How long have you been riding

[limax2]

Another in the wrinkly club here. 55 years riding motorcycles. First bike 650cc BSA Gold Flash. No restrictions on what you could ride and basic training no invented back then. Just needed a provisional licence and insurance and the world was your lobster.

[BBROWN1664]

Entry level?

I started riding when I was 14. On the road at 16 and worked up through 250's, 500's, 750's and an FZR1000 before going for a Fazer. 0-60 it is as quick as the FZR. 60-100 its not far behind either. Above that I try to avoid these days.

I had been riding on the road for 15 years when I got the FZS600. 15 years on I have a CBF1000 because it feels like the FZS to ride.

[Jamieg285]

Totally mis-read the question before I voted, so I've screwed your results 

Rode between 16-22, moving up from 50cc DT50, 125 KDX, 250 KLX (shocking bike), then to RF 600.  Came back to it 4 years ago with a boxeye, upgrade to a fox this year. 

[Dave48]

Started riding 50 years ago. Passed bike test 1966(bit of a joke that!) Lost count of how many different scooters,mopeds,bikes ridden over the years but the FZS 600 & FZS 1000 feature in my top 3 all time favourites.

[alan sherman]

I got my Fazer as my third bike when I was 24.  It was big enough, but wouldn't kill me on insurance.  It was a good compromise of practical whilst also fun.  I hankered after other bikes but always got stuck when thinking how they would be better overall than the Fazer.

I still have it, it is about to turn 15.

[Deefer666]

Riding - 37 years
On the road - 29 years
Legally on the road - 27 years
On a full license - 25 years

Now I feel farkin old!

[tom]

Been riding bikes for 47years   been on the fazer 600 for 2years now it's a lot easier on the old joints

[stevierst]

Christ, I feel like a baby on here! The smell of mothballs and linament oil is getting overwhelming!

Started riding at 30, which means I've only been riding 13 years, however I've done probably in excess of 1/4 million miles in that time. More than most do on two wheels in a lifetime.

I always said I'd never own the same machine, car or bike more than once unless it's exceptional. I've had 3 boxeyes, covering about 100k on them overall. It just goes to show that they are indeed exceptional!
Also had a gen 1, and gen 2 thou which were good machines.  Also had a dozen other bikes which have never been anywhere close to the Fazer.

I've always said about the Fazer 600 that it's the only bike you'll ever need, but not the only bike you'll ever want.

[unfazed]

Christ, I feel like a baby on here! The smell of mothballs and linament oil is getting overwhelming!

Started riding at 30, which means I've only been riding 13 years, however I've done probably in excess of 1/4 million miles in that time. More than most do on two wheels in a lifetime.

I always said I'd never own the same machine, car or bike more than once unless it's exceptional. I've had 3 boxeyes, covering about 100k on them overall. It just goes to show that they are indeed exceptional!
Also had a gen 1, and gen 2 thou which were good machines.  Also had a dozen other bikes which have never been anywhere close to the Fazer.
I've always said about the Fazer 600 that it's the only bike you'll ever need, but not the only bike you'll ever want.

Always remember
Old age and treachery will always beat youth and enthusiasm 

[esetest]

On and off since I was 16 I am now 50.

[Just Fazered]

Since 1973 on a Honda ped (FSI-E sold out), then passed test on a new Yam RD250 (pear shaped tank), then bought a new Suzuki GT750B. Wonderful bike.

Way too many bikes in between up to current Fazer 1000, which is a great all rounder, but notable was an original detuned Suzuki Hyabusa (soooo much fun once rear tyre is warmed up  ), original R1, Loads of 3 cylinder Triumphs, a few Aprilia RSV1000s, Loads of Honda 750s. Kawasaki GPZ900s, BMW Boxer K75 (awful bike, quickly sold on). Suzuki GSX-F1100 EFE (Yuck - sold it after 2 days). Yamaha 1000 eggs up and many others!!

With fingers crossed, never had a bad off and long may it continue.

I cover a stupidly low mileage nowadays - partly because I work from home, but I always need a bike in my garage. It's part of my DNA by now 

Enjoy your biking

[Hogi]

Started on mates and brothers bikes in the early seventies but it was easier to pull birds with a car!

Came back to biking during a mid life crisis, age 40. Fazer 600 to start as it was the best middleweight there was (is?). But it had to be spanked to keep up with my mates and after a few years traded up to Fazer 1000 which has over 35k showing but still polishes up like a good'un. Although I've got money saved to chop her in, after hundreds of hours fancying this that and the other, I can't think of anything that would give me the same all round capability as mine.

I've heard that older boys than me are returning to the 600. Lighter, nippy and does what it says on the tin. Maybe that's me in a few more years, when arthritis kicks in!!

[S Baker]

Been riding 55 years, rode all sorts, started out on BSA's and Triumph's. Had the FZS600 for last 12 years, and love it to bits.Last bike before the Faz was a VFR,-the Faz is better!Cant honestly think of any bike Ive rode that comes close to the Fazer as the best do-it-all bike ever!

[Oldgit]

hate to say it but 51 years, passed me test in 1966--when the examiner walked beside you for the low speed balance and manoeuvrability test--Halcyon Days. Oldgit.

[Nebuchernezzer]

Ah makes me feel so young this topic! Most forums I'm on these days (cars) make me feel so old even though I'm only 34.
Had my Fazer about a year, had my full lisence about 5ish years perhaps, L's and P's for a few years before that (Australian system) but I never had a full time road bike, lisence was just to get the Ktm to the bush really.
Got the fazer cos me and a mate picked up a written off one on ebay and used it as a track bike for a few years, saw one come up nearby when I was after a commuter a year or so ago so I have a road one now. They are rare here in Oz but does what it says on the tin and does it well for minimal cash monies.

[redfox1]

First bike in '78 was a RD 125 (great bike),then onto 2 different RD 400's via an RD 250-(all great bikes also-God I wished I'd kept them all!). Also owned a Honda CB 400,the four-cylindered variety (lemon), then nothing for the last 26 years! However,last year,my wife expressed a desire for me get back on a bike,so we could tour together,so I went out and bought a Honda CBF 600,a good bike to refresh ones rusty skills,but after 2 months wanted something with a bit more go,so bought the Foxeye (ahem, a great bike,and this one I intend to keep!)

[Hermanji]

Maybe I can win the newbie contest. Started riding on my 32nd birthday and now 34! I've had a Suzuki Van Van (125) and an Aprilia Tuono (1000). I wrote off the Tuono and nearly myself in the process.

I passed my test on an FZS600 and was happy to find the one I ride now earlier this year. I ride every day to work down through the Dart valley to Totnes which is bliss.

[fazersharp]

hate to say it but 51 years, passed me test in 1966--when the examiner walked beside you for the low speed balance and manoeuvrability test--Halcyon Days. Oldgit.

Not that much had changed in the eairly 80s when I took mine although it was a two part test - part one around some cones in a council carpark and then part two with the examiner still on foot whilst you rode around the block, -- really nerve racking though because you never quite knew which corner he might walk to 

[joebloggs]

hate to say it but 51 years, passed me test in 1966--when the examiner walked beside you for the low speed balance and manoeuvrability test--Halcyon Days. Oldgit.

Not that much had changed in the eairly 80s when I took mine although it was a two part test - part one around some cones in a council carpark and then part two with the examiner still on foot whilst you rode around the block, -- really nerve racking though because you never quite knew which corner he might walk to 

I took the same test, thought when he sent me back to the test centre that I failed as didn't believe I'd done enough to pass my test

[mr self destruct]

Maybe I can win the newbie contest. Started riding on my 32nd birthday and now 34! I've had a Suzuki Van Van (125) and an Aprilia Tuono (1000). I wrote off the Tuono and nearly myself in the process.

I passed my test on an FZS600 and was happy to find the one I ride now earlier this year. I ride every day to work down through the Dart valley to Totnes which is bliss.

Glad I'm not the only recent convert here! I passed my test in June 2013, but have less than 2 years experience if you discount 1 month off with a broken toe, 2 months off 'paternity leave' and 6 months off so far with a dislocated knee.


I did the usual online research on the "best first big bike" to get (Bandit, Hornet, SV, blah blah blah), knocked everything off the list except the Fazer & Hornet as I didn't want anything with less bhp than the Bandit I took my test on, and the Fazer won because of my motorway commute, as it has a fairing.
Like the OP says, I saw it as a good starter bike (like all the reviews say) and always intended to buy something bigger and newer.
However, despite test riding a few other bikes (MT09, MT07, GSX650F, GSR750 and a Z800), I always stick with the FZS600. Mainly because while all the others have been faster and easier to chuck into corners, they're not faster by enough to warrant losing the practicality of the Fazer. Only the GSX has a fairing and none of the bikes in my budget have any storage space. So the Fazer does it all!

[unfazed]

Maybe I can win the newbie contest. Started riding on my 32nd birthday and now 34! I've had a Suzuki Van Van (125) and an Aprilia Tuono (1000). I wrote off the Tuono and nearly myself in the process.

Glad I'm not the only recent convert here! I passed my test in June 2013, but have less than 2 years experience if you discount 1 month off with a broken toe, 2 months off 'paternity leave' and 6 months off so far with a dislocated knee.

Now I understand the reason for the name 'mr self destruct' 

[mr self destruct]

Now I understand the reason for the name 'mr self destruct' 

Yup. My mrs was dead set against me learning to ride with my track record with cars, I've got through 64 in the 25 years I've been driving.
Starting to think she might have had a point.   

[unfazed]

If she takes out a big life insurance policy on you and then tries to convince you to buy the new R1 you will know why 

[joebloggs]

hate to say it but 51 years, passed me test in 1966--when the examiner walked beside you for the low speed balance and manoeuvrability test--Halcyon Days. Oldgit.

Not that much had changed in the eairly 80s when I took mine although it was a two part test - part one around some cones in a council carpark and then part two with the examiner still on foot whilst you rode around the block, -- really nerve racking though because you never quite knew which corner he might walk to 

We had a very grumpy examiner in our area and a good friend of mine ran him over when he jumped out in front of him,,,,,,I kid you not lol

[lew600fazer]

Passed my test on a Honda 50 Sprint in 1965, still at it just down sized from FZ1 to an MT-09 so barring any mishaps should be at it for a few more good years. I will not be replacing the MT-09 though, as my wife says time to get some sense