I'm new here having just put down deposit on a Fazer 8. Well not strictly true, I did mull around here when I had a 2000 carbed 600 Fazer & then again a 2006 FZ6 Fazer about 5 years ago.

 I resurrected my profile from back then & onto this section of the forum. First I'm surprised how quiet it is. I know Yamaha discontinued the bikes in large part due to poor sales but how many FZ8s & Fazer 8s are actually out there?

 The good thing about it being so quiet is I've been able to read through all the previous posts quite easily. I'm really surprised at all the haters of the 8 series. I know the likes of MCN weren't overly keen on the bike but all they could really say negative was the original retail price was too high & non adjustable forks were bad. It seems even to the 600 & 1000 foccers that the 8s are the embarrassing relations you don't invite to the family events in case they show you up.

 I was in the showroom with no thoughts of returning to Fazerdom when the lovely 2013 in black caught my eye as a damn good looking bike. When I realised it was a Fazer then my fondness for that marque came flooding back. They had an FZ1 in stock as well but I fancied a bit fairing after a few years on naked Triumphs & I don't think the extra hp will be any use to me in the real world other than as a licence loser when my mate on his ZZR 1400 opens up.

 I note that actual owners of the 8 seem to have little negative to say about them, so why all the hatred?

 Sorry if this is duplicating something already covered but I couldn't see it anywhere.

  Anticipating my 56 Fazer might not want to start after sitting in the alley for a few weeks during this inclement weather I decided to try to start her before I got kitted up so I could see if I needed to charge the battery. To my surprise & delight she came out screaming 1st time. Went off had a shower, did some bits & bobs then got kitted up & rolled her out. Must have been idling for at least half an hour by that time then foc me, I stalled it. Not a big problem, into neutral & start her up again. She lets's out a little cough & my display fades. A couple more tries & all I'm left with is the clicking sound. 20 minutes later I try again & she's back to life, went about 5 miles, stopped for fuel after which she started no problem.

 Now my first thought is the battery but surely she wouldn't have started at all & the time left idling would have allowed it to charge itself up a little. Also the battery's little more than a year old so shouldn't be in too bad nick anyway. I'll stick the optimiser on at the weekend just to check but can anyone tell me if the symptoms sound familiar & offer a cheap solution?