Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: Dragonfly on February 10, 2004, 07:42:42 PM
Post by: Dragonfly on February 10, 2004, 07:42:42 PM
First:
Before I bought my GS (first bike) my buddy bought an 03 Kawai Zx-6.
He was telling me all these stories about flying down the freeway splitting cars at 130-140 mph :nono:
Then I bought my bike, and havent ridden anything else since I bought it. There has been many times that I really wished that I could split the lane and get around whoever is in front of me, but I didnt dare do it on my bike. Due to a lack of power I can just see me getting half way through a pass and finding myself in a very ugly situation.
Well I took the FZ for a 35 mile ride this afternoon, and all I have to say is WOW!
It pulles harder at 5k than the Gs pulles at 9k, and continues to pull hard till about 9k, when it really comes to life, all the way to the 14k redline.
I did break the 130mph barrier.
The way the chasis feels is absolutly fantastic!! All the weight is down very low, and the high rise handel bars help the bike feel easy to ride in traffic or long hauls. I do think the bars are a little to high as it feels a little disconnected in the corners.
If and when I buy one the first thing I will change in the exhaust. There is more valvetrain noise than exhaust note, and that just isnt right. It certaintely needs a little more bark.
I have only ridden 2 bikes so far so it is probobly a little difficult to make a real objective analisis, but I love this bike and plan on buying one in silver and black probobly by next summer.
Before I bought my GS (first bike) my buddy bought an 03 Kawai Zx-6.
He was telling me all these stories about flying down the freeway splitting cars at 130-140 mph :nono:
Then I bought my bike, and havent ridden anything else since I bought it. There has been many times that I really wished that I could split the lane and get around whoever is in front of me, but I didnt dare do it on my bike. Due to a lack of power I can just see me getting half way through a pass and finding myself in a very ugly situation.
Well I took the FZ for a 35 mile ride this afternoon, and all I have to say is WOW!
It pulles harder at 5k than the Gs pulles at 9k, and continues to pull hard till about 9k, when it really comes to life, all the way to the 14k redline.
I did break the 130mph barrier.
The way the chasis feels is absolutly fantastic!! All the weight is down very low, and the high rise handel bars help the bike feel easy to ride in traffic or long hauls. I do think the bars are a little to high as it feels a little disconnected in the corners.
If and when I buy one the first thing I will change in the exhaust. There is more valvetrain noise than exhaust note, and that just isnt right. It certaintely needs a little more bark.
I have only ridden 2 bikes so far so it is probobly a little difficult to make a real objective analisis, but I love this bike and plan on buying one in silver and black probobly by next summer.
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: JamesG on February 10, 2004, 09:07:41 PM
Post by: JamesG on February 10, 2004, 09:07:41 PM
Well duh... It has twice the cylinders and a third more displacement. Of course its going to be faster.
A GS can be plenty squidy, you just have to make her work a little harder for it.
:P
A GS can be plenty squidy, you just have to make her work a little harder for it.
:P
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: GRU on February 10, 2004, 09:10:17 PM
Post by: GRU on February 10, 2004, 09:10:17 PM
test ride some more bikes....you might like some other bike better, and if you buy the fz6 and test ride some other bike (yzf R6) and like the R6 much more, you will be stuck with the fz6 when you want the R6...
anyway, just test ride some other bikes and see what you like better...
good luck
anyway, just test ride some other bikes and see what you like better...
good luck
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: JohNLA on February 10, 2004, 10:04:25 PM
Post by: JohNLA on February 10, 2004, 10:04:25 PM
My GS kicks as$ in LA traffic. Where lane splitting is legal.
I was thinking of taking out an ad on the back of my jacket because everyone on the road with me ends up checking out my bakside. :mrgreen:
I was thinking of taking out an ad on the back of my jacket because everyone on the road with me ends up checking out my bakside. :mrgreen:
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: raven on February 10, 2004, 10:26:12 PM
Post by: raven on February 10, 2004, 10:26:12 PM
Please excuse the lack of lingo, but could someone please explain this whole "lane splitting" concept?
Sounds like fun...
R.
Sounds like fun...
R.
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: JohNLA on February 10, 2004, 10:39:25 PM
Post by: JohNLA on February 10, 2004, 10:39:25 PM
Quote from: ravenPlease excuse the lack of lingo, but could someone please explain this whole "lane splitting" concept?
Sounds like fun...
R.
Only going with traffic
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: raven on February 10, 2004, 10:45:39 PM
Post by: raven on February 10, 2004, 10:45:39 PM
Oh, so regular freeway traffic in Melbourne, then? Otherwise known as "freeway slalom"! :)
R.
R.
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: pantablo on February 10, 2004, 10:58:51 PM
Post by: pantablo on February 10, 2004, 10:58:51 PM
Raven,
California is the only state in US to not specifically ban the "sharing" of lanes. This allows motorcycles to ride between cars usually done during rush hour traffic (almost all the time in Los Angeles). There are rules of thumb for not getting a ticket though-generally about 15 mph difference between you and cars, no reckless maneuvers, etc...its up to the police officer to determine whether or not you are riding in an unsafe manner...
Everyone here does it. I can't imagine life without lanesplitting.
California is the only state in US to not specifically ban the "sharing" of lanes. This allows motorcycles to ride between cars usually done during rush hour traffic (almost all the time in Los Angeles). There are rules of thumb for not getting a ticket though-generally about 15 mph difference between you and cars, no reckless maneuvers, etc...its up to the police officer to determine whether or not you are riding in an unsafe manner...
Everyone here does it. I can't imagine life without lanesplitting.
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: nl_carey on February 11, 2004, 03:49:29 AM
Post by: nl_carey on February 11, 2004, 03:49:29 AM
In Brissie (Australia), it's generally frowned upon unless the traffic is stopped or very slow going. Doesn't stop you doing it though, and it doesn't stop any copper picking you up if he's having a bad day or needs to fill his quota. One of the advantages of a GS with clip-ons is my profile is smaller than most scooters!
I love my GS - though the FZ6 is tempting... I'll have to ride one when they come out, and compare it to the R6, Speed Triple, 98-2000 ZX-6 and maybe even a Firebolt (damn they sound nice!). The only time I feel like I'm missing out is overtaking at 100km/h speeds (60mph) :(
I love my GS - though the FZ6 is tempting... I'll have to ride one when they come out, and compare it to the R6, Speed Triple, 98-2000 ZX-6 and maybe even a Firebolt (damn they sound nice!). The only time I feel like I'm missing out is overtaking at 100km/h speeds (60mph) :(
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: JamesG on February 11, 2004, 07:08:41 AM
Post by: JamesG on February 11, 2004, 07:08:41 AM
Sorry, but go spend a weekend in the the Dominican Republic, or Spain any you will learn that a GS is perfect for lane splitting, and having their way with car traffic.
Dominicans have lane splitting down to an art form. They will pass between cars at highway speeds on tiny GN 125s with THREE adults on it (those poor little bikes) and at any stop light a small school of scooters will filter thru the parked cars, and unless there is cross traffic, blow thru the red light as if it were a suggestion, instead of a law.
Dominicans have lane splitting down to an art form. They will pass between cars at highway speeds on tiny GN 125s with THREE adults on it (those poor little bikes) and at any stop light a small school of scooters will filter thru the parked cars, and unless there is cross traffic, blow thru the red light as if it were a suggestion, instead of a law.
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: cozy on February 11, 2004, 08:05:36 AM
Post by: cozy on February 11, 2004, 08:05:36 AM
I did some lane splitting yesterday. It was nice enough that i spent my lunch hour blasting up Kelly Drive here in phila, along the river with good twisties and no lights/traffic non rush hour. Coming back into downtown was another story, i tried some lane splitting and found it a useful technique until a ped walked in front of me. Scccreech, only a little. I'll never understand why people don't use crosswalks and just walk through slow or stopped traffic. Late getting back to work i guess. From there on, ample application of the horn when i saw people crossing against my green. Keeping the revs higher helps too.
Said it before and i'll say it again - Consider a Speed Four ($6495) before you drop $$$ on anybody else's 600. :cheers:
Said it before and i'll say it again - Consider a Speed Four ($6495) before you drop $$$ on anybody else's 600. :cheers:
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: raven on February 11, 2004, 03:32:14 PM
Post by: raven on February 11, 2004, 03:32:14 PM
That is one of the joys of the GS - it's a mid-sized bike. It's got plenty of grunt when you want to gun it, but at the same time it's still small enough to cut between lanes comfortably and slip down past the boom-gate at the parking lot.
I can understand the appeal of the Speed-4 - it's kinda like a GS on steroids, but not TOO big or foolishly powerful.
Myself, I'm having a a big drool over the Sprint ST, but then I'm looking for a sports-tourer to take me around the country. 15,000 km is the kind of distance you really want fairings and luggage capacity for...
R.
I can understand the appeal of the Speed-4 - it's kinda like a GS on steroids, but not TOO big or foolishly powerful.
Myself, I'm having a a big drool over the Sprint ST, but then I'm looking for a sports-tourer to take me around the country. 15,000 km is the kind of distance you really want fairings and luggage capacity for...
R.
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: Dragonfly on February 11, 2004, 03:35:51 PM
Post by: Dragonfly on February 11, 2004, 03:35:51 PM
I am going to certaintely ride a few more bikes, but at $6600 out the door, that makes it $1500 less than the R6.
It has the R6 motor, but it is "torque tuned" to add more mid range grunt.
Tommorrow I am going to try and ride an SV1000, and and maybe try and get on the new Zx-6RR
It has the R6 motor, but it is "torque tuned" to add more mid range grunt.
Tommorrow I am going to try and ride an SV1000, and and maybe try and get on the new Zx-6RR
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: raven on February 11, 2004, 03:59:24 PM
Post by: raven on February 11, 2004, 03:59:24 PM
Quote from: DragonflyI am going to certaintely ride a few more bikes...
Good move - test ride as many bikes as you can get your hands on 'cos there's not much worse than Buyer's Remorse after you've blown $6k on what you thought was the best pair of wheels on the block...
The other good thing about the moment is that everyone's bringing in their '04 models, so you can make sure there won't be a new bike coming out 6 months later that you'll wish you'd held off for.
That, and you might be able to get an '03 model on the cheap...
R.
Title: Lanesplitting...
Post by: The Buddha on February 12, 2004, 08:08:15 AM
Post by: The Buddha on February 12, 2004, 08:08:15 AM
Well Ca and another 30 or so states have not explicitly out lawed splitting. However there isn't the wide spread awareness amongst bikes and cars, and neither is the traffic or the biking commute numbers anywhere else except CA (that I know of). NC where I live now is one of the other 20 states... not that you need it... I manage 15 miles in ~ 18-20 mins in rush hour and over 10 of that is on surface streets where its impossible to make 35, due to the crappy roads.
Cool.
Srinath.
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: danci1973 on February 12, 2004, 01:22:08 PM
Post by: danci1973 on February 12, 2004, 01:22:08 PM
Quote from: DragonflyI am going to certaintely ride a few more bikes, but at $6600 out the door, that makes it $1500 less than the R6.
It has the R6 motor, but it is "torque tuned" to add more mid range grunt.
Tommorrow I am going to try and ride an SV1000, and and maybe try and get on the new Zx-6RR
How do you get to ride that many different bikes? Is it common for dealers to give you bikes for a test ride? Or do you have that many biker friends?
Over here in Slovenia, dealers usually get heart attack if I mention the phrase 'test ride'... Well, maybe they fake it to get rid of me, but I'm sure I will not buy a bike before riding it. What is visually appealing (SV650S, for example :thumb: ) may not be what I'll enjoy riding.
The difference between my GS500 and my brother's FZS600 is big, my GS is much easier to flick around in the twisties.
D.
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: dgyver on February 12, 2004, 02:56:46 PM
Post by: dgyver on February 12, 2004, 02:56:46 PM
Some dealers may let you test ride with insurance & waivers. A dealer that I had bought 4 bikes from since '86 always let me test ride, but he just sold the shop. I even had a local Ducati dealer offer me to take a test ride on a 996.
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: raven on February 12, 2004, 03:26:47 PM
Post by: raven on February 12, 2004, 03:26:47 PM
It must depend on where you are - I've never had a problem taking test-rides in Australia... except for the one time the battery was flat and the bike wouldn't start!
Oddly enough, that was the GS that I eventually bought!
R.
Oddly enough, that was the GS that I eventually bought!
R.
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: JohnNS on February 12, 2004, 03:58:31 PM
Post by: JohnNS on February 12, 2004, 03:58:31 PM
Must be nice. I have a feeling the folks at the local dealers here would keel over laughing if somebody was to ask them for a test ride. Only time I've ever seen that happen is when a manufacturer has a "test ride day."
Can't say as I blame them though...I can just see some dumbass who just got his license wanting to take a CBR1000 for a test ride, then sueing the dealer after he/she almost kills themself. :roll:
Can't say as I blame them though...I can just see some dumbass who just got his license wanting to take a CBR1000 for a test ride, then sueing the dealer after he/she almost kills themself. :roll:
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: Rich500 on February 12, 2004, 04:13:57 PM
Post by: Rich500 on February 12, 2004, 04:13:57 PM
I find dealers in Calgary reasonably accomidating when it comes to test rides. I took a KTM Duke out for a squirt this summer. And a couple BMW's(on the BMW sponsered testing days).
I want a duke ever since I took it out. Way more fun than anything else I ahve ridden no matter how fast.
I want a duke ever since I took it out. Way more fun than anything else I ahve ridden no matter how fast.
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: raven on February 12, 2004, 04:25:08 PM
Post by: raven on February 12, 2004, 04:25:08 PM
Well yeah - they always check my license. Some times they get me to leave that behind, sometimes one of them comes out and tails me. It's not as if they're just throwing the bike at me and saying "go have fun!"
That, and after coming through to buy kit and parts a lot of the sales folk around here know me now so that makes things easier.
I just couldn't handle buying a bike (or a car for that matter) that I hadn't ridden/driven.
R.
That, and after coming through to buy kit and parts a lot of the sales folk around here know me now so that makes things easier.
I just couldn't handle buying a bike (or a car for that matter) that I hadn't ridden/driven.
R.
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: dmp221 on February 12, 2004, 06:20:26 PM
Post by: dmp221 on February 12, 2004, 06:20:26 PM
Quote from: JamesGSorry, but go spend a weekend in the the Dominican Republic, or Spain any you will learn that a GS is perfect for lane splitting, and having their way with car traffic.
Dominicans have lane splitting down to an art form. They will pass between cars at highway speeds on tiny GN 125s with THREE adults on it (those poor little bikes) and at any stop light a small school of scooters will filter thru the parked cars, and unless there is cross traffic, blow thru the red light as if it were a suggestion, instead of a law.
Oh yeah...I've ridden in the D.R. twice, once in the North around Puerto Plats and then again in Santo Domingo (big city) and WOW! Right-of-way means whoever gets there first, and the only rule of the road is that there are no rules.
I was amazed at the assortment of tiny scoots and motorcycles, many held together with bailing wire and duct tape...but somehow a family of 3 or 4 gets on one and goes...shorts, skirts, T-shirts...helmets? What for, and besides, they cost money.
In fact, for a huge part of the world's riding population, our 500cc zooks would be a huge bike!!
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: BanannaMan on February 12, 2004, 07:51:35 PM
Post by: BanannaMan on February 12, 2004, 07:51:35 PM
Test rides????
Local dealers here won't even let you sit on a bike unless they are 90% sure you are going to buy it.
:roll:
Local dealers here won't even let you sit on a bike unless they are 90% sure you are going to buy it.
:roll:
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: BanannaMan on February 12, 2004, 07:55:20 PM
Post by: BanannaMan on February 12, 2004, 07:55:20 PM
Test rides????
Local dealers here won't even let you sit on a bike unless they are 90% sure you are going to buy it.
:roll:
Local dealers here won't even let you sit on a bike unless they are 90% sure you are going to buy it.
:roll:
Title: Test rode an Fz6!!!!! Holy S#!T
Post by: raven on February 12, 2004, 09:05:00 PM
Post by: raven on February 12, 2004, 09:05:00 PM
See... how is that attitude going to help sell bikes? I can understand wanting to keep the curious off, but at the same time as long as people are careful then what the hey? A lot of the shops i've wandered through have one of each model bike that they use specifically for tests, which later gets sold off as an ex-demo with associated discount. They don't lose a lot of money on it, and have the benefit of the rest of the stock being completely untouched...
R.
R.