Author Topic: know nowt about bikes but... (Read 5143 times)

frostman · « **on:** 04 July 2014, 12:56:29 am »

After my intro post i have since passed my big bike test and had already bought my fazer 1000 on advice of my instructor. My wife now thinks she lives alone as if its light and dry i am out like a big 41 year old kid. I trained on a 650 kwak which i thought had some go but the fazer is some other animal.

Yep i ride like a newby, call me mc chicken strip who cares, i am a slow rider as i have not got my confidence and after passing my test now i am starting to learn to ride a bike.
The bikes not lite but the slow speed handling its a doddle to manage, but when i open it up and i say open it up most of you would laugh at what i call opening up as i have yet to get past 6000 revs and to be honnest until i am happy i wont either, but the power is unreal, it doesn't dip and just keeps ruddy going, have done almost 2400 miles in 3 weeks mostly around the peninnes, and thats only after work lol but i cant simply stop wanting to ride the animal. Someone told me they are a wolf in sheeps clothing and by god they were right.

I never clean my car and have it valleted when needed but i have found myself washing and cleaning my bike on a regular basis and even looking for radiator grills, double bubble screens, beowolf exhaust whats the hells happening to me.

frostman

bri h · « **Reply #1 on:** 04 July 2014, 04:06:11 am »

Ha ha you've got the bike bug ok. Keep riding in your comfort zone and stay shiny side up and keep enjoying it.

slimwilly · « **Reply #2 on:** 04 July 2014, 06:13:35 am »

Well done,,enjoy it,,we spend most of the year waiting for dry roads..

the bike s are rocket ships,,hang on there,

So the wifes lonely,,,got and piccies,,close up photos ?

of the bike

Captain Haddock · « **Reply #3 on:** 04 July 2014, 07:48:00 am »

Quote

but the power is unreal, it doesn't dip and just keeps ruddy going,

Wait till you get it up to 11,000rpm, they just keep pulling all the way through, especially if ivanised.

Andy FZS · « **Reply #4 on:** 04 July 2014, 08:52:32 am »

Don't worry about riding with limits that you feel comfortable with, I passed my test 30+ years ago and still ride steady. You enjoy your bike doing what you want to do, I do.
Andy

Ravenscar · « **Reply #5 on:** 04 July 2014, 08:57:15 am »

Your instructor gave you good advice and you should buy him a beer!

Ravenscar · « **Reply #6 on:** 04 July 2014, 09:00:59 am »

Last time I use smilies here. It just cut off everything after the first sentence. I wrote a long post too... Boo! I start a new topic when I can spare the time. Just near Double R motorcycles in Leyton. I have to go in with my new rear shock and disc to get them fitted! TTFN.

ogri48 · « **Reply #7 on:** 04 July 2014, 09:01:38 am »

Hell of a tool for your first bike. Enjoy mate...

frostman · « **Reply #8 on:** 04 July 2014, 01:12:18 pm »

Thanks for the comments, pics of the wife eh .. why you got anything you want to scare .. god hope she don't read this. Only kidding mrs.

Yeah i think i have the bug, after a bottle of wine i tend to go in the garage and stair at the bike like some love sick teenager, and will simply enjoy my riding at my pace. Having the power there though allows me to overtake better i think less time on wrong side of the road is always good. Ivanised took me a while to suss what that was as local honda specialist is called ivan and i am thinking god he must be good to know how to get more out of a fazer, eventually i managed to find the post with the explanation. $:\$

For now though i will continue to nod at other riders and maybe one day i will introduce ivanising to my bike.

F

slimwilly · « **Reply #9 on:** 05 July 2014, 08:41:33 am »

of course it may of already been ivanised,,it would be easier if when bikes have been altered they are recorded or marked for easy idenification.

Captain Haddock · « **Reply #10 on:** 06 July 2014, 07:13:38 pm »

And have to admit it to the insurance co. I don't think so....

noggythenog · « **Reply #11 on:** 06 July 2014, 07:44:54 pm »

Frostman this is a great story......what a good post...you are honest and dont give a foc about the bravado and you're enjoying your first bike....whats not to like.

Ive been scared by my thou but I'm not afraid to open it up....but being a fat bastard i can perhaps hang on a bit easier with my mass holding me down on the seat and stopping my arms getting ripped off

.

But being smooth and progressive is the key......the key that i somehow lost recently and that has made riding less enjoyable so don't worry about speed....ride comfortably and over time that will happen to be at greater speeds without even realising it.

Captain Haddock · « **Reply #12 on:** 07 July 2014, 12:09:01 am »

Quote

Frostman this is a great story......what a good post...you are honest and dont give a foc about the bravado and you're enjoying your first bike....whats not to like.

I'll go along with that.

Quote

Ive been scared by my thou but I'm not afraid to open it up

I'll admit to that too but it is fun.

hightower · « **Reply #13 on:** 07 July 2014, 09:39:48 am »

Awesome, well done man!

When I picked up my FZS600 about a year ago (first big bike) my instructor (who sold me it too) said "Go steady, get used to it". Call me stupid but I stuck to the 30 limits, but as soon as I hit a 60 I just couldn't stop myself winding it on. Perhaps not my brightest move after just passing my test and buying a new bike, but the Fazer is an animal that I struggle to tame in terms of keeping the speed down. It just seems to cry "more, more, more, don't stop!"

Davebo · « **Reply #14 on:** 07 July 2014, 10:35:52 pm »

+1

I passed my DAS on a 600 and wanted one (XJ6). The instructor said 'You'll be bored in 6 months. Get a Fazer 8 or something.' Meaning something suitable for a salad-dodger.

Tested a Fazer Thou in a bike shop and just pootling around it was like a kitten then when you hit open road... Jaysuuuuus!!

Don't regret it for one second. Still not got it round the rev range and 'learning to lean'. I'm just happy being back on a bike and enjoying riding.

Happy bunny.

Captain Haddock · « **Reply #15 on:** 08 July 2014, 06:48:09 pm »

Forget the rad covers and stuff, go ivanised, R6 shocked, and multiguage first for toys, I'd recomend all three mods.

Andy FZS · « **Reply #16 on:** 08 July 2014, 10:58:58 pm »

2 down and multi gauge in the post for a full house.

unfazed · « **Reply #17 on:** 09 July 2014, 08:02:52 am »

Frostman, you have been bitten by the bike bug and have become infected.

The bad news is, there is no known cure.

Welcome to the fold

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #18 on:** 09 July 2014, 11:09:45 am »

Quote from: unfazed on 09 July 2014, 08:02:52 am

Frostman, you have been bitten by the bike bug and have become infected.
The bad news is, there is no known cure.
Welcome to the fold

The other bad news is, your wallet and license will now go into meltdown

Another happy Fazerer - enjoy and stay within your own limits - s'all good

frostman · « **Reply #19 on:** 13 July 2014, 10:24:10 pm »

Thanks for the posts. I think Ivanise is something you do when the excitement of the brute force power that the fazer already has starts to wear off, for me to do that now would probably end up with me giving the bike up to be honnest as i am yet to get the thing properly over 6000 revs without feeling nervous. I am getting a little more confidence then i braked a little hard coming to a stop and felt the front tyre slide a little on some crappy ground i was going less than 5mp - foot out and it stopped a problem from happening but my leg muscles are telling me to take care.It was my fault all the way and i am kicking myself for the schoolboy error but in many ways after only 4 weeks of being licenced i am still a schoolboy. For now and probably for years to come i am going to stick with the title of novice on a big bike and i feel happy with that.

Over the penines the other night i had a free road and opened it up wow a whopping 70mph i have been to this speed before and it sort of feels comfortable but i have come to the conclusion i need to get my head behind the screen otherwise i will probably float away at some point with the bike as i feel like a parachute. Being 6ft 3 with a 54inch chest dont help with the parachute effect.

I think my time driving cars and probably dodgems expects me at some point to dominate the bike and be able to ride it at its max. What is clearly apparent is that i will never dominate this bike in any way its got the ability to give me a good spanking. What i find a buzz and it may sound sad but getting away at the lights i dont need to break the speed limit but its ruddy good at leaving the rest of the traffic well behind its not a boy racer feeling its the buzz of enjoying the power and yet i still have not really experienced its true power only just tickled it. The power is one thing but i think the comfort is good having been out for 4 hours i get no wrist, knee or ankle ache not to mention a lack of a numb arse i could probably ride it all day without feeling discomfort.

The sad part of me came out to play yesterday the cover plate which goes over the exup pully had a brocken stud left in it, i have been told by another fazer owner to keep this pully cables lubed and make sure i copper greese the screws as they tend to seize up. So out came the exup valve and plate and stud was extracted i even ordered the correct set of screws from yamaha lol

i was ever an anorak but since i got this bike ......

f

gixersix · « **Reply #20 on:** 14 July 2014, 01:30:57 am »

Until October last year, I was more than happy with my SRAD600 and GPz550 and had never been over 140mph under my own steam - thats more than fast enough, thanks. And I've been riding for 35 years now.
I love the SRAD - it's brilliant on A and B roads, it's taken me fully loaded to 3 TT's and several trackdays (the most fun you can have with your clothes on) and I never thought I'd need any more power than the 600 has.
However, after a degenerative spinal problem, the Gixer's riding position was killing me at town speeds and our thrice-yearly charity runs around the city at 25mph left me feeling crippled for days. I'd have to be doing 70-80mph before the windblast took the strain off my shoulder and hand.
So, when some accident compo got paid out to me last September, there was only one option for what will probably be the last bike I ever buy - the one I'd wanted since seeing it launched at the NEC bike show, some 14 years ago. Yes, I've seen more desirable bikes since, but are any of them as much of an all round real world performer?
Managed to score myself an '04 plate with only 8,500 on the clock - lovely - although I had to go over to Norwich twice (round trip of 320 miles) to see it, then pick it up.
I've ridden the SRAD once since getting the Fazer!

I love the Fazer, but I also realise it's far from perfect and here are a few of my observations.
1.) completely upright riding position - my only discomfort comes from the seat although that's after 6 hours in the saddle.
When I first rode it home, my arse was numb after only 2 hours so I must be getting used to it (Seat is next on the mod-list anyway.)
Riding position gives you sooo much more visibility than a sportbike anyway.....
2.) Oh, the power

To be honest, the Fazer only has about 30% more than my Gixer, but it's more the effortless way it delivers it. That said, cold and low-rev running weren't good. The engine seems to hunt and surge even on small throttle openings, not good for low speed riding.
3.) It wasn't long before I was looking into Ivanising, and (here's an admission) I'd never had it over 8000rpm when it was Ivanised. (However, it WAS dynoed - the results of which will be on here soon) Whilst I have had the full Monty, I've only had the bike up to 140mph twice - thats NOT why I did it. Even if you never go over 8000 rpm, have the Ivan's Slip-on kit fitted. I just cannot tell you how much better the throttle response and drive are; the throttle delivery is definitely more linear - what you twist is what you get - no fluffiness, stuttering or hesitating - it just goes and it's controllable. I went for the full monty because, as I said, this is probably my last bike, it was a long term purchase, and I DO expect to get used to the power. Eventually.
Ask anyone who's had the Ivan's kit. It's worth every penny.
4.) The Full Monty requires a race can to make the most of the high-rev flow, however I'm lucky in that SRAD's and Fazer Thou's both share 60mm outlet diameter pipes and I already had a few cans for my SRAD..
I found a BOS stainless link pipe for the Fazer (£25 new FleaBay) drew up a SRAD 3-bolt flange on CAD; had this laser-cut from SS plate, then TIG welded to the link pipe (another £25) . Now I can use my SRAD cans on the Fazer starting with a nice Leo Vince SBK race can (with aftermarket baffle - although I run without the baffle and the Ivans kit allows me to burble through town at low revs, so as not to draw attention from the filth.)
5.) Rear shock is shite - unless you're 9 stone dripping wet, the rear shock is useless. It's too softly sprung. God forbid, you try to go two up with it - when I have, the exhaust clipped two notches out of the swingarm - thats how far it was travelling. NOT good.
I have a DevilsYam R6 shock ready to go on. Again, highly recommended by everyone who has one. If you decide to source your own shock, just make sure you get the right year.
6.) Forks too soft at start of travel - or maybe the brakes just bite too sharp for me!! I'm normally pretty good at low speed manoeuvring, but I do notice that whilst leaning into slow u-turns, the front fork dives too suddenly on the front brake, enough to unsettle your balance. I'm aware it does it now, but it nearly caught me out a few times.
7.) The OE Metzeler MEZ4's are shite.
They were slagged off in the bike press when the bike was launched, I can't believe that Yamaha were still fitting them 4 years later,
Mine still had the dreaded MEZ4's on at 8,500 miles, however the rear was so badly squared off, the bike steered like a barge and wet grip was non-existent.
The previous owner must have never leaned the bike over!
I had a pair of T30's fitted, and I had the yokes dropped down the forks by 10mm. NOW it steers properly. I'm told I can drop them another 4mm, but I think I'm happy with it after 1,000 miles like this
8.) Standard screen is too short; MRA touring screen wasn't as tall as expected and didn't give me the "still air" I was hoping for, but it IS better.
I do wish now that I'd put the money towards one of the MRA adjustable screens now though, so I could have a play and find the right height. Apparently, different people = different screens.
9.) My first pillion passenger complained that the grab rails are no good and strain the arms. I'm not ready for full Givi hard luggage, which doesn't have a grabrail anyway, but I needed luggage capacity for the TT, so some Amazon gift vouchers went towards a new Renntec rack. The Renntec has a good ol' fashioned integral hands-behind your ass grabrail which the pillions prefer as you can push and pull without developing new muscles.

However, with Ivan's, screen, rack, DevilsYam shock, exhaust work, R&G crash protectors, and the T30's I've now spent over a grand on top of the purchase price.

And that's another grand I didn't have to spend! I know not everyone will need all that kit but I see it all as vital if the bike is used, and not just posed.

But guess what? I don't begrudge a penny - especially for Mike's Ivan's installation

frostman · « **Reply #21 on:** 15 July 2014, 11:47:30 am »

Thanks gixersix

As I said I am more a less a novice on bikes but reading your observations I have presumed some of my amateur riding is the cause of the issue and it looks as if now this is not the case. Your point with regards to cold and low rev running I thought it was me, it is clunky and snatchy at walking pace especially when cold.

I keep hearing about the rear shock I am 19 stone is this why it feels a bit slippy sometimes even though the tyre pressures are right, or is this because I am imagining it due to lack of experience.

I defiantly agree about the front forks the brakes are far more powerful than the bike can handle and too much front to the experience of my aching leg can cause all sorts of problems I learned the hard way on that one.

Being a big lad screen Is only could for protecting my meat and two veg as everywhere else gets the hairdryer looking at a double bubble screen to resolve this.

f