FZ1 and my preconceptions...
Discussion
Well, after passing my test on the 9th I booked a few test rides, to get an idea of what I like in a bike. So I turn up at the shop and after a brief chat get sorted with a test ride on an '07 FZ1 for about 3 hours.
Now I hear all the stuff about litre bikes being a bad idea for your first because they are so fast and I automatically assumed that it would be some kind of wild beast that was nigh on impossible for me to ride. Oh how I was wrong! I couldn't believe how easy it was to ride, and with virtually unlimited power on tap.. the only limitation being my ability to hang on. It had a real 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' personality, it was as meek as mill water when I wanted it to be and also a real, well badass rabies infected monkey, when I opened up the throttle. In the 3 hours it was taken down every single road I could think of, from fast B-roads to Motorways to very slow crap covered country lanes.. and it handled them all perfectly with no 'moments' at all. It also introduced me to the concept of 'power wheelies' which I found most amusing. In all honesty I found it no more difficult to ride than the 600 hornet I did my test on, allbeit just a great deal more fun!
So what I'm basically saying is that it's up to the rider and not the bike when talking about safety and suitability, and just becuase something has an astronomical amount of power on tap it isn't to say it's dangerous -afterall that's what 'throttle control' is for!. Just my 2p.
Now I hear all the stuff about litre bikes being a bad idea for your first because they are so fast and I automatically assumed that it would be some kind of wild beast that was nigh on impossible for me to ride. Oh how I was wrong! I couldn't believe how easy it was to ride, and with virtually unlimited power on tap.. the only limitation being my ability to hang on. It had a real 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' personality, it was as meek as mill water when I wanted it to be and also a real, well badass rabies infected monkey, when I opened up the throttle. In the 3 hours it was taken down every single road I could think of, from fast B-roads to Motorways to very slow crap covered country lanes.. and it handled them all perfectly with no 'moments' at all. It also introduced me to the concept of 'power wheelies' which I found most amusing. In all honesty I found it no more difficult to ride than the 600 hornet I did my test on, allbeit just a great deal more fun!
So what I'm basically saying is that it's up to the rider and not the bike when talking about safety and suitability, and just becuase something has an astronomical amount of power on tap it isn't to say it's dangerous -afterall that's what 'throttle control' is for!. Just my 2p.
As ive said before, your "risk rating" balanced more on the riders attitude than the bikes CC..
Quite a few friends of mine hadnt had bikes for years and bought blades and gsxr thou's and had no moments due to the bikes CC, they respect the bike and have the right attitude, other road users have been much more of a hazard to them..
When you picking it up then mate?!
Quite a few friends of mine hadnt had bikes for years and bought blades and gsxr thou's and had no moments due to the bikes CC, they respect the bike and have the right attitude, other road users have been much more of a hazard to them..
When you picking it up then mate?!
Well, I've a few more bikes to test yet! 
See I don't really know what I'll like at the moment because of my lack of experience. Have test rides booked on a Street triple, Daytona 675 and a CBR600RR. I tried a TDM 900 as well, but I must say it wasn't to my taste. Seemed alot more 'agricultural' than the Fazer, though perhaps that was down to the fact it was a twin.
See I don't really know what I'll like at the moment because of my lack of experience. Have test rides booked on a Street triple, Daytona 675 and a CBR600RR. I tried a TDM 900 as well, but I must say it wasn't to my taste. Seemed alot more 'agricultural' than the Fazer, though perhaps that was down to the fact it was a twin.I test rode one this summer and absolutely loved it. Very underated I think, and great for the traffic light gp. If I could have afforded one, I would have bought it there and then. Only slightly annoying thing was the footpegs which kept catching on my boot when stopped. You go for it (you got an insurance quote yet, I found it almost as expensive and an R1!)
Neezer said:
Well, I've a few more bikes to test yet! See I don't really know what I'll like at the moment because of my lack of experience. Have test rides booked on a Street triple, Daytona 675 and a CBR600RR. I tried a TDM 900 as well, but I must say it wasn't to my taste. Seemed alot more 'agricultural' than the Fazer, though perhaps that was down to the fact it was a twin.
i test rode a 675 in january and it was simply fantastic...Much,much better engine for the road than any jap 600...see what you think... See I don't really know what I'll like at the moment because of my lack of experience. Have test rides booked on a Street triple, Daytona 675 and a CBR600RR. I tried a TDM 900 as well, but I must say it wasn't to my taste. Seemed alot more 'agricultural' than the Fazer, though perhaps that was down to the fact it was a twin.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff