Fz6

[ForumMoto]

Hey everyone I'm 22 and looking to get my first bike. I've ridden dirt bikes my entire life, and had a sport quad for awhile. I rode my buddy's 650 ninja the other day and decided i needed a bike. Went to my local Yamaha dealer and saw the FZ6. It's comfortable and it seems to have enough power for me. I don't need anything like an R6 or GSXR yet, don't want to kill myself. I did a search and didn't come up with anything regarding this bike. What do you all think? Thanks!
-Jason

[GregR1]

really nice, but has typical yamaha issue of poor low-rpm power (and then when power DOES kick in, it's kinda abrupt). lots of reports of the throttle being hard to modulate when coming out of corners. there might be a way of reprogramming the ECU, or doing one or two small mods for that.

[ForumMoto]

All in all is a good beginner bike? It's one of the only bikes that felt incrediably comfortable to me. I know that I don't need anything crazy like I said, but I do want a bike that will last me a while. My buddy just bought a 650 Ninja and I want to be able to go out and ride with him. I was told by alot of motorcycle people to get an R6...but I'll just feel stupid having that much bike and being scared of it.
-Jason

[GregR1]

R6 = BAD!!! and this is coming from a guy who bought a Ninja ZX-9R as his (my) first bike.

Suzuki SV650S is a good solid mount too
Honda 599 is pretty good, but a bit too naked perhaps

you could go riding with him with just about anything. two weeks ago, my buddy and i took a ride to kingston from ottawa. it's around 200km (130miles) each way. me on my ZX-9R and him on his Honda XR650L dual-sport. we kept to normal roads, a comfy pace.

as long as you don't plan on tearing up the tarmac, most bikes will be perfectly fine.

[ForumMoto]

The SV650S is something else I was looking at. It's a nice looking bike. However does the FZ6 have anything on it since it's a 4 rather than a v-twin? This logic is coming from building cars my whole life, the 4 should logically have more torque. Am i wrong in this assumption? I also noticed the Suzuki is much lighter than the Yamaha. And it's cheaper.
-Jason

[GregR1]

the v-twin of the sv650 has a reputation for good strong low-end grunt (well, for a bike), and the i4 of the fz6 has a reputation for big high-end power. you could likely look at bore / stroke figures for the two engines to guess which has more "push". remember, torque comes from the engine's stroke moreso than number of cylinders.

i personally prefer the styling of the fz6 (esp the undertail exhaust), but the sv has a reputation that's hard to ignore.

the fz6 is a nice bike, honestly. i'm sure you could find a quick fix for the power surge, or just get used to it after riding it for a week or two. hell, from what others have said, if you keep it under 6k or 8k, it's a great commuter bike, but it turns into a screamer above that. Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by ForumMoto

The SV650S is something else I was looking at. It's a nice looking bike. However does the FZ6 have anything on it since it's a 4 rather than a v-twin? This logic is coming from building cars my whole life, the 4 should logically have more torque. Am i wrong in this assumption? I also noticed the Suzuki is much lighter than the Yamaha. And it's cheaper.
-Jason

Reasonable assumption but no. The inline fours are best likened to (if you want to go the route of autos) a Ferrari or Lamborghini 12 cylinder. They make assloads of screaming wailing tortured horsepower high up in the power band. A twin is more likened to an American V-8. Loads of bottom end torque. You give up some top end, especially the closer the angle of the V. However, between the two bikes you were discussing, I believe the SV is the superior choice. Smooth linear power delivery from the V, and a decent top end HP rating too.

One you might want to consider and maybe sit on is the Ninja 650. It is a compact parallel twin that shares some of the benefits of the Four's inline design of high end horsepower, and the grunt of a V because of the larger pistons.

A four will behave like an exotic because......Even though there is no replacement for displacement, you are adding more cylinders in the same amount of volume. I.E. a 600 cc V twin is going to have two large pistons which will give you more torque usually because of an undersquare bore, whereas a 600 I-4 is going to have four small pistons doing relatively the same work, but the characteristics of the bore and stroke will produce power an entirely different way.

[Clint]

I don't know whether anyone already mentioned it, but the FZ6 has the R6 motor. It doesn't make much sense to buy the same engine in a different chassis.

I'd look a the SV650, the Honda 599, the Bandit 650, or the Ninja 650. Kudos for taking a sensible approach to motorcycling, Jason.

[ForumMoto]

Thanks all. That suzuki is a sweeet bike. I'd pick up a ninja but my friend already has one, and I'm not much of a fan of Kawasaki. More of a Yamaha/Suzuki guy since that's what i've ridden my whole life. I'm going to go take my permit test here in a few hours, and on my way back i'll have to check that suzuki out. I've seen them and they are a pretty bike!
-Jason

[GregR1]

they are nice! and if you like the full-fairing look, you can do that with them as well. Louis on here did that to his SV - and it looks NICE!!!

[robertc729]

[GregR1]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

I don't know whether anyone already mentioned it, but the FZ6 has the R6 motor. It doesn't make much sense to buy the same engine in a different chassis.

to me, the ergos of the FZ6 are WAY better than the R6. and the price of admission is cheaper too i think.

[Clint]

Agreed, but as others have said, there are bikes with power characteristics more suited to a new rider.

[ForumMoto]

I went and checked out a brand new '06 SV650S today, in teal, and that bike is really nice. Can't beat the $5500 they have it marked down to, since its last years. Got my permit today so I may go for a test ride tomorrow. The only thing that I see I would change is converting to the full faring, and getting a new pipe. Other than that it's a nice bike. I may still go test ride the FZ6 just to make sure, maybe even ride a Ninja. Who knows.

[KenInSeattle]

After only riding dirt bikes as a teen I decided to take the plunge and get a road bike. I took the MSF course, got my endorsement and am the proud owner of a 2007 FZ6. I love it. I'm 45 and didn't want a "lay down" sport bike. It's easy to ride, great ergonomics, handles well and has a "toned down" low end and midrange. I have not experienced the power "surge" and it seems to pull very gradually up through the power band after 7k all the way up to 12.5k (the highest I've taken it so far). Just take it easy as it does have a R6 motor and is extremely powerful. I use it to commute back and forth to work (25 miles round trip on both city roads and freeway). The insurance company (Progressive) does not consider it a "sport" bike so the rates for full coverage are very low (for me at least). I love mine so far.

Ken

[Clint]

Thanks for the review, Ken, and welcome.

[KenInSeattle]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Thanks for the review, Ken, and welcome.

Thanks RowdyRed94. I've been lurking for a week or so but didn't see anybody who actually owned a FZ6 giving their opinon so I thought I'd chime in.

On the last day of the MSF course we had the instructor supervisor sit in for the riding evaluations. After we were done I asked him what his thoughts were about a FZ6 for a first bike. He said it was a great bike. Fun to ride, easy to ride, comfortable to ride but at the same time, very powerful, corners like a rail (new suspension and swing arm for the 07 model), and at the upper revs can scare the bejeesus out of you. (R6 motor). He smiled and said, "you can get killed on a 250 just as easily as on a FZ6 if you aren't careful. Just take it easy on her and you will do fine. And remember to keep the shiny side up."

Ken

[intimid8er]

??? Ken.....

Is the suspension fully adjustable? Or is it just pre-load settings?

[KenInSeattle]

Originally Posted by intimid8er

??? Ken.....

Is the suspension fully adjustable? Or is it just pre-load settings?

Just the 1-7 (min-max) pre-load adjustments. I haven't changed the stock setting (5 on mine) yet.