...Whenever I get new rubber the bike is always easier to turn, so make sure you look at the tyre on your test ride, if the tyres are squared off the bike will feel hard to turn....[/quote] Absolutely agree on that! Do not judge a used bike test-ride on worn tyres! I thought the Fazer Thou felt dull and lazy in the turn until I put a new set of tyres on it and WOW!! It's a brilliant bike in terms of handling, comfort and power. I've had 40 bikes and no bike is perfect, but the FZS1000 isn't far off it. Tom
Don't do it.A lot of people have told you that the Fazer is very forgiving, and they are right, it is. For a 140hp super monster that can leave you without a licence is less time then it took you to read this sentence, it is surprisingly forgiving. However, with a background of 125's and 500's, I would be very reluctent to suggest anything more then a CBR600. Get a five or six year old one, buy carefully and keep it in good nick and you will sell it in a year or three for pretty much exactly what you paid. You will have every bit as much fun and you will learn how to ride a 'proper' bike. I am not being patronising (though I might sound it) but if you try and ride a Fazer like a 125 you will not survive.
I wonder if Andy bought a Fazer in the end. His original post was approx. 18 months ago...