I'm not talking about the things we can change, like tires, exhausts, etc; what design changes would you make? I like my FZ-6, but if/when I become Supreme Ruler of the World I will mandate:
1. Change the backlighting of the LCD panel. I don't care for the orange. An interesting side note is that the US military had experimented with red gauges for night aircraft flying, as it reduces night vision the least. What they found, however, is that red light wavelength is also the least easiest to see in the first place, so pilots were cranking the intensity all the way up, completely negating any advantage. The Air Force, and most auto manufacturers who had followed them, eventually changed to other color schemes. GM has yet to wake up...
2. I'd replace the front brake fluid reservoir with a design similar to the rear reservoir. The front, square, black tank has a nice little round window to check brake fluid level, but if the tank is completely full or a third-or-less empty, that little window doesn't show anything. The transluscent round rear brake tank leaves no doubt.
3. I'd change the edges of the front fairing. On the musician's websites that I'm a member on, we often make fun of "pointy" guitars favored by heavy metal/thrash type bands, guitars like the Gibson Flying V or anything made by Dean, etc. Well, to me, the front view of the FZ-6 looks like a pointy guitar, and I'd change it if I could...
4. I wish the clutch were a little less sensitive. After four months I still stall the engine out on takeoff a couple times a week, arrrgh! Yet I never stalled the Kawasaki I had for the full weekend of my MSF course once!
5. I wish saddlebags were easier to install. It can be done, and the under-seat mufflers really help, but those curvy pillion handles really make it a bit of a challenge.
6. Shifting from 1st to 2nd is a bit clunky; I can make perfect shifts between the rest of the gears, up and down. The fact that Neutral is between 1st & 2nd is the reason, and since this is my only bike I have no idea if all bikes are that way or not.
Really a nitpick list, actually. What would you change?
1. Change the backlighting of the LCD panel. I don't care for the orange. An interesting side note is that the US military had experimented with red gauges for night aircraft flying, as it reduces night vision the least. What they found, however, is that red light wavelength is also the least easiest to see in the first place, so pilots were cranking the intensity all the way up, completely negating any advantage. The Air Force, and most auto manufacturers who had followed them, eventually changed to other color schemes. GM has yet to wake up...
2. I'd replace the front brake fluid reservoir with a design similar to the rear reservoir. The front, square, black tank has a nice little round window to check brake fluid level, but if the tank is completely full or a third-or-less empty, that little window doesn't show anything. The transluscent round rear brake tank leaves no doubt.
3. I'd change the edges of the front fairing. On the musician's websites that I'm a member on, we often make fun of "pointy" guitars favored by heavy metal/thrash type bands, guitars like the Gibson Flying V or anything made by Dean, etc. Well, to me, the front view of the FZ-6 looks like a pointy guitar, and I'd change it if I could...
4. I wish the clutch were a little less sensitive. After four months I still stall the engine out on takeoff a couple times a week, arrrgh! Yet I never stalled the Kawasaki I had for the full weekend of my MSF course once!
5. I wish saddlebags were easier to install. It can be done, and the under-seat mufflers really help, but those curvy pillion handles really make it a bit of a challenge.
6. Shifting from 1st to 2nd is a bit clunky; I can make perfect shifts between the rest of the gears, up and down. The fact that Neutral is between 1st & 2nd is the reason, and since this is my only bike I have no idea if all bikes are that way or not.
Really a nitpick list, actually. What would you change?
