I'm still very happy with my FZ1. Actually even more so.

[TheRepairMan]

Some of you may wonder what happened to me. I'm still alive and kicking and enjoying my bike.

Here is a shot of me from a couple of weeks ago taken in Shady Valley, TN.

2006 FZ1,Rizoma risers and bar ends,G2 Y400 throttle control,TAG gold handlebars,HEL ss brake lines and fittings,wire re-route,Lar's air box mod,Lee's Traxxion Dynamics suspension settings,Mobil 1 MX4T 10w40,Hiflofiltro oil filter,UNCAGED frame sliders,Yamaha CA touring windscreen and comfort seat,Custom Dynamics-Clear Alternatives turn signal/marker and BackOff brake lights,EVOTECH fender eliminator,Tankslapper and 3M clear headlight and tank protectors,dual FIAMM horns

TRM

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

sounds like a great Very Super Sport Touring bike

 

[Mike-H]

Nice to know your still having a blast.....

 

[rtoyboy]

Beautiful FZ1.......I, too, got a 2003 FZ1 Yellow........I put in Yosh Carbon Fiber Muffler, BackOff Quad Bar LED License Frame, Kisan PathBlazer Dual Headlight Modulator, Kisan TailBlazer Tail Light Modulator, steel braid brake lines, engine bar, thanks for sharing your info with us.......Ride Safe and Ride Long..........RT

https://ridesafer.com this company rocks......purchase all my safety equipment (lights, earplugs, etc).

 

[TheRepairMan]

Thanks guys!

I almost put the bike up for sale after my injury last Fall. Fortunately I've recovered enough to ride with some renewed confidense, and over the Winter so many new products were made available for this model that I haven't been able to keep up. Everything I've done has made it an even better bike, but there just isn't enough travel capacity to make it a very good over-nighter. More performance mods and some soft luggage to come soon.

Here's the best accessory I've added yet. My wife Angie, with her new HJC Lola helmet. She attended the 06 EOM with me and our two daughters last year, and supports my following of the evolution of the FJR.

Angie's new to the bike world, this was only her second outing ever, both times on the back of the FZ, so she doesn't know how uncomfortable the rear seat on the FZ1 is compared to a real tourer, but we're both just having fun on our short rides.

I really am going to hate to let this bike go when we move up to a new FJR someday. She's got to believe that we really do NEED both bikes!

Roger

 

[nmanley]

Thanks guys! I almost put the bike up for sale after my injury last Fall. Fortunately I've recovered enough to ride with some renewed confidense, and over the Winter so many new products were made available for this model that I haven't been able to keep up. Everything I've done has made it an even better bike, but there just isn't enough travel capacity to make it a very good over-nighter. More performance mods and some soft luggage to come soon.

Here's the best accessory I've added yet. My wife Angie, with her new HJC Lola helmet. She attended the 06 EOM with me and our two daughters last year, and supports my following of the evolution of the FJR.

Angie's new to the bike world, this was only her second outing ever, both times on the back of the FZ, so she doesn't know how uncomfortable the rear seat on the FZ1 is compared to a real tourer, but we're both just having fun on our short rides.

I really am going to hate to let this bike go when we move up to a new FJR someday. She's got to believe that we really do NEED both bikes!

Roger

Nice ride you have. I love the look of the FZ1. If they ran to pipe up like the FZ6'S I'd probably have bought one on an impulse buy a while back. That big muffler just didn't do it for me. but I'm holding out for the FJR, hopefully by the end of summer! :blink:

 

[vectervp1]

You know, if you love the FZ1 that much, you should consider adding some hard luggage to it. Givi makes a system where you can add side cases and a top case to your FZ1. You'll get to keep the awesome bike you've created, and have as much if not more (depending on what side cases you choose) room than an FJR.

FZ1 Piccy link

 

[TheRepairMan]

Nice ride you have. I love the look of the FZ1. (snip) That big muffler just didn't do it for me. but I'm holding out for the FJR, hopefully by the end of summer! :blink:

Thanks nmanley ! I completely agree on the muffler. This thing has three cats and an EXUP valve that really needs to go. My budget was appropreiated to go toward comfort and safety first. A new exhaust is in the works as there are many manufacturers to choose from now. It wasn't that way a year ago or I might have done that mod first.

You know, if you love the FZ1 that much, you should consider adding some hard luggage to it. Givi makes a system where you can add side cases and a top case to your FZ1. You'll get to keep the awesome bike you've created, and have as much if not more (depending on what side cases you choose) room than an FJR.

I really do love this FZ1! It's a great bike for the money, and I like the hard bags and top case also, but I have looked into adding them on and that's another $1,000 that would make it a bit too easy to exceed the safe load capacity of this machine. IMO that's a grand better spent on a down payment toward the FJR, because it's designed to handle the 2 up work with cargo. I'll probably leave this bike pretty close to the power to weight ratio it is now to keep it fast in the twisties. That way I can at least stay out of everybody's way when I'm out riding solo. :lol:

Roger

 

[brazos parker]

Still looking good on that FZ-1, Roger.

 

[TheRepairMan]

Still looking good on that FZ-1, Roger.

Thanks Mike!

Looks a lot better with Angie on the back! :yahoo:

Roger

 

[keithaba]

Something like this if you decided to keep it? I thought about doing this instead of the FJR, but I got an awesome deal on mine, so it was worth it.

 

[rtoyboy]

Beautiful FZ1.......I, too, got a 2003 FZ1 Yellow........I put in Yosh Carbon Fiber Muffler, BackOff Quad Bar LED License Frame, Kisan PathBlazer Dual Headlight Modulator, Kisan TailBlazer Tail Light Modulator, steel braid brake lines, engine bar, thanks for sharing your info with us.......Ride Safe and Ride Long..........RT
https://ridesafer.com this company rocks......purchase all my safety equipment (lights, earplugs, etc).

I had 3 bikes. All were Yamaha. I gave one to my buddy so now, I got the 2003 FZ1 and the 2007 FJR1300A. I used the FZ1 to commute to work and FJR for touring during my days off.

I was wondering you said the FZ1 is not for overnight touring? I forgot to mention I got a Corbin seat put in for both my bikes. The Corbin seat on the FZ1 is great. Not too spongy like the stock seat and I can go for longer ride (250 miles rt) and not feel pain on the rear/back. I am planning a trip total mileage (approx. 800 miles). It be the first time for this bike. It will be for 3 days 2 nights ride round trip. What do you think since you own a FZ1? I, too, don't want to added anything like hard cases etc to this bike.

 

[TheRepairMan]

Beautiful FZ1.......I, too, got a 2003 FZ1 Yellow........I put in Yosh Carbon Fiber Muffler, BackOff Quad Bar LED License Frame, Kisan PathBlazer Dual Headlight Modulator, Kisan TailBlazer Tail Light Modulator, steel braid brake lines, engine bar, thanks for sharing your info with us.......Ride Safe and Ride Long..........RT
https://ridesafer.com this company rocks......purchase all my safety equipment (lights, earplugs, etc).

I had 3 bikes. All were Yamaha. I gave one to my buddy so now, I got the 2003 FZ1 and the 2007 FJR1300A. I used the FZ1 to commute to work and FJR for touring during my days off.

I was wondering you said the FZ1 is not for overnight touring? I forgot to mention I got a Corbin seat put in for both my bikes. The Corbin seat on the FZ1 is great. Not too spongy like the stock seat and I can go for longer ride (250 miles rt) and not feel pain on the rear/back. I am planning a trip total mileage (approx. 800 miles). It be the first time for this bike. It will be for 3 days 2 nights ride round trip. What do you think since you own a FZ1? I, too, don't want to added anything like hard cases etc to this bike.

[SIZE=10pt] The second generation (06-07) FZ1s are a bit more sport oriented than are the first gen bikes. They're more like an upright seated R1. Either version can be made to tour on with enough add on creature comforts, but, for two up, mine is not going to haul all the stuff I need, much less my wife's stuff. We have been doing only 90 to 100 mile days through the mountains and back happily home so far. That's really all we expect from the bike, that and exceptional performance along the way.[/SIZE]

None of the many brands of soft bags available for two up use work well on the 06-07, according to most FZ1oa messageboard member's posts on the subject. I use only a single tank bag, but it's very limited in capacity. Thus, IMO, my bike is not a touring bike built for two.

That's exactly why I'm here on the FJR forum, to do just as you have done, hopefully own both bikes someday and use them for different purposes. They are both great bikes in their own right, don't you think? Your touring preferences are up to you, but it would be a shame to let the FJR sit at home during long rides.

On the other hand, if you have the balls to rail this thing it is a real jet. Someone else here posted some power to weight ratio of some other lighter weight sport bikes but few can match the ratio of the latest FZ1s. Stock dry 438lbs @ 150+hp and with the few inexpensive mods I've done to further increase performance, this thing will power wheelie now.

Roger

 

[UPSMAN]

Repairman, Do you plan on comming to the FZ1OA rally next week at Deals Gap?

 

[TheRepairMan]

Repairman, Do you plan on coming to the FZ1OA rally next week at Deals Gap?

Are you kidden? ...and give all you 1st gen FZ1 owners a chance to beat up on me!

I'd rather take my chances at the EOM again!

I've been to Deals Gap, and it is a real blast, but I'm actually leaning toward getting away to a nice quiet beach pretty soon. However, I do ride the "Snake" US421 in TN very often and highly enjoy the camaraderie with all the weekend riders at the Country Store in Shady Valley. There lives the Snake Bite Gang, a very skilled group of young guys and girls. I have photos and videos to prove it.

 

[FJRMGM]

I read in Motorcyclist mag where they have new flash for the computer to smooth out some of the fuel injection issues - can you have yours reflashed?

 

[Bounce]

John Bunton (Fastbag fame) has an FZ1 with bags, a trunk and fairing lowers. He was working it up into an FJR-style before Yamaha decided to import the FJR into the US. He pulls the lowers in the summer.

We got to ride together again for the first time in a long while and he has added a jet kit and some other goodies since I last rode it. We'd come out of a corner and, while the FJR would squat and squirt out at "ludicrous speed", his FZ1 (with the luggage) would loft the front wheel.

WEEEE!

 

[TheRepairMan]

John Bunton (Fastbag fame) has an FZ1 with bags, a trunk and fairing lowers. He was working it up into an FJR-style before Yamaha decided to import the FJR into the US. He pulls the lowers in the summer.
We got to ride together again for the first time in a long while and he has added a jet kit and some other goodies since I last rode it. We'd come out of a corner and, while the FJR would squat and squirt out at "ludicrous speed", his FZ1 (with the luggage) would loft the front wheel.

WEEEE!

Hey Mark,

I remember you telling us about that bike a long time ago. Since then I've been trimming my bike down in weight a bit and tuning it to make even more power. It's not there on top end with the R1s yet but she'll run with the big boys through the straight stretches and handles well enough to ride with the 600s in the twisties around here.

Power wheelies are too easy in the lower gears above 9,000, but the best thing is that I can ride out a tank of fuel and, unlike the crotchrocket riders, my hands and neck aren't killing me at the end of the day. The FZ1, either gen., is still no match for FJR comfort!

Mark, when the metallic red FJRs come out next year post up another PowerPoint Presentation link please!

Roger

 

[TheRepairMan]

I read in Motorcyclist mag where they have new flash for the computer to smooth out some of the fuel injection issues - can you have yours reflashed?

Hey FJRMGM,

I read so much on the FZ1 forum about the abrupt throttle snatch and have done much testing, but my bike never did display any terrible condition. Even at that I have done several inexpensive things to make the throttle action much easier to control.

Others have done radical surgery to change how the ECU regulates the injector duration. I haven't found this to be necessary. This bike's FI is much smoother and easier to control than was the ST1300 I came from. The difference is that the ST's snatch was at lower RPMs and the FZ1 comes in at mid to high RPMs. It's just not that hard to fix if the rider feels it's a problem. This is all very much like the same issue on the newer FJRs. It is controllable with the right fixes.

The newest 07 FZ1s have been reported by owners as to not have any throttle abruptness at any RPM, however a very few say the clitch is still there under the right conditions ...off and back on the throttle at very high engine speeds and load. I think nearly all hi output engines are likely to slap you around a little if you get them into their powerband and rapidly close and reopen the throttle. In extreem cases you are going from zero horsepower to well over 100 with the flick of a switch. If bikes were designed to do this softly owners would raise harsh critisum about soft power delivery. You can't win.

The 07 ECU will interchange with the 06 model, but class is out as to whether this expensive swap would be the cure all for harsh power delivery. Since both ECUs have to incorporate the decell function in which injector duration goes to 0% to provide cleaner exhaust emissions, I don't see enough difference to justify the cost of ECU replacement. There are better ways to fix this controversial "snatch" problem.

Roger

Master Certified Technician

FZ1OA Messageboard.com