100,000 miles on a Fazer 1000. The truth.

[AyJay]

I first came across the Fazer 1000 when I read the launch test in BIKE magazine. It wasn't given the greatest write up as they seemed to be expecting something more agressive like the current  Aprilia Tuono so I wasn't that interested in it being convinced that I needed a fairing to hide behind.

I first saw one in the flesh on St Albans' Hatfield Road and thought it looked pretty smart. At the time I had a Kawasaki ZX9 and the Fazer looked big and unsporty, but I loved that engine glinting in the sun and looking not unlike the CBX 6.

A year later, I was in Moore's motorcycles and just for the hell of it, I bagged a test ride on a black one. I'd become pretty fed up with the ZX9 over a couple of years and 30,000 miles because although fun when thrashed, the engine was a peaky nightmare and riding position was dreadful and it was the riding position of the Fazer that I wanted to experience.

What can I say. It blew me away. Here was a bike that was comfortable, fast, torquey and although a fair bit heavier than the ZX9, handled pretty well. And even without a fairing, there's wasn't much more windblast than the ZX. So I bought it on the spot.

Who'd have thought I'd still own it 12 years and 100,000 miles later. Why? Because nothing has yet beaten it for what it is and what it can do. Here's the full history.

2500 Bought second hand from Moore’s Motorcycles, St Albans. 2nd gear occasionally doesn't go home, but it's just like most Honda's in that respect.
4000 Scottoiler and Digital Gear indicator installed
5000 Engine occasionally shuts down for no reason. TPS is adjusted, never happens again
18000 My Fazer is featured in MCN
24000 Full service
24000 First Alpine trip. So much better than a ZX9 for touring.
30000 New chain and sprockets
35600 Cadwell Park trackday. First sign of 2nd gear trouble as it leaps out of gear and re-engages with almighty bang.
44000 Full service including valve check. Still jumping out of 2nd.
45000 Rear end is squatting and wallowing chasing a GSX-R. Something must be done. Buy an Ohlins rear shock and front springs and it's like a new bike. Expensive. Mandatory for a Fazer thou!
45000 Mallory Park trackday. Laps half the fast group in 10 laps (really. It did!). Still jumping out of 2nd
46000 Mirror snaps off. Fixed with a nut and screw
49000 Brands Hatch trackday. Getting faster. Jumping out of gear getting ever worse
57000 2nd gear goes west. on the day I lose my job. Oh smashing. Broken bike and no money. But at least it gives me time to fix it. I take the sump off and 2nd gear is stripped of teeth for a third of its circumference. It isn't as simple as a broken dog. Lot's of metal all over the place. Replace entire engine unit with £600 second hand unit from breakers in Aberdeen. It takes a week, but it's a great feeling when it starts again for the first time.
61000 Fork seals blow
62000 Forks pitted. Rechromed by Philpotts in Luton
63000 Find the FOCCers forum. What's this Ivan bloke. What? £110 for more power? Bought a kit and Ivanised it myself in 2 hours. And it's a new machine yet again.
65000 Battery replaced
67000 New chain and sprockets
70000 Radiator goes west. Replaced with 2nd hand from breakers
75000 Seat has split near the tank. Find a cheap one in East Germany on eBay
77000 Givi screen bought. Wish I’d bought it 70000 miles ago
78000 Swivelling bike on centrestand is not good. Breaks in half. Replaced with 2nd hand from breakers
78000 Second Alpine trip.
81000 Battery replaced
82000 Third trip to the Alps, France, Germany, Italy, Austria etc.  7 Countries, 900 miles in 18 hours and a police chase on the way home.
84000 EXUP valve now so rattly it’s annoying. Still operating perfectly, though. All allen bolts sheer whilst looking at them, they're so rotten. £45 second hand downpipes and £12 silencer purchased and fitted. Must get the old one refurbed
90000 Miles! Wow. This old girl is still going!!! Can I get it to 100,000?
91500 Fork seals blow.
92000 And blow again. NS Front fork seal replaced. Round off allen socket in fork base.
94000 Pull throttle cable snaps on the way home. In the dark. And rain.
99700 Rear caliper pins have now worn the locating holes oval. Buy  2nd hand from breakers
100000! It hit 99999 in the last 100 yards to work, so I go out at lunchtime and clock up that last mile. While I take a few photos of the moment, I feel quite emotional.

And it continues
101400 New Air filter
102000 EXUP pull cable snapped. Replaced with Wemoto 'Slinky Glide' pattern part
110,997 Flew through it's 9th MOT. Gave it an oil change as a reward.

So that's the truth about my Fazer ownership. All maintenance before the the gearbox crunched itself to death was done by dealers (Moore's Motorcycles and Flitwick Motorcycles, thank you!) and everything since has been done by me, and that's one of the great things about Fazer ownership, they're very easy to work on.

However, I feel pretty guilty because although oil, filters, pads, carb balancing, TPS, suspension  etc have been maintained at the recommended intervals, I still haven't check the shims in over 43,000 miles. Thing is, I never thought I'd still have it 5 years later, and I'm ashamed to say that I never considered it to be worth much after the new engine went in, so I couldn't see the point of booking it in for £500 service. I presume they must have been checked at some time, but it still goes like a rocket. This is also why this post is called The Truth. It's a guilty truth that I haven't treated it well.

I'm fairly sure the 2nd gear problem was there from new and it's a shame those 100,000 miles haven't been on the one unit, but I'm amazed that things like the discs are still well within service limits, the suspension linkages are still like new, the electrics and alarm are fine and so on. It's pretty scratched and 12 winters have knocked seven colours out of the finish on the engine, but it really is a remarkable bike and I'd happily take mine round the world even at this age.

I'd ride knowing that it would be comfortable, fast, economical and perfectly able to cope with anything I wanted to do with it, be it track day, commute or tour, and I'd ride knowing that I could fix it if it broke down and with the knowledge that this is the greatest bike ever built.

Happy 100th Birthday, my lovely old Fazer.

[Tilts]

what an excellent post, really enjoyed reading that.

Thanks.

[steeeve66]

Fabulous!

[redrat]

great read

[wezdavo]

brilliant write up

[FazerRuss]

Being a soon to be fazer owner, that is so encouraging!


Where abouts are you? I reckon I could get that shine back to the bodywork for you (free).

[AyJay]

Thanks everyone. It's been emotional!


FazerRuss, I think I was unlucky with the 2nd gear problem and even though R1s seem to suffer from it as well, it shouldn't put you off.


I am staggered at how good it's been over the years, and how reliable it's been. I just love riding it, more than any other bike.

[rjd1]

excellent
give it a wee treat
wee bit o tlc
hope mine makes it to that milestone another 70k to go lol

[Bracechenko]

what an excellent post, really enjoyed reading that.

Thanks.

[FazerRuss]

@ Aj - sorry,  it wasn't meant to sound sarcastic,  honestly I find it encouraging to know they're pretty reliable!

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk 2

[Falcon 269]

With most bikes you own them.  I think with a Fazer 1000 you enter into something more than that.  Yeah, daft - it's just a collection of metal, plastic and rubber bits - but I've had mine for more than a decade and it's been special.

Nice story, AyJay.

[Dave48]

I wonder how many owners of new bikes with all the electronic gizmos will be writing along similar lines in 12 years time! Ican see bikes becoming more "sophisticated " to the point where they will become too expensive to repair should anything fail-just like cages in some ways.
As you say you could cheerfully set off on a round the world trip knowing that most things that could go wrong can be fixed . I wonder what the designers of the FZS 1000 thought the "lifespan" of the bike was likely to be!
Well done and keep on riding

[baggy]

Excellent post mate, there seems to be so many riders that wouldn't buy a bike with  more than 20k on the clock because they see out as high mileage.

Your post shows otherwise and make me want to see how many years and miles I can get out of mine 

[Tilts]

as some of you already know, Portboy and I picked a reck up this weekend, 65000 miles on it, and pulled harder than my 05 with just 21000 on the clock, Portboy also commented on how well the bike is designed, put together and how easy it is to strip it down, and he doesn't make comments like that normaly!

[fireblake]

Nice write up AyJay. My engine looked as bad at 15,000 as yours does with 100,000. A shame that the original engine fooked up and maybe in hindsight sorting the 2nd gear problem before it wrecked the engine would have made sense but it's a testament to a great bike and gives us lesser mileage boys a cheer knowing that our steeds are up for it even if we aren't.


Here's to another 100,000


Mickey

[bigbluebear]

Brilliant story, enjoyed it so much I read it again. With 24k on my bike there is a lifetime of riding left on mine, even if I can get close to 75k never mind 100k.....that is conclusive proof for me that my trusty 2004 FZS1000 in Silver (fastest colour) will always be present in my garage.

[slimwilly]

My VFR 750 only had 45000 on the clock but i had to change it for a newer bike because i cannot get repatriation breakdown cover on a bike over 12 or 14 years old,from europe that is, when touring.

[JZS 600]

I thought my 600 was good but that sounds AWESOME!

[AyJay]

@ Aj - sorry,  it wasn't meant to sound sarcastic,  honestly I find it encouraging to know they're pretty reliable!

That's okay - I didn't take it as sarcastic, I just didn't want to put you off Fazer ownership. Sounds like I haven't!

My VFR 750 only had 45000 on the clock but i had to change it for a newer bike because i cannot get repatriation breakdown cover on a bike over 12 or 14 years old,from europe that is, when touring.

That's the only reason I bought a new bike last year. They wouldn't cover the Fazer!

With most bikes you own them.  I think with a Fazer 1000 you enter into something more than that.  Yeah, daft - it's just a collection of metal, plastic and rubber bits - but I've had mine for more than a decade and it's been special.
Nice story, AyJay.

Thanks for all your kind comments. I really appreciate them.
To come over all poetic for a minute, I think the Fazer does have something more to it than just metal and plastic, there's definitely a bit of soul in there. Personally, I always get the impression it's on my side, and although that feeling is not unique to the Fazer (89 VFR 750, CB250RS, ZZR1400 all have that feeling), I do find myself feeling a bit over protective of it.


Poor old thing, I've caned and mistreated that bike more than any bike deserves and it still keeps on ticking. Carb balance and new rear calliper this weekend, I think.

[nickodemon]

Brilliant post . I have now owned 3 different gen 1 fazer 1000's. The original i bought new and spent a small fortune tuning and upgrading suspension and riding position. I still own it! I normally have several bikes in my garage, so mileages aren't huge, as i use them all. My original fazer has nearly 11'000 miles and is like new. The bike hasn't even blown a bulb... Best all rounder bar none!

[AyJay]

Brilliant post . I have now owned 3 different gen 1 fazer 1000's. The original i bought new and spent a small fortune tuning and upgrading suspension and riding position. I still own it! I normally have several bikes in my garage, so mileages aren't huge, as i use them all. My original fazer has nearly 11'000 miles and is like new. The bike hasn't even blown a bulb... Best all rounder bar none!

Ta!
That's a good point. In all those miles, it's blown one headlight bulb and two dash bulbs. That's all.

I nearly bought another 1000 a bit ago, but mine just keeps going so I bought another bike for the Nurburgring instead. I was 50 last year, and people kept asking 'what are you doing for your 50th?', so I started answering '200 mph', so I bought a ZZR1400 and did! The way it rattles past 180 is quite awe inspiring in a 'am I bothered' kind of way. No fuss, no drama . .

Anyway, I really should have bought the Fazer because the owner didn't really know what he had - it had a grand's worth of remote reservoir Ohlins, touring screen, Rentals, hugger, etc, and I'll bet the owner before him had done the forks and Ivanised it. It was 20,000 miles old, immaculate and only 3k.

Damn. Damn. Damn.

[nickodemon]

Brilliant post . I have now owned 3 different gen 1 fazer 1000's. The original i bought new and spent a small fortune tuning and upgrading suspension and riding position. I still own it! I normally have several bikes in my garage, so mileages aren't huge, as i use them all. My original fazer has nearly 11'000 miles and is like new. The bike hasn't even blown a bulb... Best all rounder bar none!

Ta!
That's a good point. In all those miles, it's blown one headlight bulb and two dash bulbs. That's all.

I nearly bought another 1000 a bit ago, but mine just keeps going so I bought another bike for the Nurburgring instead. I was 50 last year, and people kept asking 'what are you doing for your 50th?', so I started answering '200 mph', so I bought a ZZR1400 and did! The way it rattles past 180 is quite awe inspiring in a 'am I bothered' kind of way. No fuss, no drama . .

Anyway, I really should have bought the Fazer because the owner didn't really know what he had - it had a grand's worth of remote reservoir Ohlins, touring screen, Rentals, hugger, etc, and I'll bet the owner before him had done the forks and Ivanised it. It was 20,000 miles old, immaculate and only 3k.

Damn. Damn. Damn.

The other 2 i bought were a french  import with 22'000 miles, which i converted and derestricted to uk spec and the other had 107'000 miles and after a serious clean ran absolutely sweet for a couple of thousand miles then i sold it to my mate.

[AyJay]

107k and still ticking. Marvelous.


Here's a thought, chaps. There's loads of us on this forum who say they'll never sell their Fazers, so just imagine in 10 or 15 years time, all these bikes might have done huge mileages. And I bet they all do!

[Falcon 269]

Personally, I always get the impression it's on my side ...

Great observation, AyJay ... now you make me think of it, that's one of the feelings I get about my Fazer. 

[bigfootpete]

Nice post! Good history recording.

My 2nd gear went after 13k, haven't had any further trouble since (33000). I have noticed lots of rusty bits however, including the casing as in your pic.