed for 100+ mph speeds. Thats why they felt weak while puttering along at 70, You weren't even in the meat of the powerband yet.
I realised I never even touched the meat of the power band.... i wonder what it will feel like above 7K.. It has a 11.5K redline.
It screams in teh lowergears though, hit 60 so freaking fast.
The guy cant ride its his first bike, he has his permit hence I got to ride it 100 miles home.
hehe the front tends to get light at around 9K when held WFO.
I4s are totally different animal than the GS. Where you have to flog a GS, a 600 is (too) effortless.
QuoteThe guy cant ride its his first bike, he has his permit hence I got to ride it 100 miles home.
Oh boy. Here we go... :roll:
Quote from: ArpeeQuoteThe guy cant ride its his first bike, he has his permit hence I got to ride it 100 miles home.
Oh boy. Here we go... :roll:
Took the words right out of my mouth.
The FZR 600 might not be the ideal starter bike, but it could be worse. Step on over to the R6 board and listen to the newbies try to decide between an R6 and an R1. :? Unfortunately, some of these guys pay the ultimate price for their poor judgement. :(
well he has his MSF next month and i made him ride it yesterday in Full Gear (jacket, pants, etc etc). After teh first hiccup he actually did fine, he is far ahead of teh curve. Had lesser trouble on the fzr than on the gs (he was trying out teh gs on thursday night). Last night he was able to do uturns withotu putting his feet on teh ground, this was 5 minutes after he got on to it. The guy is a bicyclist and he has some moped experience.
I do agree its not a bike for beginners but atleast he is sane about it, and is only going to ride with me. I will have to be with him at all times when he rides but eventually he will get good enough for the bike.
He nearly dropped it yesterday but that was because he was holding the front brake while trying to accelerate ( i didnt notice it at first) and he let go of the clutch and nearly dumped it (I held the bike from behind). That was the only hiccup. I made him go thru most of the basic MSF stuff and he did fine.
the bike is definately more intiutive over its handling, it goes where you want to go, it drops into teh corners very easily.
600cc cless sportbikes are verygood bikes. I still think the 750 is the perfect balance between handling/power for a sportbike but 600s are getting damn close. I loved my GSXR and kick myself in the ass every time I ride my z1000 for selling it.
bummer thats gotta take the edge off that Zed? :(
Is that why you are selling it?
Not the bike for me. I thought I needed a bike less race focused for comfort issues. Instead I now have a bike I don't want to ride. So its gotta go. I'd rather ride 2k miles on a bike I like than 2k miles on a bike I don't.
Right now I have 1800 miles on the big Z. My normal is 7000 miles a season.
What don't you like about it? lack of fairing?
Yeah- what don't you like? Its a freak'in sweet looking bike. :) Not that says anything about the ride at all.... Its a total bummer its not what you hoped it would be. :(