Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: B6Matt on July 16, 2005, 01:01:07 AM
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Well, I bought my FZ1 and brought it home today (a mere 575 mile ride, half of which seemed to be in a downpour). :motorsmile: The bike is an '02 which started the day with 1,900 miles on it.
Initial impressions are very, very good. The bike has gobs of power and is very smooth and refined in comparison to the Bandit. Probably a little more stable at speed than the ol' Bandit. Suspension is obviously better too, but that's to be expected, as I hadn't upgraded the Bandit's suspension.
I do miss the bark of the Yoshi can on my Bandit, but I'll probably leave the Yami stock for a while. The neighbors will appreciate that. :lol:
Only negatives of note: The EXUP valve (exhaust back pressure valve) seems to generate a fair amount of heat that wafts up my right leg and it's a little more difficult to downshift at a stop than the Bandit.
In the Bandit's defense, it was a fantastic bike with which to get back into motorcycling, very easy on the wallet, lots of cheap mods available, etc. I already miss those guages pinning when I turn the ignition on, but other too.
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Congrats matt, I bet your a$$ is a little sore after that ride? Let me know your impression after a little time with it, that may be my next bike. I would love to ride someones, but there are none close, nothing but young punks on sportbikes...except for me. They turn their nose at my bandit and me wearing a jacket when it's hot, but I think a "standard" bike rocks :motorsmile:
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Yeah, my arse was getting a little achy, but not too bad. I found that I could ride for about 150 miles in a sitting, but I stopped more frequently than that during the first half of the ride because of the RAIN. If I upgrade anything on the FZ, it might be adding a Corbin seat.
The market is flooded with used FZ1s these days, so a used one is a good value, much like a Bandit.
They turn their nose at my bandit and me wearing a jacket when it's hot, but I think a "standard" bike rocks
Let the squids laugh all the way to a skin graft. Saw a guy riding a cruiser in flip-flops today! Wankers!
At least you can be part of the Bandit secret society. Had a great convo at the CROT with a dude on a converted-to-naked B12.
Speaking of B12s, Cycle World reviewed the Kawi Z750s in Aug. '05 as a budget bike and suggested that potential purchasers consider a B12 for a mere $300 more. (p.88)
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FZ1's a great bike, it was the one I wanted back in 2001 when it was new to the market at $8500. When I found my new 2001 Bandit for $2000 less, I went with it. Both are great bikes. I' gonna get flogged here for saying this, but with equal riders and equal basic mods the FZ1 will take the B12 on the track and dragstrip. **Mike slowly backs out of room***
Dale makes some good stuff for the FZ, if you're looking for the performance back (Holeshot pipe).
http://www.holeshot.com/fz1
I really like the high mount SO...
(http://www.holeshot.com/fz1/images/fz1_highpipe_main.jpg)
Here's his dyno charts....
(http://img305.imageshack.us/img305/7937/11mn.jpg)
(http://img305.imageshack.us/img305/3835/34bs.jpg)
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I'll have to think about going back to Dale for some mods for this bike...down the road a tad. Those are some impressive gains (11hp/7ft-lb) with the s/o and jet kit with advancer.
Now that I have practiced on my Bandit, I can install the mods too! :beers:
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Wow, Matt. I haven't been around here as much as usual the last month or so. I had no idea you had been looking to move up. :congrats: Sweet bike. Although I'll more likely go to a liter-class twin instead, the Fizzer will definitely be on my list when the time comes (as will the B12).
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I wanted a B12 since way back when I test rode a used one at a dealer (my only previous riding experience before that was an '81 honda 750 and a '82 kawasaki 440) needless to say I was floored by the performance. Didn't have any money then, just got divorced, and my ex ruined the credit rating. Then I switched to wanting an FZ1 for the slightly better performance and the high praises the magazines gave it, even though it was noticibly costlier than a bandit (used). Problem is, I sat on one. I'm 6'-3" and all legs (true 36" inseam). My knees didn't fit into the cutout on the tank, they were against the ridge at the top of the cutout. I felt like I was on a cruiser riding spread eagle. I tried to figure out if there was a way to sit on it comfortably and it never happened. That was a big letdown.
I ended up finding my bandit and haven't regretted it one bit. Maybe when they update both bikes I will have to re-evaluate.
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:congrats:
$$$ tag on the Bandit won my heart. The dealer had them both side-by-side and that made it real hard! I didn't do a whole-lot of magizine/web research on the bikes before purchase mustly, because I was NOT shopping :roll: my friends were dragging me along for their shopping and I just had to rid myself of the cruiser. Like I said it was a real tough choose but it came down to the $$.
My bestest buddy just (bout two months now) made the dive into cycles and bought the FZ1. I was forced to ride it home from the dealer (no license at that time)and have been on it a couple times sense :shock: whew it's breaking nicely dude.
I did figure the bike could out perform the Bandit but I didn't think my newest partner would pull off the light faster than me in his first season :duh: :shock: The FZ stops and starts faster and now he has learned to use these!!
I need to find a list of mods in cost/performance gain order. Don't won't this to become a habit of his. :sad:
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Link to the new ride: http://www.easttnriders.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=319&stc=1
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Link to the new ride: http://www.easttnriders.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=319&stc=1
Ya gotta be a member to view threads there. :sad:
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the FZ1 is what we call the Fazer thou yes?
They are sweet bikes, put a renegade or akrapovic can on it and they make the most amazing sound. One of my buddys has a Fazer 600 and its really smooth to drive.
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Yes, the FZs are also known as Fazers in some markets. :shock: I prefer the FZ moniker myself.
The FZ6 is a nice bike for sure. Fuel injected too, if that kind of thing is of interest to ya.
Rob, this page is open to guests. You'll find two pics of my bike there (as well as some NWS pics): East TN Riders new bike pics (http://www.easttnriders.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3838&page=7&pp=15)
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Rob, this page is open to guests. You'll find two pics of my bike there (as well as some NWS pics): East TN Riders new bike pics (http://www.easttnriders.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3838&page=7&pp=15)
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:crybaby:
And even some NWS???? :crybaby: :crybaby: :crybaby:
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I need to find a list of mods in cost/performance gain order. Don't won't this to become a habit of his. :sad:
With no regards to suspension upgrades:
Jet kit & Slip-on (with a Holeshot s/o ou can upgrade to a header later and keep your s/o)
GSXR cams
Header
Nitrous Oxide (if you just want short bursts of extra power)
Shave the head for higher compression (might not want to do this if you're gonna continue performance upgrades)
High compression pistons/big bore kit
Bigger/better carbs
Porting the head/bigger valves
Turbocharger
One advantage the B12 has over the FZ is there are a lot more choices in hop-up parts. It's also a lot easier to work on. If you're not capable of doing the work, it'll at least mean you'll pay less for labor because the pro will spend less time on your bike.
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Ahhhh, success!
(http://ftp://banditalley:bandito@66.155.114.22/B6Matt/FZ1.1.jpg)(http://ftp://banditalley:bandito@66.155.114.22/B6Matt/FZ1.2.jpg)
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No doubt about it, the Fazer is a nice bike!
I'm partial to the limited edition bumblebee paint scheme:
(http://www.roxbox.dk/picpages/yama/sportstreet/2003/fz1_3.jpg)
Reminds me of King Kenny. :bigok:
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I like the bee scheme too. Particularly popular with Pittsburgh residents!
My blue color is the one I've seen most often. I have also seen silver and black.
Yamaha mixes things up a bit: the blue one has a black engine this year.
Interestingly, except for color schemes, the bike is unchanged from '01 thru '05.
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Interestingly, except for color schemes, the bike is unchanged from '01 thru '05.
Pretty much like the 01-05 B12...
(Though there were some very minor changes)
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I have also seen silver and black.
That's the color I was trying to make a deal on in College Sation, TX in 01 at Action Sports Yamaha. They wouldn't freekin come down from list, so I bought the ol' Bandit at Stubb's Cycle a couple miles from me in Houston. That was a wasted trip to college station.
I really liked the black scheme. The salesman was trying to justfy no discount saying the bike was equal to a R1 and less expensive (freekin idiot). I pulled my checkbook out and said I'll write you a check for $8500 out the door right now. We can verify the account has the money and do a transfer today. He said no, I said fuk u...
Oh well, I still like that bike.
(http://img320.imageshack.us/img320/8539/fz0pv.jpg)
And my trusty Bandit, notice the similarity. LOL!
(http://img350.imageshack.us/img350/8008/texmikesb12a4pt.jpg)
Enjoy your new bike, I bet you luv the power compared to your old B6.
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10-4, Mike. I do like the increase in power. Roll-on wheelies are pretty cool. Not that I'd ever do that. :bs:
I'd have told him to stuff it too. You could travel a little and find one for at least $500 - $1000 less. Well, at least that's the case now. Back in '01, when it was new, maybe not.