- Joined
- May 6, 2014
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- Amoungst the Twisty Roads
About two years ago my son's best friend asked if I would help him find a first bike. I pointed him in the direction of the usual suspects (FZ6, SV650, EX650R) and he settled on an FZ6 not to far away. I went with him for the pre-purchase inspection, gave him my approval and rode the bike home for him. In the weeks following I taught him to ride and got him through the state road test.
A year ago my son's friend went into the Navy and he asked if I would like to buy his FZ6. I had exactly zero interest in the bike - it's a low budget starter bike after all - but I wanted to help him out so I gave him what he paid for it. Six months later I went to his house to collect the bike. I took the long way home, riding the bike on my favorite back roads for about an hour. I got off the bike and declared it to be the spookiest, most vague bike I'd had ridden in a long time. I put it in the garage and there it sat for the entire summer.
Over the course of the last few months I've been contemplating what to do with this lump. I was up for a small project so I ordered some Race Tech Emulators, 0.85kg fork springs, a Two Bros exhaust and some other odds and ends. I spent the last few weeks installing parts. Looking at the weather for the next few weeks I figured that I better get this bike out and determine whether I will keep it or sell it. So today was the day.
Well, today I had one of the most enjoyable rides I can remember in a long time. The front end of the bike was completely transformed. I've used RT Emulators 3 other times in the past, but I never remember getting this much compliance from the conversion. I set the valves at 3 turns, used 15w oil and set the level high at 130mm. The forks gave a nice ride and more importantly, great feed back. All of the dive is gone too.
The Two Bros exhaust has a nice tone. I put the baffles in to keep the noise in check and I think it all strikes the right balance for me.
This bike is a keeper. I'll try to get a few more rides in before the winter. When the snow comes I'll pull the wheels and spoon on some new rubber. I'll probably tear it down for complete maintenance too since I have no idea where it stands on anything.
I'm so glad I gave this bike a second chance and didn't write it off after my initial ride back in May. The bike has a nice comfortable riding position (I'd like the pegs a little lower) and decent wind protection from the factory windscreen. I think this will be my "go to" bike for a while.
A year ago my son's friend went into the Navy and he asked if I would like to buy his FZ6. I had exactly zero interest in the bike - it's a low budget starter bike after all - but I wanted to help him out so I gave him what he paid for it. Six months later I went to his house to collect the bike. I took the long way home, riding the bike on my favorite back roads for about an hour. I got off the bike and declared it to be the spookiest, most vague bike I'd had ridden in a long time. I put it in the garage and there it sat for the entire summer.
Over the course of the last few months I've been contemplating what to do with this lump. I was up for a small project so I ordered some Race Tech Emulators, 0.85kg fork springs, a Two Bros exhaust and some other odds and ends. I spent the last few weeks installing parts. Looking at the weather for the next few weeks I figured that I better get this bike out and determine whether I will keep it or sell it. So today was the day.
Well, today I had one of the most enjoyable rides I can remember in a long time. The front end of the bike was completely transformed. I've used RT Emulators 3 other times in the past, but I never remember getting this much compliance from the conversion. I set the valves at 3 turns, used 15w oil and set the level high at 130mm. The forks gave a nice ride and more importantly, great feed back. All of the dive is gone too.
The Two Bros exhaust has a nice tone. I put the baffles in to keep the noise in check and I think it all strikes the right balance for me.
This bike is a keeper. I'll try to get a few more rides in before the winter. When the snow comes I'll pull the wheels and spoon on some new rubber. I'll probably tear it down for complete maintenance too since I have no idea where it stands on anything.
I'm so glad I gave this bike a second chance and didn't write it off after my initial ride back in May. The bike has a nice comfortable riding position (I'd like the pegs a little lower) and decent wind protection from the factory windscreen. I think this will be my "go to" bike for a while.
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