YAMAHA FZS600- and touring Europe?

[Bikernereid]

Heading off for a little trip round Europe in June (including the Alps) and am going to look at buying a Fazer this weekend. Just wondered if anyone has got one, previouly owned one and what their thoughts about bike and riding 2up.

Especially interested in whether you have taken a pillion, what they thought and how this bike is as I was in a car crash a while ago and have weakened my pelvis so need to be on a bike that is pillion friendly & comfy. Ta.

[howdamnhard]

Haven't got one but wouldn't mind one.Google MCN to see what they have to say about them.The 600cc Thundercat is supposed to be good to.



Heading off for a little trip round Europe in June (including the Alps) and am going to look at buying a Fazer this weekend. Just wondered if anyone has got one, previouly owned one and what their thoughts about bike and riding 2up.

Especially interested in whether you have taken a pillion, what they thought and how this bike is as I was in a car crash a while ago and have weakened my pelvis so need to be on a bike that is pillion friendly & comfy. Ta.

[Bikernereid]

Haven't got one but wouldn't mind one.Google MCN to see what they have to say about them.The 600cc Thundercat is supposed to be good to.

Thanks. Checking out as many opinions as possible but still hoping some peeps on here may be able help. None of my mates have had one.

[Crazy Steve]

Heading off for a little trip round Europe in June (including the Alps) and am going to look at buying a Fazer this weekend. Just wondered if anyone has got one, previouly owned one and what their thoughts about bike and riding 2up.

Especially interested in whether you have taken a pillion, what they thought and how this bike is as I was in a car crash a while ago and have weakened my pelvis so need to be on a bike that is pillion friendly & comfy. Ta.

Buy a car Sweetie......Women lack the ness skill to handle a Motorcycle..

You and other people on the rode will be safer..:2thumbsup

Crazy Steve...

[Bikernereid]

Not that bright are you!! I would have thought that even the most stupid of moron would have realised that I wont be riding it as I am asking about pillion comfort.

Also if you understand anything about Europe you would realise how much cheaper, easier and more fun it is to do on a bike than in a car!!


Buy a car Sweetie......Women lack the ness skill to handle a Motorcycle..

You and other people on the rode will be safer..:2thumbsup

Crazy Steve...

[jonbuoy]

Wouldn't you be better off and more comfortable buying an older litre mile muncher FJ/ZZR?

[owner]

Wouldn't you be better off and more comfortable buying an older litre mile muncher FJ/ZZR?

He has a point, but there just dosent seem to be many of those around over there in our price range.
go pillion on one babe your opinion is the only one that really matters,
I have never riden a whale of a bike (ZZR/Blackbird) and know nothing of touring I like the FJ's though. We will get a comfy pack rack and a big old cushy seat for ya love dont worry about that

[jonbuoy]

I say that because I've been looking around for something similar as I'm heading that way myself. Seen a few on Ebay and Bike trader for around 1K-2K quid - theres an FJ with FSH 50,000 miles on Ebay for 1200 now.
You'll be sitting all day at 130KPH+ two up with all your luggage not sure a Fazer 600 would be my first choice.

[owner]

I say that because I've been looking around for something similar as I'm heading that way myself. Seen a few on Ebay and Bike trader for around 1K-2K quid - theres an FJ with FSH 50,000 miles on Ebay for 1200 now.
You'll be sitting all day at 130KPH+ two up with all your luggage not sure a Fazer 600 would be my first choice.

Cool as when are you heading over holiday?working? where will you be based
that bike trader is mint
50000 yikes thats alot. we have about 2500-3000 to spend. the 600 we were looking at has 7000 miles on it 04. luggage rack and new rubber
I know a thou would be mint but Im not sure what the insurance cost difference would be.
I see there is a fazer thou in honda bourneworth 2999 we should check out. it has 29000miles 50000kms
Id be happy with a older high km big bike if I knew the history or felt I could trust the last major owner, I definetly dont want any mechanical issues what so ever.

How many km would you get out of serviced 01 fazer thou? I dont trust people enough to believe a bike has been serviced
I have never riden big bikes, 600 2up are fast enough for me. the only advantage I can see is less gear changes=more comfortable, would it really be more economical?

[fazer]

600 Fazer should be ok, a better option would be an older Fazer1000 (pre 05 model). Very comfy for pillion as well as rider, and a decent size tank. I got an average 53mpg touring round France a few years back.

[jrandom]

I have never riden a whale of a bike (ZZR/Blackbird)...

You're welcome to take Betty out for a ride if you want to sample a whale.

Comfort's the only real advantage to a big bike, but it's not an insignificant one. Then again, yous fullas is a well 'ard pair, aye, so perhaps it's all relative.

:cool:

Big bikes will give you worse fuel economy, though. Sometimes. Depending on how you ride. I get 7.5km/L out of Betty at trackdays.

:crazy:

[DMNTD]

600 Fazer should be ok, a better option would be an older Fazer1000 (pre 05 model). Very comfy for pillion as well as rider, and a decent size tank. I got an average 53mpg touring round France a few years back.

+1...2 up and with luggage is not ideal when on a 600cc although you 2 would be fine none the less.
I vote for a mile muncher(whatever brand)...effortless riding is always better when covering a longer distance.

Mr Owner...despite not riding a "whale" previously,you'd be surprised how easy they are to ride!

[Bikernereid]

Thanks you guys. Time is of the essence though, with it rapidly approaching summer every Tom, Dick and Lily is looking for a bike. They get snapped up real quick and the prices go through the roof the closer to summer it gets.

Going to take one out tomorrow and I trust Bosch 150%, so between us we should have a good idea how it handles and how is is going to be for boney ol me. Would be better if Shane could ride it but under the circumstances I have to make the best of the situation.

[Bikernereid]

Thanks I think!! Well ard, moi are you kidding!!


You're welcome to take Betty out for a ride if you want to sample a whale.

Comfort's the only real advantage to a big bike, but it's not an insignificant one. Then again, yous fullas is a well 'ard pair, aye, so perhaps it's all relative.

:cool:

Big bikes will give you worse fuel economy, though. Sometimes. Depending on how you ride. I get 7.5km/L out of Betty at trackdays.

:crazy:

[jrandom]

Well ard, moi are you kidding!!

You ain't as soft as some.

[gsp0702]

I used to have a 600 FZS Fazer when i was in the UK, good bike handled well, wa comfy and reasonable weather protection. However budget bike with a rear mono shock that would need replacing at 20-30k, And bearing in mind the age and they were popular as commuters most will be well used. The later FZ6's have a peaky engine (R6 rather than Thundercat) and for that sort of bike not always what you want, and the hornet and Kwaka Z750 seem to win out on tests on these later models. Also check out the fazer owners website.

http://foc-u.co.uk/new/news.php

Also as an alternative might want to look at the big trail bikes ie Tiger 900, Africa Twin, Caponord, V-Strom, etc, Comfy two up. Or for a strong six hundred tourer look at the ZZR600 produced up until a year or so ago in the uk.


Cheers

Andy

[Bikernereid]

Went on Tiger to northern France and found it quite uncomfortable, to be honest preferred being on the back mates Moto Guzzi.

The bike I am looking at has been a fair weather bike as it only has about 8000 miles on the clock and is 4 years old. The guy seems really anal about it getting dirty when I take it out tomorrow which for me is a good sign that he takes care of his bikes.

We will only have it until about Feb 2009 so shouldn't have to worry too much about rear mono shock. I have been checking out reviews and they all seem very favourable and friend who have riden them have good things to say so we shall see tomorrow how it goes.


I used to have a 600 FZS Fazer when i was in the UK, good bike handled well, wa comfy and reasonable weather protection. However budget bike with a rear mono shock that would need replacing at 20-30k, And bearing in mind the age and they were popular as commuters most will be well used. The later FZ6's have a peaky engine (R6 rather than Thundercat) and for that sort of bike not always what you want, and the hornet and Kwaka Z750 seem to win out on tests on these later models. Also check out the fazer owners website.

http://foc-u.co.uk/new/news.php

Also as an alternative might want to look at the big trail bikes ie Tiger 900, Africa Twin, Caponord, V-Strom, etc, Comfy two up. Or for a strong six hundred tourer look at the ZZR600 produced up until a year or so ago in the uk.


Cheers

Andy

[jonbuoy]

Cool as when are you heading over holiday?working? where will you be based
that bike trader is mint
50000 yikes thats alot. we have about 2500-3000 to spend. the 600 we were looking at has 7000 miles on it 04. luggage rack and new rubber
I know a thou would be mint but Im not sure what the insurance cost difference would be.
I see there is a fazer thou in honda bourneworth 2999 we should check out. it has 29000miles 50000kms
Id be happy with a older high km big bike if I knew the history or felt I could trust the last major owner, I definetly dont want any mechanical issues what so ever.

How many km would you get out of serviced 01 fazer thou? I dont trust people enough to believe a bike has been serviced
I have never riden big bikes, 600 2up are fast enough for me. the only advantage I can see is less gear changes=more comfortable, would it really be more economical?

Hi - I'm working in Spain but shipping my cafe back to my parents place I'll be back there for holidays and long weekends. I'm thinking of going for a ZZR1100 I've always wanted one - 175MPH top speed ain't bad for an old whale :Punk: .
I've seen them go for around the money you have with panniers too. If they advertise as FSH they normally have the book or a stack of receipts to prove it. I don't know much about the FJ's but I hear they can rack up some astronomical mileages. A breakdown would spoil your holiday. I've never been able to make up my mind if its better to go for something with high k's but well looked after, or something only dusted off and used a few times a year. Whatever you choose you'll have fun.

[owner]

600 it is and here it is
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/5239/mediaxw7.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a><br/><a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1069/mediabor0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a><br/><a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/3821/mediabbom5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a><br/>

not to worried about top speed 140-150 should be heaps i just hope it does good jumps

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/3774/43390jl9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a><br/>

[skidMark]

Not that bright are you!! I would have thought that even the most stupid of moron would have realised that I wont be riding it as I am asking about pillion comfort.

Also if you understand anything about Europe you would realise how much cheaper, easier and more fun it is to do on a bike than in a car!!

He doesn't crazy steve is an idiot...

...like me. :2guns:

[Bikernereid]

We shall see about the jumps!!

not to worried about top speed 140-150 should be heaps i just hope it does good jumps

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/3774/43390jl9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a><br/>[/QUOTE]

[owner]

Ok, so we need to take three weeks worth of stuff around europe how the hell do we fit it all on the bike? any ideas ?

givi quote 700 pounds ouch

[vega]

HI

I am really interested in your trip. I have just started riding and am absolutely hooked. I am planning to ride through Europe next year. Please give me some advice on the best way to get started. Are you heading over and buying your bike there? What is the best size bike? Any advice appreciated.

Cheers Vega

[owner]

Well we did it KB! 5500kms in 16 days over 7 countries on a FZ6
We had an awesome time it rained ALOT which is weird for Europe in June but shit happens. We did some amazing roads and speeds 2up.

Our little FAZER6 did the trick. The only gripe was the wind If we were to do it again we will get a taller screen.
Because of the riding position you actually sit higher than the screen which is great for around town, as cars can see you and you can see over cars,
But on the hiway in high winds it kinda sucked being beat'n up by the wind.
Highlights ....there were to many get over here and see for yourself you lazy gits:2guns::2guns: One of them was this road http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lpkarzx0-aY
and also doing the tourist thing... missing the exit on the Mway by a km and just turning around going back the wrong way on a 6 lane Mway at 100km+

[owner]

ten charsbbbb

[owner]

The size of the cray I caught in Barcelona!

[Bikernereid]

Just some pics of the varying weather and scenery from the Italian n Swiss Alps

[_Gina_]

Good stuff guys :D

Glad to see you two are having fun and living it up..

Gina