Fazer Owners Club - Unofficial
Bikes, Hints'n'Tips => Fazer8 / FZ8 => Topic started by: locksmith on 03 October 2011, 08:39:25 pm
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Has anyone actually got one yet???
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I took one out for a demo ride last July, but it didn't seem as good as my 2008 Hornet 600. The dealer then said that they had some cheap brand new FZ1s going, so I took a demo ride on one of those and bought one. IMHO there's a huge difference between the two, with the FZ8 being a bit too nice, and the FZ1 being a bit of a pit bull ... and that's how I like my bikes.
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I looked at my local Yam's webpage to see it they were knocking them out cheaply but they don't even sell them :\ I've never seen one on the streets.
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according to the "how many left" website, there were 185 licensed or SORNed in Q2 2011.
Not their biggest seller then :lol
But.... SORNed? really? a brand new bike, in summer?????? :rolleyes :rolleyes :rolleyes
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I reckon I saw one in wales on the weekend...a white one, faired. Dont think they make white fz-1s...??
I had one as a loan bike, and other than slightly cheaper price, cant see the point , as a FZ-1 is miles quicker.If they were substantially cheaper it might make sense, and if the thought of huge power puts you off a bike !
apologies to any fz-8 owners, but thats how I see it. :\
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apologies to any fz-8 owners, but thats how I see it. :\
No need to apologise to an empty room. Taste is subjective, some people will have seen something in the FZ8 that made them think it was worth buying, just none that have owned up to doing so far on these forums.
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someone may buy one if they want a fz-1 but cannot afford the insurance on one,mostly young riders,but yamaha prices are a bit ott though,even their parts prices are expensive as i have noticed as i have also a honda vfr750
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someone may buy one if they want a fz-1 but cannot afford the insurance on one,mostly young riders,but yamaha prices are a bit ott though,even their parts prices are expensive as i have noticed as i have also a honda vfr750
Doing a quick Google the FZ8 is insurance group 16 with the FZ1 coming in at 15 or 16 so insurance between the bikes isn't going to be an issue..........
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I followed a white naked one for several miles today on the "Hoggin' the Bridge" charity ride. It had a George White plate.
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Yamaha will sell a lot of Fazer 8's as soon as the newest FZS model becomes 40 years old and hard to find in decent condition. Time is on 8's side! :)
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A castrated Fazer. That's what the 8 is. Bike mag described it as "a bit weak with a duff shock". Wonder who they thought the competition was. Price is just funny. In the thou corner, a guy has just bought a new FZ1N '10 model for £6k and 0% finance over two years. If my credit score wasn't laughable due to a couple of years off work on nil pay or benefits, I'd have a gen2 in a shot.
maybe a cat C damaged one to fighter and use as a commuter. can't think of any other use for it. mick
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The FZ8 was a hugh let down, as were the Kawasaki and Suzuki 750 efforts.
When I started riding, back in the early '70s, a 750 was a big bike and now a properly sorted 750/800 would be all you really need on the road for solo riding. Instead, they've all brought out cheap and nasty versions of bigger bikes, not thinking that some might opt for an engine you can use more of, more of the time.
Must try harder!
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a properly sorted 750/800 would be all you really need on the road for solo riding. Instead, they've all brought out cheap and nasty versions of bigger bikes, not thinking that some might opt for an engine you can use more of, more of the time.
Whilst its true that 100 BHP is more than sufficient no-one is going to admit to the fact, which is why litre bikes sell so well even if their 160+ BHP means the only way riders can use the power is through aids such as traction control and power mode switches. Why dont Suzuki do a GSXR750 with high bars and a bikini fairing? I'd buy one !!! (OK they do the GSR750 - But it's not what we want)
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Okay then, I've just bought one. I admit it!
3 months old, 1k on the clock for £5500
I know that Yamaha have announced a £1000 price drop on new, but surely £5.5 must be right money?
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Reckon thats a very fair price - theres nothing wrong with the 800 once the price is closer to the 600s
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The FZ8 was a hugh let down, as were the Kawasaki and Suzuki 750 efforts.
When I started riding, back in the early '70s, a 750 was a big bike and now a properly sorted 750/800 would be all you really need on the road for solo riding.
Only for solo?!? Maybe I'm inexperienced, but that's more than enough for 2up. Anything over 90 bhp is more than enough for nice ride 2up plus luggage. Enough power for goind uphill, for taking over cars etc. I hear people saying "yes, but on a 1000 you don't have to change gears all tha time". When I hear that, I think of a 2000 cc diesel automatic - NO FUN.
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You're probably quite right, Slaninar, but as PieEater says, nobody wants to admit that they never use a large chunk of the power available from a 1000. In recent years I've moved from 600s to 1000s, back to 600s and now back to a 1000, and I keep wishing there was something in between that wasn't just a sleeved down litre bike with budget suspension.
I had high hopes that the FZ8 would be the ideal bike for me, but, sadly, it isn't.
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I bought one as soon as they came out.
I used to have an XJR1300 and Street Triple. I part ex'd both for the Fazer 800 as I wanted a comfy sports tourer with some wind protection. The XJR was good for touring but not too throwabout in the twisties, the Street Triple was the other way. The Fazer8 is a decent compromise between the two.
I've had it since August 2010 and have done 17,000 miles now. It might not have the same grunt as the XJR as you would expect, but there is plenty. Peak torque is at 8,000 rpm so doesn't need a lot of revs like a lot of sports bike engines. I'm not too sure where the top end rush is, according to Yamaha's sales blurb there should be one, but there isn't. Between 6-10,000 revs there is enough power to get me where I want to go as quick as I want so not too bothered.
The fairing is nice and wide, wider than the 600/1000 Fazers, and with the touring screen its very good. No flies on my jacket anymore and no buffeting on the helmet. It makes touing a lot more comfortable.
Fuel consumption is good, I get 50-55 mpg on mine, which is around 150-165 miles until the fuel light comes on after 3 gallons used. I quite like the trip which comes on telling you how many miles you've done since the light comes on. The furthest I've been on a tankfull is 195 miles and was pleased to see the petrol station.
The softer suspension is great on bumpy roads, no jolting or out of the seat moments. I prefer to go the scenic routes when touing and have the time so often the road surface is often less than perfect and it works well enough. Whacking the rear pre-load up helps to stop some of the initial soggyness. It would be nice to have fully adjustable suspension, but I probably wouldn't adjust it that far from what it is now for my riding although I think the rear could do with a bit more rebound damping. I've not thought of getting an after market shock as it doesnt really warrant the money. I think it would be fairly shit around a track as the suspension is so soft and the pegs would deck out to early, but I dont do track days any longer so aren't bothered. As long as you are smooth on the throttle and brakes on the road its no problem there either.
It only comes with ABS brakes, if there had been an option of not having ABS I would have taken that. After bedding the pads in I tried them out on a bumpy back road yanking them on as hard as I could. The bike dived down due to the soft forks, the tyres squealed and the bike stopped as quick as I would have liked. After having the bike for so long and riding in some bad weather I think if there is the option of ABS or not I would go for them now.
There are some decent bungy points to tie luggage to. I wish the pillion grab handles were 2 inches longer at the back to tie straps to though. As a recent addition I put a rack and top box on which doesn't exactly enhance the looks but is very handy. Bit of a pisser having to remove a bit of plastic from the seat unit to fit the rack though, very un-Japanese like, but it was an easy task with a hot knife. Only £200 for the Yamaha rack and box was good.
It came with BT021 tyres originally, which are fine sport touring tyres. Bridgestone now have BT023 replacing them and I thought it was a bit cheap of Yamaha not supplying the bike with those. When I replaced the tyres, BT021s were still available at £25 less, so I bought them again.
No real issues with the bike reliability wise. It was a bit slow to start once when left unused for a few weeks. The injection system needs maximum volts, so its now left on the trickle charger all the time when not in use. I also had to top up the coolant with distilled water as it went below the lower limit in a hot Germany. It hasn't lost any more since. No rust anywhere, and the chain and sprockets still look fine, I only have to adjust the chain every 2,000 miles.
Servicing is cheap enough at Poole Motorcycles and they are only a mile away. Valve clearances are at 24,000 miles and wont cost me much. I couldn't believe the price Triumph charge for theirs every 12,000 miles.
The bike came in for a bit of stick in magazine tests for 'only' being a sleeved down 1000 motor, but if you think of it as a non race 750 engine its fine. I was quite glad it shares parts with the FZ1 as in Germany in 2010 I had a dumb 20 mph off on wet tram lines and the start motor cover cracked on the corner of the tram line. As the bike had only been out a couple of months I was worried spare parts may not have been available (I had to wait 4 months for the centre stand when I bought the bike), but a new cover, same as the FZ1, was dispatched and turned up next day.
Downsides are the dip in torque at 5,000 rpm. Its quite noticable, and if you want to overtake quickly at lower speeds you need it at 6000 rpm. If its at 5000 in 4th and it takes a while to pull through to 6000. I guess its all down to reducing emissions/noise to pass the tests. After having the bike for 15 months I put a Mivv Ghibli end can on, which looks neat, sounds good with baffles in, and it gets rid of the dip in torque. It provides a bit of character, something the bike lacks engine wise. With the new can fitted, there is little in the way of exhaust, the box containing the catalytic converter is small. Some bikes these days have huge ugly metalwork in the exhaust system.
Shame it doesn't have the torque curve of Suzuki's GSR750.
The seat could be a bit better for long distances. I've had a gel pad put in and now its a little better, 2 - 2 1/2 hours before twitchy bum sets in. What I like about the set is its narrower at the front than the back. Going around the corners if you sit forward on the narrower part it feels better, then for comfort if you are on a straighter road move back a couple of centimetres to the wider more comfortable part.
Price wise is was expensive, but I got a load of extras at cost price, touring screen, alarm, datatag, heated grips and they took my XJR1300 in part-ex and it had 50,000 miles on the clock. I think trying to sell that privately might have been tricky. I see they are a grand cheaper this year.
You dont see too many around in the UK, but in France I noticed quite a few at Magny Cours WSB. They tend to go for the naked versions over there.
Must take one with the can on and loverly top box.
(http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/1232/yamahat.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/yamahat.jpg/)
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Thanks for the write up Phil. The secondhand ones - loads of ex demos - are starting to look decent value now so I might be tempted in the future.
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Yes, good write-up.
I was beginning to think that I had bought a bit of a lemon!
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That's a good well rounded write-up Phil. Thanks for the honest critique.
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Really good review :)
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Nice write up, Ive been toying with the idea of getting one for a cuple of weeks. Still cant make my mind up though....... :rolleyes
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Well they have just sold another one as I pick mine up on 1st March!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
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Nice one, let us know how it goes :thumbup
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cracking write up
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AAAAAGH!! Ive just put a deposit on mine, pick it up 1st March as well!! :lol
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thats great teapaz!
So what made you go for the 8 opposed to the FZ1, if you did indeed consider both, or maybe you were comparing against another make?
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TBH the deciding factor was the finance deal!! Managed to get 0% over 4 years with £500 deposit plus I work for my local Yamaha dealer on Saturdays during the summer they gave me a great deal. I've had one new honda but this will be my sixth Yamaha so I have a great relationship with the dealer. :D :D :D :D
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Finally took the plunge and changed my FZS600 for a fazer8 last week. Facing another major service and a new set of tyres made my mind up. Had tried the terrible diversion F. Found a mint Fazer8 in white at a local trusted dealers back room for £5999 (gold rims - bling). Have to say first impression of the new bike is how friendly it is to a newer rider (only four years) quite docile in traffic. You don't feel that its another 25kgs on the FZS600. I ride 365 (except snow) and needed something that was safe in bad weather for my commute.
Kick down to third on overtake and 40 - 100 is much faster than the FZS. One of the things that attracted me was that you don't see many of them around. Caught a rat-bike rider admiring it on return to a carpark this week as well lol.
The only downside seems to be tank size but pass four petrol stations on the way to work. :)
Simon
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I'm curious Simon what mileage are you getting per tank and whats the capacity on the 8?
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Gingernuts
I am still measuring the tank - I was so bowled over by the ride for the first two tankfulls I wasn't thinking with my head! I reckon around 150 but have set the milo this tank. Certainly not as much as my old FZS which could do 220 without going dry.
Will let you know.
Heres the old and new
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Looks nice, I like the white with gold wheels :thumbup
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nice bike dadlegend (http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=1369)
i also have a fazer 8, picked mine up 3 weeks ago, was pre reg from dealer, 2010 with only 1 mile on clock, came with tail tidy and akropoli exhaust fitted, have since purchased rear seat cover replacment, mine is in viper blue, my only gripe was the dipped headlights, the dealer has sorted that for me, they have wired in the other side now so when riding around i have both dipped headlights on instead of one side, and as they do MOT,s there, they cant fail me for it as i can say well you wired it in lol.
enjoy your bike as i enjoy mine! :lol
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Thanks, myfazer8, beginning to think these bikes are rare. Haven't seen another since I bought mine about a month ago. Looked on howmanyleft and it says only 164 in the Country lol. Mind you I only ride it weekdays soo many plonkers on the roads here at the weekend. Don't fancy getting knocked off by a sorrydidntseeyou person. I only started biking about five years ago aged 40! Had always wanted to try it.
Average about 7,000 miles a year. Was sorry to see the fzs go but she had got to 30,000 miles and showing her age a bit.
Pleased with mine - I am not the knee down type but find its as flickable as the old one.
you?
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my only comment is similar to any new bike these days...you can pick up a very good second hand bike for so much less cash ...you really have to want a new bike for the initial price and subsequent price depreciation.
When you can pick up a really nice low miler FZ-1 for around £5k...why buy new ?
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I think thats exactly why the fazer8 isn't selling as its just over-priced new. I think in a few years people will think its a good bike, well made. I considered the FZ1 but a friend has one and considers it a blast but wishes he had a FZS600 again. I may rue getting rid of my FZS but I still consider myself a novice even after five years. Maybe next bike :) will be a FZ1 (or an R1 haha)
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A friend of mine just bought a Fazer8. Its an ex demo, but only had 900 miles on the clock. £6,500 with 3 years interest free credit.
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I'm curious Simon what mileage are you getting per tank and whats the capacity on the 8?
right bad news is last bar on gauge starts blinking at 130 miles. Good news is that when i filled it up again i only got in 12.2 litres.
This means two things (i) gauge maybe not set right and (ii) getting 48 miles to the gallon.
Simon
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Hi Dadlegend
mines the same about 130 miles before last bar shows and i only had to put in 12.5ltrs to fill it back up again, that means there are still 5ltrs i the tank, as the fazer 8 is supposed to have a 17.5ltr tank, so at least you know there is no rush to fill up again when you get to last bar lol, i recon you should get around 160 - 170 miles on a full tank
steve
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Putting it on the centre stand and filling it to the brim is 14 litres when I filled it just after the last bar started blinking, leaving 3l reserve. Today going up and back from Thruxton via all A/B roads it managed 50.2mpg. With a bit more effort I could get that down a bit :)
Last weekend coming back from Brands/B&B which was motorway/dual carraigeway at 80mph it did 55.7mpg.
So on mine the bar starts blinking between 150-170 or thereabouts.
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I did wonder if the gauge was showing right but better still 4 litres left in the tank!
Brands looked cold Phil, was thinking of going to Snetterton. I think Oulton Parks too far for me. Ventured as far as Assen for WSB last year - 440 miles each way in a day on a FZS600 - worth the trip thou.
Simon
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One more. So far so good.
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Theres a man of few words :lol