2003 vs 2004 model

[Cruiser89]

Hello! can anyone tell me what is the difference between a 04 Fazer and a 03 one? Im looking to buy a fazer and I heard different stories about these two... my friend sais that older models are more reliable and faster from newones so anything up to 2003 is good (thats his opinion:P) . From what I read there has been some changes since 2007? (less BHP) I really like the looks of a 2004 model but I dont know whether I should go for a 2003 or 2004 Fazer...

is 2004 model better or worse from a 2003 fz6?

Cheers!

[AdieR]

'03 will be the last of the line Thundercat-powered (carb-fed) FZS6 Fazers (killed off by emissions rules), replaced in '04 by the R6-powered (albeit detuned) (fuel-injected) FZ6 Fazers.

The general consensus is that the older Fazers were nicer to ride (carb-fed, so no snatchy fuelling at low speeds), although some will no doubt disagree.

The 2007 (S2 models) brought a few changes: new swingarm, bolt-on pillion pegs (rather than the previous welded-on ones), slightly different front mudguard, differences in the fairing, different clocks, 4-pot monobloc brakes from the R6 (rather than the 2-pot sliding pin calipers), and a different fuel map.

[breadlord]

The 2007+ models have also lost about 20 horses for the standard version.

[AdieR]

IIRC, the '07-on was "retuned" for more midrange - the "numerical" lower power is probably a trade off.

[TCLeics]

I just bought an 04 FZ6, was originally looking for an earlier model, but after seeing the FZ6 under seat twin exhaust system as opposed to an exposed chrome exahust, it convinced me 04> was the one to go for.

[Grahamm]

Hello TCLeics and welcome to the realms of the FZ6 Owners!

[robby boy]

I bought my 2005 FZ6 as a first "big bike", in my eye for the money you can't get better, I looked at a 2002 model and paid £500 less for mine, I have never owned a carbed bike so in my eyes the FZ6 is adequate for me, I do intend to buy a FZS just for comparison, mind only if SWMBO allows, my main reason for getting my licence was to get an old Brittish bike, but I can't afford that at this time.

[TCLeics]

Thanks Grahamm, just been on my 1st decent run on it, great peice of kit. Managed to drop it once, back brake locked coming up to a junction at very low speed, need to be wary of that in the future, no damage done as it had the crash bungs on fortunately!
Anyone know how many miles you can do on reserve, I know it's 3 litres, but how many miles will that get me?
 
Cheers.
 

[Grahamm]

Managed to drop it once, back brake locked coming up to a junction at very low speed, need to be wary of that in the future, no damage done as it had the crash bungs on fortunately!

I first dropped mine about 5 minutes after I got it! I pulled up to a junction, my foot went down flat, unfortunately as the bike is (or was) a bit tall and I have rather short legs, it started to lean and kept leaning...!!

Anyone know how many miles you can do on reserve, I know it's 3 litres, but how many miles will that get me?

The manual claims about 20 miles (when you get to reserve you get the F 0.0 counter that counts up) however I can get around 175 miles from full tank to reserve which is a rate of about 55mpg.

The reserve is about 3.6 litres or 0.8 gallons, so, theoretically, you could get a maximum of about 44 miles (but I've never tried it!!)

[TCLeics]

Haha, at the rate we were riding at, don't think we were getting 55 MPG, half a tank went in 2 hours, but think I'll guide the reserve at around 20 miles to be safe, cheers.
 

[dolau]

I had a '51 square headlight FZS600 and thought that was brilliant but looked a bit dated. I preferred the look of the 2003 bike which got the R6 cowling but the bike was otherwise the same. It was as fast as I wanted to go and comfortable- I toured Scotland twice on it

Two years ago I changed up for a 2009 FZ6S2 the black engine one with the improved fuelling (so say) I love the bike and it is brilliant to ride but I have had a few problems with it- The ECU died etc but I am bonding with it again now.

Only criticism I have is that going into a corner on a closed throttle the takeup is jerky always.... but then you are supposed to go into a corner on a positive throttle so that is really my bad riding habits

People criticise the FZ6 for being a revvy engine hungry for high revs- and so it is compared to the old Thundercat and carbs but that is fine and you soon get used to where the power band is and ride accordingly- no-one criticises an R6 for being a high revving engine do they so think of it as a comfortable R6 and you have the bike

Mostly I am above 6k revs and up to about 10- sledom need to go above that and that is really as fast as I would want to go  in the lower gears About 6k is 70 in top so no buzzy vibration problems