Fazer Owners Club - Unofficial
Bikes, Hints'n'Tips => FZS600 Fazer => Topic started by: msewelly on 14 May 2014, 09:29:58 pm
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Hi,
I'm aware the bikes are very similar but could anyone say the main differences apart from performance, I know the fairings are different but would a thundercat for example leave the fazer standing?
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The thundercat is a faster bike, but of course it's down to the rider.
Riding position is different as well.
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Friend of mine had a T/cat and it was definitely quicker in a straight line than the Fazer, he was also a better rider than me and would easily lose me in the corners, but in a burn from the lights he could get away from me quicker and in a 4th gear roll on the T/Cat was the quicker bike, so from my experience it is definitely the faster bike.
Jonesy
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I can't see a T/Cat "leaving it standing" when compared to a FZS 600, but will definitely be a little bit quicker and handle a little bit better,
But a T/Cat with a dirty air filter and dry chain will have lost any edge over the FZS it came with as new, and similarly a T/Cat with leaky fork seals, incorrectly adjusted rear shock, worm tyres or wrong tyre pressures would be no better than a properly set up FZS.
But, as Mick said, the biggest difference is the rider - there was an idiot with a GSXR 1000 who got left standing every time he came riding with us when I was 2 up on my FJ and my wife was on her old VF 750 - and we're not "racers". He just didn't understand how to ride a bike, or read a road.
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The two aren't very similar at all!
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My old apprentice had a T-cat, he was a quick rider (as am I) and tbh he had the edge on me in a straight line, (but then he was a skinny young lad and I am not) but the FZS seemed to be more nimble and because I could change line mid corner I would always either pass him or put a wheel up the inside of his bike to distract him. When he attempted the same move on the T-Cat it would get unsettled in the corner and get a swerve on.
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Biggest difference I've seen is that the fazer still looks good. The tcat is starting to look very dated.
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I've got both a 2001 Thundercat, and a 2001 boxeye in relatively good state of health, and they're quite similar apart from:-
The t'cat produces it's power further up the rev range than the fazer, and makes a bit more of it.
The fazer is more tractable around town.
On the twisties, the TC is miles better on the limit or when the bends get bumpy.
They're both really good on fuel. Average 53mpg for the boxeye, 55mpg for the TC.
The TC headlight is slightly better than the boxeye.
TC has slightly better wind protection.
The fazer is comfier (although that's easily remedied on the TC for free)
Every tom, dick and harry try it on with ya on a TC, they tend to leave a fazer alone until you razz it past them 8).
I do tend to 'need to thrash' the TC a bit more than the fazer.
My TC is not wearing as well as any of my fazers through the winter!
There's very little in it tbh. Depends on what style of bike your after. Both very capable machines that I'd happily own each of again.
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A nutcase friend of mine had a Thundercat for a year and on standard suspension the Thundercat has far better handling, but on a well sorted Fazer 600 there is little in it. He never lost me on the twisty bits with it and even when we swapped bikes I never lost him on the twisty bits.
Fazer is better 50 to 80, but Thundercat beats it on top speed (not by much) and the drag off the line.
Fazer is a little more comfortable on long haul rides.
Both are great fun :)
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I did 50k on my cat, loved it far more than my fazer, tracked it, toured and commuted. Perfick bike for me.
Suspension sas far superior, as were looks and handling due to fully adjustable suspension. Only reason i dont still have it was because a lorry ran me over.
I got the fazer to get back on a bike, under the impression they were similar, as stated above, theyre not that similar at all...
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Thanks for all the replies, certainly interesting to hear the responses, I only ask as I was looking at getting a fully faired bike instead of the fazer and was wondering whether the trade off would even be worth it because of some similarities. Heres some for the thundercat:
1. Cheap to insure (when compared to other fully faired 600's)
2. You know the brakes will be good
3. Looks sporty
4. More forgiving than a super sports bike
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5. Comfy
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6. Women throw their knickers at you as you go past
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6. Women throw their knickers at you as you go past
:rollin