I wasn't planning on selling my FZ6 for a while. In fact, I was going to do a naked conversion and stick with that for a while, and eventually move up to the liter bikes. However, I stumbled upon two great deals: one excellent offer for my FZ6, and an opportunity to purchase one of three liter bikes for a great discount.
My brother is a mechanic and his boss is a huge motorcycle aficionado. His friend owns a small motorsports dealership that just acquired Honda as part of their sales fleet. They have always had Kawasaki and Yamaha in the past though. My brother was in the market for a new motorcycle (he has since purchased one as well!) so I went shopping with him and was told we would get a nice discount if one of us purchased a bike there, or an EXCELLENT deal if we BOTH purchased a bike there - the owner wanted to get his name out there.
So I test rode a 2013 FZ1, 2012 CB1000RA, and 2013 Z1000. I loved them all but only one fit the bill just right for me...
CB1000RA after the test ride.
I absolutely loved the looks but wasn't sure if I loved the feel. It is shorter than the FZ6 and FZ1 and my tailbone kept hitting the "bump" in the passenger seat. It is a very narrow bike though and I liked the way that felt. It had a very sensitive throttle input due to a nice even torque-band. A good thing for most people, but for me, it doesn't suit my riding style. I like a torque band near the top end so I can keep throttle inputs smoother in the lower end. The ABS was a huge selling point for me, but in the end decided it wasn't a deal "braker" to go with or without it.
I don't have pictures of the Z1000 because I forgot! I didn't like it much. Gorgeous bike (as they all are, really), but the seat forced me forward even when cruising slowly or sitting idly at a light. If I tried to slide back to give myself more space from the bars and my legs a little longer reach, it forced me forward inevitably. It felt somewhat cramped as well. I am 6 foot 3 at 210 pounds, so I like wider, bigger, longer bikes.
Ended up going with this beauty!
I've put 300km on it so far and I love it to death! During the test ride, I just had a huge smile on my face the entire time. Don't get me wrong, the other bikes did the same thing (that's what happens when you go from 90hp to 120-140), but this one just made me feel right... just right! The seat was as forgiving as the FZ6 - comfortable enough for a long trip, didn't force me forward or back. Throttle input was calm in the low end and hyperactive in the high end - yay! Looks to kill, especially since I could already visualize all the mods possible with it. Since bringing it home, I have already ordered all the mods I plan to do this summer. Over the coming winter I will probably do even more!
So if you are wondering what my brother purchased.. well, here is a picture of our happy little touring gang
Not bad, eh? Wait.. what's that on the far right? Hmm..
Yeah, it is.. it's a scooter! Can't believe your eyes, can you?
My brother's bosses ride. It is actually his wife's bike. He owns a Tiger 800XC which I will eventually have pictures of. He rides the scooter to work because he is lazy and doesn't like shifting. It's also cheaper.
My brother got the Kawasaki Versys 650 after trying literally dozens of bikes. He is even taller and bigger than I am, and was not comfortable or happy on pretty much anything out there except dirtbikes or dual-sports. The Versys is one of the biggest he tried out. He loves it so far. Actually he doesn't even have a license yet, but I have been coaching him and he is an excellent rider (just like I like to think I was when I began!). He is very safety oriented - in fact he has even more protective gear than I do, and I've been collecting gear for 3 years now.. this is his first day!! He doesn't speed, he doesn't do stupid stuff, so I think he will be fine with the 650, especially because it is not as sporty as the FZ6. I started on the FZ6 and I am a more aggressive driver than he is. So he will be fine!
So alas, my poor FZ6 is gone. It felt like the right time and place though because it sold for more than I paid for it almost 3 years ago. I teared up when the new owner towed her away. That's never happened before. It really goes without saying that bikes hold a much stronger bond between man and machine than anything else I have experienced. This is not good-bye, however, as the new owner is in the city and I will see him every so often. It's also not good-bye for me with this forum and all of you guys - this is the best community I've ever been a part of and I intend on sticking around! Definitely will have ride pictures in the future and will show all the mods as they come!
Thanks for watching, and thanks for the good times! I look forward to many more.
My brother is a mechanic and his boss is a huge motorcycle aficionado. His friend owns a small motorsports dealership that just acquired Honda as part of their sales fleet. They have always had Kawasaki and Yamaha in the past though. My brother was in the market for a new motorcycle (he has since purchased one as well!) so I went shopping with him and was told we would get a nice discount if one of us purchased a bike there, or an EXCELLENT deal if we BOTH purchased a bike there - the owner wanted to get his name out there.
So I test rode a 2013 FZ1, 2012 CB1000RA, and 2013 Z1000. I loved them all but only one fit the bill just right for me...
CB1000RA after the test ride.
I absolutely loved the looks but wasn't sure if I loved the feel. It is shorter than the FZ6 and FZ1 and my tailbone kept hitting the "bump" in the passenger seat. It is a very narrow bike though and I liked the way that felt. It had a very sensitive throttle input due to a nice even torque-band. A good thing for most people, but for me, it doesn't suit my riding style. I like a torque band near the top end so I can keep throttle inputs smoother in the lower end. The ABS was a huge selling point for me, but in the end decided it wasn't a deal "braker" to go with or without it.
I don't have pictures of the Z1000 because I forgot! I didn't like it much. Gorgeous bike (as they all are, really), but the seat forced me forward even when cruising slowly or sitting idly at a light. If I tried to slide back to give myself more space from the bars and my legs a little longer reach, it forced me forward inevitably. It felt somewhat cramped as well. I am 6 foot 3 at 210 pounds, so I like wider, bigger, longer bikes.
Ended up going with this beauty!
I've put 300km on it so far and I love it to death! During the test ride, I just had a huge smile on my face the entire time. Don't get me wrong, the other bikes did the same thing (that's what happens when you go from 90hp to 120-140), but this one just made me feel right... just right! The seat was as forgiving as the FZ6 - comfortable enough for a long trip, didn't force me forward or back. Throttle input was calm in the low end and hyperactive in the high end - yay! Looks to kill, especially since I could already visualize all the mods possible with it. Since bringing it home, I have already ordered all the mods I plan to do this summer. Over the coming winter I will probably do even more!
So if you are wondering what my brother purchased.. well, here is a picture of our happy little touring gang
Not bad, eh? Wait.. what's that on the far right? Hmm..
Yeah, it is.. it's a scooter! Can't believe your eyes, can you?
My brother's bosses ride. It is actually his wife's bike. He owns a Tiger 800XC which I will eventually have pictures of. He rides the scooter to work because he is lazy and doesn't like shifting. It's also cheaper.
My brother got the Kawasaki Versys 650 after trying literally dozens of bikes. He is even taller and bigger than I am, and was not comfortable or happy on pretty much anything out there except dirtbikes or dual-sports. The Versys is one of the biggest he tried out. He loves it so far. Actually he doesn't even have a license yet, but I have been coaching him and he is an excellent rider (just like I like to think I was when I began!). He is very safety oriented - in fact he has even more protective gear than I do, and I've been collecting gear for 3 years now.. this is his first day!! He doesn't speed, he doesn't do stupid stuff, so I think he will be fine with the 650, especially because it is not as sporty as the FZ6. I started on the FZ6 and I am a more aggressive driver than he is. So he will be fine!
So alas, my poor FZ6 is gone. It felt like the right time and place though because it sold for more than I paid for it almost 3 years ago. I teared up when the new owner towed her away. That's never happened before. It really goes without saying that bikes hold a much stronger bond between man and machine than anything else I have experienced. This is not good-bye, however, as the new owner is in the city and I will see him every so often. It's also not good-bye for me with this forum and all of you guys - this is the best community I've ever been a part of and I intend on sticking around! Definitely will have ride pictures in the future and will show all the mods as they come!
Thanks for watching, and thanks for the good times! I look forward to many more.
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