Would anyone really want to be fitting originals back on?
I would have thought that the only reason to want to but an original set, would be because their's were that damaged (dented, holes, etc) and they couldn't afford a stainless set, so i would think they would only want to pay sub-£100 for a set of originals, seeing as the stainless ones aren't that much dearer than you are thinking of asking for your originals.
I'm about to buy a set of stainless front pipes, as for the original ones i'll be removing?...i might just clean them up, spray them and stick them on ebay for around £75.

G ; )

Hi George, I was wondering if you were ever going to get round to getting that Fazer! When are you next over this way? Pop in and have a brew when you are in the area. 

Only just seen this post John mate, don't know how i missed it, sorry.
Obviously, we sent texts today, so all is well, i'll be up your way early September mate, although i'll be in the car, got some bits to pick up, see you then.

G ; )

Sounds like you're just not used to the inline 4 yet, although it won't get there in 6th you've got another 5000 revs on top!

I know mate, it's some 25 years since i had the Z1R and the GS1000's, used to thrash them everywhere, although i was in my early 30's back then.
I'll be 60 next April and i'm no Kenny Roberts but i do enjoy howling the Fazer around the mountain roads here, i'm very happy with it but the oily biker that i was, just can't help wanting to tweak it a little bit more.

G ; )

Keep us posted on your findings, I'm doing a lot of motorway miles too, although getting battered by the wind is my main problem at the mo', I'm almost happy to get to the roadworks on the M62 to have a break - "almost" that is

Have you looked at the gearing spreadsheet here:
http://foc-u.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Effect_of_Changing

Cheers,
Rob

Yes, seen the spreadsheet Rob, although due to the area where i live, i'll need to do a bit of experimenting with the gearing.
Being very close to Snowdonia and the brilliant sweepy roads hereabout, the standard gearing is probably ok, although i still find myself going for a seventh gear sometimes, if i'm having a decent thrashing session.
Cruising at 70-80mph on the motorway however, is a different matter, it just feels like the bike is revving too high at that speed, even though the rev-counter is only showing around 6-7k at that speed.
Maybe i've been riding twins for too long and forgotten how revvy the Jap multi's are?
The new chain and sprocket kit arrived this morning, just waiting for the 12mm output shaft nut and tab washer to turn up, then i can get them fitted, plus the fork dust covers i bought a few weeks ago, then take things from there.
I'll post on here any improvements (or not) that i find with the gearing mods.

G ; )

Go for the DID upgrade kit, gold and black chain which not only looks nice but lasts a long long time, they're about £85 with the sprockets, although there are several suppliers on eBay all the uk based ones are fine to use.


There's very little point going up on the front, in order to change gearing people normally adjust both sprockets, I'm currently one down on the back just because the rear wheel came off my thundercat and the difference is not noticeable. (I understand one tooth on back compared to one on the front would be a bigger ratio!)
But what are you honestly trying to achieve? Fuel consumption would be neglagable, and where are you going to use the 2/3 mph extra top speed?
If you do change both sprockets then its going to be more like starting off from traffic lights in 2nd gear!

Cheers for the advice.
When i had the Ducati Monster 900, one of the mods was to go down a couple of teeth on the front sprocket, mainly because the bike was a nightmare in town, being an L twin, it was quite lumpy in slow moving traffic, although obviously the difference in gearing showed up on the motorway, so it was a bit of a catch 22 situation with that bike.
With the Fazer, i'm finding myself looking for a seventh gear, the idea of going up a tooth on the front, is that it'll give the bike longer legs on the motorway, which i spend quite a bit of time on.

ps; i assume the kits come with a soft link included?

G ; )

Took the sprocket cover off mine yesterday, been getting noises and vibes through the footrests that pointed to a possible worn chain and sprockets, plus i was rather paranoid about the sprocket nut loosening problem.
Happy days, the sprocket nut is tight but both the chain and sprockets are due for replacement, boo!
Cleaned all the crap out of the cover and around the sprocket, discarded the cover gasket, which was in bits anyway and re-fitted the cover and made the necessary adjustment to the clutch to compensate for the missing gasket.
My chain cleaning routine has usually been a case of cleaning the chain with WD40, then wiping the excess off with a rag, then using a paintbrush to grease the chain with LM grease, i really don't like the spray type chain lubes, maybe i'm just old fashioned?
Anyway, just about to order the 12mm front sprocket nut and tab washer and a new chain and sprocket kit.

G ; )

Quote from: BluprintZ on 02 August 2013, 09:17:05 am

So, the bike had been stood for quite a while and i imagine that the carbs could well be gummed up slightly, although the smoking has me a touch worried, a broken ring perhaps?
I'll check what i can and then let matey with the dyno check the carbs and maybe a compression test and take it from there i suppose.
I gave £1,500 for the bike, slightly over the top maybe but i don't think i've bought a donkey, apart from these issues, it goes really well.

Thanks again guys, G ; )

Wouldn't it be a bit noisy with broken/damaged ring/s? Also performance affected quite noticeably?

I expect so Nick, it's just me being a bit paranoid mate, i've ridden all kinds of bikes since 1970, apart from a ten year break from 1998 - 2008, from then on it's been a Ducati Monster, a Triumph Thruxton and a BMW R100S, all twin cylinder bikes, the last time i had a four cylinder one was a GS1000S back in 1986, you forget how reliable the multi-cylinder Jap bikes are, especially these days with the advances in oil technology, etc.

STP Complete Fuel System Cleaner is very good at cleaning up internals, i used half a bottle per full tank (consecutively over 2 tanks) and i was very happy with the results. A few others on here have used it too and noticed a big difference as well.

Cheers Darrsi, will look into that mate.

G ; )

Quote from: BluprintZ on 01 August 2013, 10:33:13 pm

£33.57 for a bleedin' air filter?  !!! Good god, you can get a new one for that!  .

G ; )

They're double that on their website.
1,000,000 mile guarantee, you do the maths!


£31.37 anyway, see, you've saved £2.20 already 

Tongue in cheek Darrsi, that time of night mate.
I'll check mine out tomorrow and if it looks suspect, i'll order one.

Cheers, G ; )

Cheers for the advice guys, much appreciated.

G ; )

Well, i've had the Fazer a couple of weeks now and i'm pleased as punch with it, although a couple of issues have arisen.
I live in Bangor, North Wales and occasionally i have a trip up to Rossendale, in Lancashire to visit friends and family, sometimes in the car, sometimes on the bike.
Last Friday, i gave the bike it's first decent long(ish) run up North, it ran pretty well, apart from a tendency to "bog down" when i opened the throttle to overtake a vehicle on the motorway.
I've noticed this a couple of times before i went on the trip, doing around 40-50mph, then drop down a gear and overtake but it sometimes holds back until i roll the throttle off a touch, then it takes off like a scalded cat.
On the motorway, doing around 70-80mph, the same thing would happen, roll off the throttle for a vehicle in front, then when it has moved over, i open the throttle and it dies for a spit second, until i roll off the throttle, then it picks up again and all is good.
Today, i want out for a short spin round the mountain roads hereabouts with a mate on his SV650, at certain points he would take off and i would follow, although again the bike would bog down if i wound the throttle open and as before, it would pick up again if i rolled off a touch.
Matey also mentioned that there was a slight smoking when setting off if we stopped for a while, plus he said he could smell the "smoke".
Haven't checked the plugs as yet, although the end of the silencer isn't wet, just sooty, so i'm hoping that the problem may be down to a rich mixture problem, i don't have to use the choke when i first start the bike, again that makes me think it could be a carb problem, it doesn't appear to be using any engine oil, the level is fine.
Anyway, i phoned my friendly dyno man today, to see if he can give it a once over and maybe find the problem, although he's booked up all next week but said he will call me if he gets a window free.

Cheers, G ; )

Devils Bridge, that brings back some good memories of my days on my GS1000 and Z1R, used to be a fair contingent of us would ride there on a Sunday from Rossendale, back in the mid 80's.
Rivvington Barn is another good bike meet on a Sunday near Bolton, if you are in the area.
I can understand how easy it is to get rid of the "chicken strips" on these bikes, certainly a very chuckable bike in the twisties, although as others have stated, not sure i'm brave enough to go over that far, although i haven't had the bike long, so who knows?!!

G ; )