FZ6 v FZ1

[ecurb]

Looked at the FZ1, but never really considered it. In fact the FZ6 is the only bike I truly considered. I sat on one at a bike shop in 2005 and knew that if I ever did get another bike, that would be it. When I saw the 2007, I couldn't resist any longer.

1. Perfect size and power
2. Beautiful lines - attractive and effective faring
3. Under-seat exhaust

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Biggest and major decision over the two bikes for me was......Price, significantly cheaper difference of $3-$4,000 dollars. Exhaust....I prefer the undertail exhaust vs the side pipe.

 

[Red Wazp]

Looked long and hard at the FZ1 but I wanted a day play bike for the twisties and the track. To old to have sex with a turtle (sportbike). Liked the seating and undertail exhaust of the 6. I also figured if I worked on my riding technique I should be to keep up or even ride faster than the bigger bikes. Seems to be working out. I have a FJR for the big speed stuff which also surprises the sport bike guys.

 

[Whitey Dodge]

Between the current models available, I would get the FZ1.

At the time I bought the 04 FZ6, the FZ1 was a barbed bike and had a perimeter frame. That seemed too old school for me. I like the undertail exhaust and it was unique at the time. It still is in some ways.

 

[castle228]

I currently have an '07 FZ1 that's modded quite a bit. I love it. Average MPG is about 30 - 35 depending on how I feel like riding and whether I'm 2 up with the soon-to-be-wife.

She recently took the MSF class and is now wanting a bike...bad. She loves my bike, but doesn't want all the power.

So she's set on the FZ6 because less power and it fits her better.

Either way, she's going to be riding a Fizzer.....it's a great bike whether it's the 600 or 1000! :rockon:

 

[HavBlue]

When I purchased my FZ6 there were 3 things that sold me on the 600 that go over and beyond the aspects of costs associated with insurance and the bike itself. First was the fact the FZ6 was fuel injected where the FZ1 still had carbs at that time. Second was the new frame technology. A frame with not one weld just intrigued the hell out of me. Third was the look of the FZ6 as opposed to the common side muffler of the FZ1. About a year after I had purchased the FZ6 I had the opportunity to ride a 2004 FZ1 in Malibu Canyon. Make no mistake about it, the FZ1 is an awesome bike but I wouldn't trade my little 600 for one. At that time I had the 15T counter on my FZ6 so the low end was much better. The FZ6 25 degree fork angle as opposed to the 26 of the FZ1 makes a huge difference in the tip in to me. The torque of the FZ1 is great but that extra 30 pounds of bike weight is observable in tight twisties. To this day I still have a passion for the FZ6 and have never been sorry one bit for my choice.

 

[GConn]

FZ1 was never an option for me due to the cost. But what makes me feel that I made the correct choice, is that this bike has the perfect balance for every need of the average rider.

Looks are good, price is too good, nimble, reliable, powerful enough (as mentioned by others), good milage, big gas tank, comfortable on long distances & sellable model should you choose to move on.

I don't know if I left anything out but after 12000km I feel that I couldn't have made a better choice.

 

[Nelly]

For me the FZ1 was not an option, I felt that there were already a number of bikes in that market that did the job competently FJR 1300, 1200 Bandit. The FZ1 is all about motor marketing, the sensible guy gets to ride his R1 in comfort. The FZ1 was in my opinion an after thought to the 600.
For me I always wanted a 600. I didn't want a have a look at me I'm a GP racer in diguise kinda guy.
The FZ6 give you Ducati exclusivitey with reliability 6000 mile service intervals.
The FZ6 for me offered so many firsts.
The first cast (stressed) aluminium frame (art in itself)
The first high spec CPU engine managment.
The first street bike that did not compromise on handling but also delivered comfort.
The first 600cc that has set a totally new bench mark. Look at all the new crop of middle weight 600 coming out all FZ6 wanna be.
The FZ6 is Yamahas Bandit and the FZ1 is selling on some very respectible shirt tails.
Cagers actually ask me at lights what my bike is.
Best of all it has given me the oppertunity to share friendship and support from a truely unique forum, that IMO sums up the difference of a bike owner to a bike rider.

 

[Oranje]

1. I liked the look of the 6 better than the 1
2. The price makes it easier to modify (personalization is important to me)
3. Everyone wants a liter bike, I would rather have efficiency and an easier to handle (ie; lighter) bike
4. I appreciate the bigger gas tank of the 6
5. The 6 has to get better gas mileage than the 1
6. most people say that the 6 is just as quick as bigger bikes until mid-triple digits. I don't need/want anything that fast (it will just get me into trouble)
For my needs and wants, the FZ6 suited me better and I really think the FZ1 is overkill.

Same here-

 

[javahaxxor]

I didn't want an old worn out bike. I absolutely love the design of the FZ6-N S2. It had a perfect price point for me, and had the perfect balance of power and cost. 100 HP is more than enough. Sure, the literbikes will pass you on the straits, but you'll catch up in the corners, where the liter bike lovers just can't put the hammer down - and god knows, you can

I loved my FZ6 S2, and I rode it like I stolen it. Too bad I got too ****y and crashed in a chicane, and hit a tree. After 8 weeks of licking my wounds I got myself an FZ1-S. Had I found a good deal on a 2008 FZ1-S I would probably had chosen that before the FZ1, mainly because of the insurance costs - and frankly, also because 90% of the time I won't be using the extra 50 horsepower, but I'll always be carrying around that extra 26 kg

 

[Perfj]

I had a Suzuki SV650S for 3 years. Enjoying the V2 power and the sound, but the riding position was horrible for a grown up gentleman. Always hurting arm during the ride.
I chose the FZ6 because of
- the perfect upright riding position for me
- very easy handling in the city and on the highway
- the excellent and smooth engine
- sound of engine and the excaust under the seat

 

[Rumpole of the Bailey]

For me there have been 2 factors that have contributed to my opinion on the motorcycle I bought this year, the Yamaha FZ6S Fazer.

1. It is produced by Yamaha who also hold high regard as the current Moto GP title holder.

2. Unfortunately it is backed by Yamaha Motorcycle dealers who are not very well regulated by the company that manufacture the machines.

My FZ6S has exceeded my expectations about everything I wanted in a sportsbike. For me, at 6' 2" and 93kgs and being 51 years old it is the perfect machine. I wish I could say the same about the dealer network.

Rumpole

 

[nextfriday]

The fz6 is an incredible amout of bang for the buck. Who else offers the inline 4 powerplant in this riding configuration? No one i know of for the price. When i want 1000 cc's i'll buy an fz1. Yamaha fills this niche very nicely.

 

[Def]

I test rode an 06 FZ1 before buying my 06 FZ6. I found I wasn't mature enough to handle the raw power of the FZ1. I also found the FZ6 to have better ergos than the FZ1(More upright riding position and roomier) for the sport touring I wanted to do. I love the look of the FZ1,(& my FZ6) but, if I was to move up a notch or two, I would buy an FJR next time.

 

[champion221elite]

When I purchased my FZ6 in August of 2008 I did about a month's of research before stepping foot on the showroom floor.

I was coming from a Yamaha XT225 dual sport, and a Honda CL200 before that. I had roughly 6,000 miles of road experience between the two bikes, although I had no experience with the larger road going motorcycles.

At the time, a 500-600 cc bike was the next logical step between the 200 cc class and the 1000 cc machines. I never even considered anything over 650 cc's which put the FZ1 out of the running. My short list included the following bikes: FZ6, Ninja 650R, Ninja 500, and the GSXR650F.

I found the FZ6 to have the best build quality, most refined motor, and included features for the price. I love the sound of an Inline 4 motor screaming to the redline which pretty much ruled out the parallel twin Ninja bikes. I liked the undertail exhaust of the FZ6, fuel injection and ride quality of the FZ6 which explains why I bought it instead of the GSXR650F.

Now that I've owned my 2008 FZ6 for a little over a year, and 7,000 miles of riding, I can honestly say that I'm thrilled with my purchase. I've considered stepping up the FZ1, but I'm having too much fun on the FZ6. It's cheap to insure, gets good fuel mileage (40-42 mpg) and is more than fast enough for me. The FZ1 gets worse fuel economy, has a smaller tank, is more costly to insure, has a higher purchase price, and will undoubtedly be harder on tires.

Bottom line, I'm going to hang onto my FZ6 for a good long time! I'm probably going to add an aftermarket exhaust system next year and maybe even a HID/ projector to improve the lighting.

 

[Speedygonzales]

The FZ6 was cheaper ... :thumbup:

 

[SeekGod1st]

I just got a 2008 FZ6. I've been riding for 4 years now (on EX250), and I'm very happy with the performance, quality of build at it's price point.

* FZ6 already has best-in-class power, and the power of the FZ1 is far beyond my risk tolerance
* Larger gas tank / longer range
* Under-tail exhaust
* The FZ1 is unattractive - just down right fugly actually
* Initial price of the bike
* Lightweight / nimbleness: I spend a lot of time in traffic, and appreciate the flickability of the FZ6
* Recurring ownership costs (insurance, gas mileage, tire wear)
* I feel like I "fit" better on it




I'm curious, why wouldn't you want to portray us as exactly who each-and-every-one of us are? Sensible is an objective term anyway.

~J~

+1, that was exactly what I was going to say.

The only other thing I can add is it is extremely rider friendly.

1. Under hard acceleration it is plenty fast enough but the FZ6 won't get away from you like the FZ1.
2. Under hard decelleration she's easier to stop and since she doesn't accelerate as hard as the FZ1 she's easier to slow down.
3. Shifting up and down mistakes are easily disipated by the FZ6 that the more powerful FZ1 won't dismiss.

 

[mxgolf]

My best friend worked at Beaverton Honda Yamaha and suggested the FZ6. I originally was looking at the Suzuki GSXR but fell in love with the FZ6. I couldn't ask for a better motorcycle. I don't need a liter bike. I agree with most everybody's reasoning for buying the FZ6. Everybody comments on my bike all the time. :thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Ryan T]

Well, I did a fair amount of research and when it was all done the FZ6 was leading the pack. I looked at the Ninja 650, SV650, the FZ1, and the Honda 600. The main thing that steered me initially to the FZ6 was the price. It was quite reasonable compared to others (in relation to power and price). The FZ1 was just too expensive. I also didn't enjoy the riding position. Once I sit on all of them I knew then and there that the FZ6 was the bike for me.

As I said, the price was a leading factor. However, insurance, gas mileage, the look, and the fact that I had not seen one riding around in my area made the difference.

I've had my 2008 FZ6 for little over a year and I have 12,000 miles on it almost and I've enjoyed every single day of it.

Absolutely no regrets.

 

[Nelly]

Tank range.
Cost to purchase.
Cost to insure.
Looks.
Weight, I couldn't pick the FZ1 up when I dropped it.
Under seat exhaust is a big bonus, it doesn't get buggered when dropped.

The FZ6 gives me all I need at this time and probably for the near future. I am no where near to the point where I have explored its limits (or mine for that matter).
I do the like the MT01 very much though. Since the FZ6 has been replaced with a lesser bike (IMO) I would consider the FZ1.

Nelly:BLAA:

PS great post Steve.