I'm not sure I am the first here to own an '04-'06 model and buy the new '07-'08 model but I wanted to share with you all a personal review of the new 2008 FZ6 after selling my 2005 FZ6.
First let me start by saying the '05 was a great bike! I didn't think Yamaha could do much to improve on what I felt was the best all-around bike I've ever owned. However, while the '05 was great, the new '08 is truly a better bike!
I'll list what I feel has greatly improved and comment on each:
1. Braking - much improved over the older model years. These feel much more responsive and do not take away from the control of the bike. I tried a couple of near-emergency stops and was very impressed with the control and distance required to stop. Not as much brake dive either which brings me to....
2. Suspension - I used to keep the '05 rear shock on a solid 7. Granted, I haven't hit any hard corners (just 75 miles on my first day out) but the bike feels planted on the stock setting. I'll have a different opinion when I've scuffed the entire tire, broken in to at least 600 miles and am able to hit the corners with some aggression. The forks do not dive as bad as the '05. I'm not sure if they've either put in heavier weight oil or have they moved from a progressive to a solid spring? I do have the 1 kg Racetech kit on standby with 15W oil but I'll need to review the stock setup during these first 1k miles.
3. Transmission - Can you say smooth? The difference was immediate! Still the clunk into first gear but the rest was like butter! The clutch and gears flowed very natural and there were no issues with the bike either up or down through the gears for any of this initial ride! I'm very impressed with this newer model! Yamaha might say it's the same but after owning one of each, it just cannot be!
4. Throttle response - Again with SMOOTH! They really took care of the throttle bodies and the TPS with this bike. VERY MUCH IMPROVED! At no time did I encounter the jerky response of the throttle that was in the stock '05 model. On the old bike, I toyed a lot with the adjustments to get the bike to where I was comfortable but on the new bike, I had zero troubles from mile zero to 75 today. This is a very nice improvement.
5. Helmet lock! Need I say more?
6. Pillion footpegs - I had my wife jump on for a quick ride on the back before leaving the dealer. She said the '05 was NOT something she would ever ride more than a few miles on ever again. Well, she got on the '08 and after a quick tour, we stopped at her bike so we could head home. She said this was vastly improved and she was actually comfortable! She thought Yamaha put the pegs in a great location and had no trouble riding that way. She said she didn't think her opinion would change over a long ride either! But, she does have her own bike and hardly ever rides pillion. My daughter does though and she'll likely have the same opinion.
7. Fairing design - At least in regards to the hands... very nice design to deflect more wind around the grips instead of taking direct hits to the hands. I may not have to go find new gloves after all!
Now for some negative stuff....
1 (and only negative). The stock windshield is UBER CRAP! I got on I95 north and I thought my head was going to get ripped off! The windshield is the only thing Yamaha consistently cannot get right. This is no different than the '05 though which was also horrible. I think Yamaha is the sole reason Puig is in business!!! Time to start shopping for THIS mod!!!
For anyone with the older bike looking to upgrade, look no further than the FZ6! The '05 was great but the '08 just made it even better!
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
First let me start by saying the '05 was a great bike! I didn't think Yamaha could do much to improve on what I felt was the best all-around bike I've ever owned. However, while the '05 was great, the new '08 is truly a better bike!
I'll list what I feel has greatly improved and comment on each:
1. Braking - much improved over the older model years. These feel much more responsive and do not take away from the control of the bike. I tried a couple of near-emergency stops and was very impressed with the control and distance required to stop. Not as much brake dive either which brings me to....
2. Suspension - I used to keep the '05 rear shock on a solid 7. Granted, I haven't hit any hard corners (just 75 miles on my first day out) but the bike feels planted on the stock setting. I'll have a different opinion when I've scuffed the entire tire, broken in to at least 600 miles and am able to hit the corners with some aggression. The forks do not dive as bad as the '05. I'm not sure if they've either put in heavier weight oil or have they moved from a progressive to a solid spring? I do have the 1 kg Racetech kit on standby with 15W oil but I'll need to review the stock setup during these first 1k miles.
3. Transmission - Can you say smooth? The difference was immediate! Still the clunk into first gear but the rest was like butter! The clutch and gears flowed very natural and there were no issues with the bike either up or down through the gears for any of this initial ride! I'm very impressed with this newer model! Yamaha might say it's the same but after owning one of each, it just cannot be!
4. Throttle response - Again with SMOOTH! They really took care of the throttle bodies and the TPS with this bike. VERY MUCH IMPROVED! At no time did I encounter the jerky response of the throttle that was in the stock '05 model. On the old bike, I toyed a lot with the adjustments to get the bike to where I was comfortable but on the new bike, I had zero troubles from mile zero to 75 today. This is a very nice improvement.
5. Helmet lock! Need I say more?
6. Pillion footpegs - I had my wife jump on for a quick ride on the back before leaving the dealer. She said the '05 was NOT something she would ever ride more than a few miles on ever again. Well, she got on the '08 and after a quick tour, we stopped at her bike so we could head home. She said this was vastly improved and she was actually comfortable! She thought Yamaha put the pegs in a great location and had no trouble riding that way. She said she didn't think her opinion would change over a long ride either! But, she does have her own bike and hardly ever rides pillion. My daughter does though and she'll likely have the same opinion.
7. Fairing design - At least in regards to the hands... very nice design to deflect more wind around the grips instead of taking direct hits to the hands. I may not have to go find new gloves after all!
Now for some negative stuff....
1 (and only negative). The stock windshield is UBER CRAP! I got on I95 north and I thought my head was going to get ripped off! The windshield is the only thing Yamaha consistently cannot get right. This is no different than the '05 though which was also horrible. I think Yamaha is the sole reason Puig is in business!!! Time to start shopping for THIS mod!!!
For anyone with the older bike looking to upgrade, look no further than the FZ6! The '05 was great but the '08 just made it even better!
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
