Date: 29-03-24  Time: 10:43 am

Author Topic: Back to riding again! (Hopefully)  (Read 1345 times)

Bularooben

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Back to riding again! (Hopefully)
« on: 16 July 2020, 07:15:34 pm »
Good afternoon all! I hope you are all keeping well? OK, im looking at the fz6s after a 13 year break, what should i look out fir when chosing the right bike? Its been years since i tinkered or rode so any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

agricola

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Re: Back to riding again! (Hopefully)
« Reply #1 on: 16 July 2020, 08:53:43 pm »
Go for the S2 version, has ABS, and smoother throttle action, better swingarm, and more comfy seat, and the blue spot type front brake calipers. Other thna that, its checking the usual stuff, chain/sprockets, brake discs/pads, lights, make sure you get the red key otherwise dont have it, tyres, smooth clutch action, all gears engage, seals not leaking on the front forks, rear shock is working, oil level, coolant level, brake fluid level, condition of brake pipes, stick it on the centre stand and check for play in the swingarm/rear wheel bearings, ask the seller to push down at the rear and check the front wheel bearings with the wheel in the air. Have a good look at the exhaust studs at the manifolds, if they are rusted away and look unmovable find a better one, check for standard or aftermarket exhaust or any other mods

Good luck

Grahamm

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Re: Back to riding again! (Hopefully)
« Reply #2 on: 16 July 2020, 09:01:11 pm »
I've got the FZ6-S rather than S2, but here's a list of things I wrote for the people who kept asking the same question on the Facebook FZ6 forum...

Provided it's had reasonable care taken of it, they're good, reliable bikes.

Here's some stuff to check before you buy it...

Firstly, the FZ6 drops into first gear like the Crack of Doom! This is, incredibly, absolutely normal.

Check the exhaust headers for signs of rust. If they're bad, it means other, important work probably hasn't been done.

Put the bike on the centre stand and get someone to push down on the back. Using fingertip pressure, tip the handlebars to one side and the other and see if you can feel any grinding, clicking or rough sensations which could indicate the headset bearings are knackered (which is a bugger of a job to fix!)

Also take hold of the front wheel and see if you can pull the forks back and forth which would also indicate a dodgy headset.

Bounce the forks up and down and look for any signs of oil leaking from the fork seals.

Check the rear shock and see what condition it's in. Clean? Rusty? Can you change the preload setting or is it stuck in place because it's never been moved and it's covered in crud?

Put your finger under the chain a little bit back from the centre stand and try to push it up against the swing arm. If it goes really easily or you can't get it there at all, it's too loose or tight. If it takes a bit of effort to hold it there, the tension is probably ok.

Feel the gaps between the teeth on the rear sprocket, if you can feel a "lip" or a "hook" instead of a smooth curve, it's on the way out and would need replacing as well as the front sprocket and chain.

With the rear wheel off the ground, check to see if you can wiggle the wheel or swing arm back and forward or from side to side. Either could mean knackered bearings which would need to be replaced.

Run the bike until it's warm, then switch off and let it sit for a few minutes. Check the oil level on the centre stand and make sure it's ok.

Other things to ask...

If it's done nearly 24k (or 48k) miles, ask if the valve clearances have been checked, if they haven't and they need new shims, that's an expensive job if you get it done by a mechanic.

The brake pipes are supposed to be replaced every 4 years, so ask if they've been done (although I'm just doing mine after 14 and they were fine, I just want braided lines   :)

Ask if the spark plugs and oil filter have been changed (recommended every 12k miles) air filter (25k miles)

None of these last ones are necessarily critical, the FZ6 is pretty reliable, but it would show that the bike has been cared for.

There's probably more, but that's a few to be going on with!

If you're happy with it, enjoy! :thumbup

BBROWN1664

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Re: Back to riding again! (Hopefully)
« Reply #3 on: 17 July 2020, 06:39:16 pm »
:agree

Basically, give it an unofficial MOT
Another ex-Fazer rider that is a foccer again

Bularooben

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Re: Back to riding again! (Hopefully)
« Reply #4 on: 17 July 2020, 09:54:18 pm »
Thanks guys! Will let you know once i have found a new toy to play with. I used to ride gsxr600 and was trading in for an 02 R1 but this thing called a daughter came along and stopped all that! Now time to ride again.