Comparing FZ1 to Feejr

[NovaFlyer]

Hi Folks.

The quest for a new ride for Mrs Flyer continues. Lot's of potential rides out there, but lot's with high PITA factors in acquiring them. CBR xx cross border for example...

This leads me to something I found on YouTube :



Now I've got a line on a Lava Red 06 demo for a song and have the parts priced out from Yamaha for the bags and fairing lowers etc.... My question is how do guys that have owed them compare the two rides?? I realize there's an apples and oranges thing here, but I'm basically asking how the two differ. How does the FZ1 differ from the Feejr in power delivery, windscreen weather protection and heat ??? Mrs FLyer has ridden my Feejr and liked it .... it just not 'sporty' enough for her from what she tells me. Since it's freakin' winter up where I'm at, test riding isn't really an option for the next while so I'm relying on your folks experiences for some feedback.

As always, I appreciate whatever input you guys can give.

Thx

NFlyer

 

[tripletango]

Hi Folks.
The quest for a new ride for Mrs Flyer continues. Lot's of potential rides out there, but lot's with high PITA factors in acquiring them. CBR xx cross border for example...

This leads me to something I found on YouTube :

The new triumph tiger is a far better bet if you want a lighter more agile mount . The FZ1 is just a step away from the R1. Lots of power but very litle extra comfort.

 

[NovaFlyer]

The new triumph tiger is a far better bet if you want a lighter more agile mount . The FZ1 is just a step away from the R1. Lots of power but very litle extra comfort.

- 3xT

I know what your saying, but Triumph is a bit of a bugger to get around where I live and the one dealer near buy doesn't deal in anything other than MSRP. I have been looking at the Sprint ST's and haven't completely ruled them out yet. The Tiger looks neat, but I think it would be a bit too tall for Mrs Flyer.

 

[NovaFlyer]

Found a previous thread that has some good insights : TheRepairMan's thread

Does anyone have any other experiences?

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

I had an 01 FZ1 when they first came out. Thought about doing what you are thinking about and some other FZ1 owners back then did. But it doesn't have the suspension to add all that weight with bags, lowers, and a topcase. Little or no weather protection and it just didn't make it worthwhile, imho. Then they brought the FJR to America. Instant deposit and the rest is history. I sold my FZ1 a year later, not that I didn't like it, I just liked the FJR better.

 

[NovaFlyer]

Appreciate the insights fjrvtx1300s.

I'm wondering if I'm looking at turning the FZ1 into something it isn't ... Hmmm. More bike info browsing to do I guess.

Thx again

 

[FJR919]

The first generation FZ1 was closer to the FJR in market niche so they decided to move the second gen more to the sporty side than the previous model. I own a 2005 FJR and a 2006 FZ1, and I love them both. The FJR is obviously more comfortable than the FZ1 for long trips, while the FZ1 is lighter and easier to throw around. The FJR has much more low end grunt, while the FZ1's greater overall power makes it faster. I find getting off the FJR and onto the FZ1 that it definitely takes more distance and time to pass people than the FJR. The new FZ1's ergos fit short people better than the previous generation. The previous model also makes more low end torque than the new model. The power delivery of the new model is more R1 like and the suspension accomodates heavier people better than the first generation. Hope this helps.

 

[NovaFlyer]

Thx FJR919.

That's the comparison stuff I'm looking for as it gives a reference point.

 

[FJR919]

I'm glad it was helpful. I wrote that pretty quickly and meant to say it takes less time and distance to pass with the FZ1. The top end surge of the FZ1 is a real hoot.

 

[TheRepairMan]

The top end surge of the FZ1 is a real hoot.

[SIZE=14pt] Yes it is! [/SIZE] :yahoo:

 

[NovaFlyer]

Oh my Gawd ... I think I'm sportin' a woodie: FZ1 porn

Thanx again Repairman for that web link. It's a wealth of info much like this place is. It's answering everything I was wondering about. Even Mrs FLyer is getting excited .. which , to quote Martha Steward, is a very good thing.

 

[onlyblue]

Of all of the possible choices of sporting bikes with touring capabilities AND smaller than the FJR, I believe the Honda VFR would be an excellent choice. What do you say?

 

[FJR919]

Of all of the possible choices of sporting bikes with touring capabilities AND smaller than the FJR, I believe the Honda VFR would be an excellent choice. What do you say?

I rode a VFR on a demo ride at Americade. Nice bike, but the ergos were more sportbike than the FZ1 and the FJR and it didn't feel as fast as either one.

 

[TheRepairMan]

Of all of the possible choices of sporting bikes with touring capabilities AND smaller than the FJR, I believe the Honda VFR would be an excellent choice. What do you say?

I rode a VFR on a demo ride at Americade. Nice bike, but the ergos were more sportbike than the FZ1 and the FJR and it didn't feel as fast as either one.

Yeah, Honda should have built a VFR with 919 ergos and the CBR1100XX motor.

 

[Pjturbo]

I ride with two buddies who have the Gen 1 FZ1s. We do a lot of touring. The Fuzzys are quicker and faster and will out handle the FJR, (no suprise). The Gen 1s have more torque so are better in real world riding than the new one. They are lighter and they feel lighter. If your wife likes a light feeling bike but still whats to sit upright. I'd recommend the Gen 1.

Phil

Seattle

 

[NovaFlyer]

Hello there Phil.

I've read that about the Gen 1's... Unfortunately there are none available where I'm at. I have a line on a Gen 2 lava Red model for pretty much cost so that's driving the thought process right now. Putting on full lowers and a set of color matched hard cases with a touring screen could just be the ticket for a baby Feejr.

Now if the weather would only co-operate and enable a test ride ..

 

[TheRepairMan]

Putting on full lowers and a set of color matched hard cases with a touring screen could just be the ticket for a baby Feejr.

You mean something like this? All it needs is the larger shield and some bags.

The only problem you might encounter as a new FZ1 owner is the abrupt throttle glitch at higher RPMs built into the FI firmware, and the fact that you are use to a ton of bottom end torque from the FJR, which this bike doesn't have. It still produces more torque than the DL1000 Suzuki V-Strom V twin at the same RPM.

Many new owners say it's down right anemic compared to nearly all other liter sized bikes, until you hit it's power band that is. Then it feels like a turbo charged model, and there's not a lot of stock bikes that will keep up with it. There are many, many simple fixes available from a variety of FZ1 tuners that will make this thing develop 140 to 150 hp at the rear wheel. Stock is 130+hp, but you will need to push it to well over 8 grand to get there. Red line is 12K.

I personally don't feel that the stock bike is all that weak down low, but I really don't have much to compare it to, experience wise. I came off a 700+ lb wet Honda St1300, so the FZ1 feels like a jet fighter to me.

 

[chornbe]

Hi Folks.

The quest for a new ride for Mrs Flyer continues. Lot's of potential rides out there, but lot's with high PITA factors in acquiring them. CBR xx cross border for example...

This leads me to something I found on YouTube :

The Gen-1 FZ-1 is an excellent ride. More friendly (from what I understand) than the '06 Gen-2s. I've ridden two Gen-1 FZ-1s and found them to completely enjoyable and wickedly sporty bikes. I have not ridden a Gen-2, but the word is "just buy the R1". There are still plenty of excellent examples of the Gen-1s for sale used. I think it's worth looking at, but the seat height is higher than the FJR if that's an issue.

 

[TheRepairMan]

I have not ridden a Gen-2, but the word is "just buy the R1".

I'll start by saying the 06 FZ1 isn't a full out sport bike as is the R1.

WORD! The 06 FZ1 is as different from the R1 as it is to the 1st gen FZ1. It sits the rider nearly straight up much like the FJR, with a very nice upper body and foot positioning, yet the bike has a very firm sport like feel and sound about it, but ...it will readily accommodate a larger touring shield, fairing lowers, and the a set of FJR hard bags. It's not an uncomfortable bike for most riders, but has a much more modern, aggressive stance and riding position than it's predecessor, but delivers nothing like the laid out profile of an R1 rider.

The new R1 is much lighter, has 25 more horsepower (175) than the FZ1, has a small slab of board for a seat and even less to accommodate a passenger, lays you firmly over the tank to reach the bars with your neck bent about as far back as it will go just to be able to look out of your helmet, and your are feet tucked under your butt like a race horse jockey. It was designed as a pure sport platform to do one thing, go fast, and the R1 sells for between 3 to 10 thousand dollars more, depending on the version, than the MSRP of a new FZ1. That puts it much nearer the ballpark, money wise, to the FJR, therefore if you are looking for long distance sport comfort, it's a no brain-er, just buy the FJR. I chose the FZ1 purely because of all the great, mid weight, street fighter class bike you get for around $9,000. I gave just $8,700 OTD for mine. It was by far the most bang for the buck in a new street bike.