AlanB
Junior Member
With all the upgrading and talk of upgrading going on around here, I finally got serious about investigating a new bike. The most likely upgrade for me would be a VFR mostly becasue it fits me better than the FZ1. Actually, my FZ6 with its customized-for-my-butt seat fits me better than the FZ1. So I check Craigslist and lo and behold, there's an '02 with only 6k miles on it not 10 miles from my house. Asking price: $4900. I've read there are some issues with '02s, but setting those aside, I thought I could probably get around $4k (maybe a bit more) for my '07 with 9k miles and about $1,000 in mods. For a grand out of pocket, it could be mine!
Then I thought: Plus tax and registration - another $500. Plus more insurance. Plus more expensive gas and less gas mileage. Plus more maintenance (the valves are pretty pricey from what I've read). Plus whatever mods I end up doing to the VFR. All to get a bike 5 years older than mine, which I will ride only about 4,000 miles a year. Not to mention mine was bought new and dealer maintained. No mechanical issues at all. Fits like a glove. Cheap to own and run. I have yet to max out performance and probably never will. At that point, I'm upgrading just to upgrade. It makes no logical sense at all.
Part of the "problem" with the FZ6 is that it is so dang good for the money, it makes it hard to spend what amounts to a lot more for something a little better. I follow what I call the 90/70 principal and it applies to most everything. Cars, stereos, TVs, cell phones....even motorcycles. It means that you can get 90% of the quality for about 70% of the cost if you really shop around. Sure "the best" (100%) is out there, but you can get real close (90%) for only about 70% of the price. I'm all about that.
As for my FZ6, it ain't broke, so I'm not going to fix it. (I may, however, throw some scorps on some time this year)
Sorry for the long post, but I had to get it off my chest. :thumbup:
Then I thought: Plus tax and registration - another $500. Plus more insurance. Plus more expensive gas and less gas mileage. Plus more maintenance (the valves are pretty pricey from what I've read). Plus whatever mods I end up doing to the VFR. All to get a bike 5 years older than mine, which I will ride only about 4,000 miles a year. Not to mention mine was bought new and dealer maintained. No mechanical issues at all. Fits like a glove. Cheap to own and run. I have yet to max out performance and probably never will. At that point, I'm upgrading just to upgrade. It makes no logical sense at all.
Part of the "problem" with the FZ6 is that it is so dang good for the money, it makes it hard to spend what amounts to a lot more for something a little better. I follow what I call the 90/70 principal and it applies to most everything. Cars, stereos, TVs, cell phones....even motorcycles. It means that you can get 90% of the quality for about 70% of the cost if you really shop around. Sure "the best" (100%) is out there, but you can get real close (90%) for only about 70% of the price. I'm all about that.
As for my FZ6, it ain't broke, so I'm not going to fix it. (I may, however, throw some scorps on some time this year)
Sorry for the long post, but I had to get it off my chest. :thumbup: