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Messages - Janet
1
« on: 07 March 2015, 09:28:45 am »
I'm 5'6" and I owned an FZ1-N for about four and a half years, having bought it new in 2010. I've actually just traded it in against a Ducati Scrambler, which I should be able to pick up next week. I loved my FZ1 and could manage the weight and size - I took it to France on the ferry twice. I never dropped it, though I was quite cautious on gravel, etc. However, for me (I'm no youngster), ultimately I just wanted something that was more within my comfort zone. Hence the Scrambler, which has an inch lower seat height and is 77 pounds lighter than my ABS FZ1 was.
2
« on: 03 February 2015, 07:22:39 pm »
The Ducati Scrambler looks a nice bike, I reckon they will sell loads. Which version are you getting?
I'm getting the base model (Icon) in yellow. Hopefully late this month or early March. The other models will arrive rather later than the Icon.
3
« on: 03 February 2015, 03:47:38 pm »
Having had my FZ1 N ABS for four and a half years, I have traded it against a Ducati Scrambler. My new bike is being built in Italy this month, but a demo ride convinced me to make the change. The Scrambler has precisely half of the claimed horsepower of the FZ1, but it's low, light, characterful and great fun to ride. I enjoyed my FZ1 a lot, and went to plenty of places on it, including two trips to France, but it was always slightly tall and heavy for me on awkward cambers, gravel, etc. While I'll no doubt sometimes miss the raw power, I think that the Scrambler is a better "fit" to me.
4
« on: 19 August 2014, 10:21:37 am »
I think the OP's bike looks better with the belly pan
5
« on: 24 July 2014, 07:56:16 am »
My renewal (I'm with Carole Nash as I need Europe-wide breakdown cover) was only about £15 more, but the excess had doubled to £800!! It's hardly comprehensive cover at all when the excess is so high. I compared the meerkat to get some numbers then phoned them. I said that I was most worried about the excess, but a few quid off would be nice too. They dropped the price by £16, which is over 10% and a whole pound less than last year, but they also dropped the excess to £350. This was done by switching insurer. I'm now happy with what I've got. I do get fed up, like everybody else, of having to make the inevitable phone call every year though.
6
« on: 27 May 2014, 06:01:57 am »
I was seriously tempted when they were announced. It does seem like a lot of bike for the money and the natural progression from the gen 2. However, when I sat on it I found it to be slightly too tall for me to feel confident, particularly for touring. I felt like I was sitting too much on top of it, race replica style, rather than in it, naked bike style. I'm only slightly jealous ...
7
« on: 26 December 2013, 08:54:36 am »
I had a "Pizza Chopper" - a motorcycle pizza cutter  As an anniversary present (it's our 30th wedding anniversary in January) Andy has bought me a Shoei X-Spirit II, which is the most comfortable helmet I've ever had.
8
« on: 09 November 2013, 01:00:02 pm »
I get about 110 to reserve on my naked gen 2, or rather more if I'm following one of our friends on his Harley.
9
« on: 03 October 2013, 07:54:50 pm »
We'll be going, from Strensham Services.
10
« on: 01 July 2013, 12:20:34 pm »
Looks like a really nice bike, must admit one thing, even though i love my Gen 1 i much prefer the black engine look.
I do realise that - the pegs are spot on for the riding position. It just seems to be more of an issue on this bike than most others I've owned. If really tricky manoeuvring is required I tend to do it from off the bike. Respect Janet...i can barely move mine off the bike and paddling is quite a sight too
Ah ... yes ... but I'm a real wimp. I leave the sidestand down so that if I start to lose my balance I can simply put it back onto the stand and no harm done. I only generally do this for pushing backwards (the engine helps if I'm going forward  ), as there's always a risk when pushing forwards of lightly grounding the stand and not realising that it is no longer in its fully forward position.
11
« on: 30 June 2013, 02:46:52 pm »
Janet , the pegs are a bit in the way but that is where they need to be for the comfy riding position,farther forward than alot of bikes.
The bike looks nice,,hope you enjoy it.
I do realise that - the pegs are spot on for the riding position. It just seems to be more of an issue on this bike than most others I've owned. If really tricky manoeuvring is required I tend to do it from off the bike.
12
« on: 30 June 2013, 08:45:13 am »
As a woman (5'6" tall) I'm sensitive to not just the seat height/weight issue, but also how rangy/compact the riding position of a bike feels. I've never got beyond sitting on a gen 1, as it just felt too rangy for me to be comfortable on; the gen 2 is a more-or-less perfect fit. My biggest gripe with the gen 2 from a manageability viewpoint is that the footpegs really get in the way, and tangle with your legs, when trying to paddle the bike around in a car park, etc. Obviously I don't know how tall or how confident your Mrs is (I'd call myself middling confident, but have been riding bikes for over 30 years), or her previous biking history (you say she currently has a Bandit 650). However, it may well be that it's the gen 2 or nothing for her if she's anything like me. IMHO it's not about a bike you "can" ride, it's about one you feel comfortable and confident with. 
13
« on: 02 June 2013, 04:55:05 pm »
Janet
Hi from a newcomer to the FOC.
You shouldn't have problems getting a tyre repaired unless the puncture is close to, or in the sidewall. You can have up to two PERMANENT tyre plugs done before having to throw a tyre. AA-type roadside repairs are only temporary however, and as they tend to open up the puncture too much to fit their plugs, then you DO have to bin the tyre afterwards. No one will want to repair a tyre that is close to, or beyond legal tread-depth limit, and certainly would not be advisable to do anyway.
Nick Crisp
Thanks for that Nick, but here's an excerpt from the Protyre website: Repair to Motorcycle tyres can be carried out subject to certain limitations. A motorcycle that does not have a ‘W’ speed rating can have a repair carried out in the tread area of the tyre subject to the size of the puncture and any associated damage inside the tyre.There is no British Standard for carrying out repairs to Motorcycle tyres with a ‘W’ speed rating and therefore most of these tyres cannot be repaired. My dealers take the same view. They say that as there is no British Standard, insurance could be an issue if a repaired tyre were to let go. Much as it galls me to have to spend out £130, I'm not convinced that there's a viable alternative.
14
« on: 02 June 2013, 02:10:32 pm »
Agreed on most counts, but I generally hit reserve after about 110, so I've never tried pushing the tank range anywhere near 130-140 ... as I don't like pushing! 
Yep, mine hits reserve at about 110, but you can easily go to 130 - 140, the reserve is about 4 litres! And when I fuel up I rarely put over 14 litres in. (18 litre tank?) Have a look at my fuelly figures and you'll see.
Sent from my AT300 using Tapatalk 2
Call me a wimp but, like I said, I really don't like pushing! I'm particularly nervous when I'm in an area I don't know well, as it can be surprisingly difficult to track down a filling station when you need one these days. Your fuel consumption figures look similar to mine, though I've not kept such a detailed record. On most previous 1000 cc bikes I've owned I've managed about 10 miles to the litre (~45 mpg). This one always falls a bit short of that ... but I can forgive it because it's such a great bike.
15
« on: 02 June 2013, 08:39:44 am »
... You can of course buy them still new, but its 10k, so lots of alternatives at that price.
Our local dealer has a brand new unregistered FZ1 for £7130 OTR. I think it's a couple of years old in terms of build date, but it's a hell of a bargain. My other half was tempted, but likes his Speed Trip too much. If anyone is interested, the dealer is Fowlers of Bristol.
16
« on: 02 June 2013, 08:26:07 am »
The later gen II bikes ecu was improved. 2010 onwards the torque has been increased low down, and there is no snatchyness/flat spots. I love it, and if your still riding like a sports biker, then the gen II is for you for power and handling. It's comfy enough, and 130-140 ish tank range isn't that bad.
The gen I handling might disappoint you after a gixer, and you'll be wanting uprated suspension immediately.
Both brilliant bikes, just in their own way. 
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
Agreed on most counts, but I generally hit reserve after about 110, so I've never tried pushing the tank range anywhere near 130-140 ... as I don't like pushing! Mine's an FZ1-NA (naked gen II with ABS).
17
« on: 01 June 2013, 07:30:15 am »
Might not be able to make it now, got home from work tonight to find a bloody big screw had embedded itself into my back tyre 
Hopefully getting it sorted in the morning
I found a nail in my tyre a couple of weeks ago. It was pretty unbelievable as it was only a couple of days after my other half had found one in a car tyre, which very nearly prevented us from making it from Weston-Super-Mare to London for a Spurs game with our nephews (their birthday treat). Before anybody suggests a falling out with our neighbours, my bike is always garaged, so no opportunity for vandalism of both vehicles. My tyre only had about 1000 miles on it, so I wasn't a happy camper. Of course the difference between the car and the bike was that the repair cost £20 for the car (plus a £5 tip for getting it done quickly so that we wouldn't miss the game). Nobody reputable round my way will repair a high speed rated bike tyre, so it was £130 for a new one fitted, balanced, etc.
18
« on: 03 May 2013, 01:31:52 pm »
OK, here are a couple from last year's China trip which are (loosely) on the theme of water:  
19
« on: 26 March 2013, 03:37:05 pm »
Mine was quite notchy when new, but I've found that it gets a lot better with a bit more mileage. Part of that is probably getting used to how it likes to shift, but I don't think that's all of it. Mine's on about 5300 now and I've almost forgotten how notchy it used to be when it was newer.
20
« on: 15 March 2013, 05:42:58 am »
 Oh dear, I remember most of that. I'm definitely over the hill ... 51 today.
21
« on: 06 March 2013, 04:36:00 pm »
I have an FZ1-N and my other half has a Triumph Speed Triple. We have a couple of trips planned this year and neither bike is great for taking luggage. We're only intending to take soft luggage, as we're hiring cottages and so just need the luggage for the trips there and back. Has anybody with a naked bike tried out a reasonable sized magnetic tank bag? We're a bit concerned that with windblast, if we go too fast, the tank bag magnets might be overwhelmed. Has anybody got any experience, good or bad, of using a magnetic tank bag on an unfaired FZ1/6/8?
Thanks.
22
« on: 13 February 2013, 03:47:02 pm »
Is anybody else going on the Friday, or will I have the show to myself?!!!
We're definitely going on the Friday - we already have our tickets. We're doing Friday rather than Saturday as we're in London on Thursday evening anyway for the Spurs/Lyon game.
23
« on: 01 February 2013, 04:59:13 pm »
I know that you don't accept movies, so I'll submit some photos later this month. In the meantime, here's a short movie I took in Charleston back in 2005 of a bridge being blown down: http://www.torquemonsters.co.uk/bridge.mov
24
« on: 01 February 2013, 09:31:56 am »
Who won the January competition?
Edit: Sorry - I've just seen the voting results on the other thread.
25
« on: 29 January 2013, 03:50:50 pm »
We're going on the Friday (by public transport). We were coming up to London on Thursday evening anyway, for a Spurs/Lyon game, so we thought we'd go while we were in the area.
We got two tickets for £27.20 all in. Carole Nash sent out a discount code to policyholders to use when prebooking tickets.
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