FZ6 - Z1000 comparison

[CrazyBiker]

Originally Posted by PCHbreeze

Nice write-up.

I sold the R1 so I was considering that.

Get the FZ1 or the Z. You will get what you want from the R1 and the comfort of the FZ6. Infact get the FZ1 for better suspension and staying a Yamaha loyalist.

[PCHbreeze]

I'm considering the ugly FZ1 (hate their sv looking headlights), ugly ass Z1000, and there's two 919's that are for sale new @ $6500 & 6999. I was actually ready to buy a Speed Triple today but no salesman wanted to talk to me, so I figured negotiating with that dealership was out of the question. The other was closed. if the sv's had nakeds in the US or non-ugly headlights, i'd go for those. I would love to trade top end torque for mid range torque. its how i ride.

I don't know...the liter power was great but I'm getting old...I seriously feel it this year for some reason. God forbid, if I saw a killer deal on a cruiser, I'd probably buy it.

[CrazyBiker]

Buy the FZ1 used and get the naked kit for $800.

[metalrat]

Update?
How you like the Z1000 after a couple months?

[CrazyBiker]

Ohh yeahh, since I scratched the FZ1 from my list, the "Z" has moved to the top.

[metalrat]

Yup, me too.
I posted in the Z1000 forum asked about problems etc.

Some 03's had cracked frames... very, very few. Changed for the better in
04.

That was about it.

[CrazyBiker]

Yeahh the Z1000 is the best liter streetfighter that actually looks great from any quarter. The FZ1 headlights still look weird. They improved the Z suspension post 2007 otherwise all owners were ending up replacing the front and rear with ZX-6R and ZX10-R suspension and front wheel. Pretty much bolt on replacements unlike the adapters required for our R6 fork swap. I am just waiting for a good deal to show up on a used Z with all modifications already in place. The black Z looks hawt!!

[metalrat]

Tall flyscreen.
4 to 1 exhaust.
Handguards.
FE kit.

Enjoy.

[rg-one]

Funny, I actually prefer the look of the older style Z1000 better. Also interestingly, I just read a review of the new Z1000 where they took it to a track, and despite the "upgraded" suspension, they still thought the suspension was shite. Of course, these guys are trackday sportbike guys that did the article. They said it was vague as hell though, and the chassis felt like it was made of rubber.

YMMV of course. I still like the bike.

I am kind of thinking of the ZRX1200 lately myself.

[CrazyBiker]

Yeah, I saw the ZRX at my local mechanic - gorgeous bike will make a badass cafe racer

[killernoodle]

Nah, slap a turbo on that bitch and go rape some busas with some 80's muscle bike shite!

[awilbur77]

Originally Posted by metalrat

Update?
How you like the Z1000 after a couple months?

Funny you asked... I was just thinking of updating this thread.

As some of you may know, I thought about selling the Z1000 since it seemed to be getting me into trouble, and I was very unimpressed with the comfort / handling at first.

Now after a few months of riding and a couple thousand more miles, and a new set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires (plus a tire size change). I have much different opinions about this bike. The power is still "holy-shit amazing".

As for comfort, the bike is still not a all day tourer for sure... although I can ride for 200 miles without feeling like I am dying for a break and the tire size change helped with this alot.

When I bought my Z1000 used it had 190/55s on it (which we actually race takeoffs from a ZX-10. I switched to the stock size 190/50 when I put the Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires on it. This made a HUGE difference in comfort, seat height, handling, and my overall opinion of this bike. With the 190/55s the seat seemed to push my nuts right into the tank. With the 190/50 tire on the rear the bike sat a bit lower (good for me since I am only 5' 7'' tall). And it was slopped less forward as a result, thus the comfort was much better.

Now with the 190/50 vs. the 180/55 that is on the FZ6 you get less of a lean angle at extreme lean angles.... but it's really only noticable if you are grinding pegs off your FZ6 anyhow.

I would now say that I love my Z1000, and I have chilled out a bit on the bike and thus found myself having more fun and less worried about cops, dying in ever corner, etc. This is not to say that I don't ride this bike like it's meant to be ridden from time to time, I just choose my spots a bit wiser.

Next weekend, I am installing the heated grips on this baby so I can keep riding this winter. The wife's SV650 already has the heated grips, but I want to be able to ride the Zed all year long too.


My lesson learned: Never judge a bike until you put decent tires on it.

[CrazyBiker]

How are you going to ride it in the colorado snow? BTW, you know how much the dealers can go down on the msrp on this bike? What is the OTD ballpark? None of the dealers in Nashville keep this bike in stock - weird!

[metalrat]

Thanks for the update.

[rg-one]

Great update, thanks!