600 vs 1000

[darrsi]

I've been occasionally looking from afar at the Fazer 1000's, and have noticed that a few of you have the 600 and a 1000 too, and was just wondering what your thoughts were on the main differences of the 2 bikes.
To be totally honest i mainly use my bike for work, which isn't that far away anyway, and i've got the bike running just how i want it, which is very good, but would appreciate any opinions or plusses and minuses please?

Cheers, Darren.

[clayt74]

600 all the way!!!!!
1000 for touring or long journeys . The thou is too much for every day and the 600 will give abreast 55 meg

[red98]

600 all the way!!!!!
1000 for touring or long journeys . The thou is too much for every day and the 600 will give abreast 55 meg

me too......nice having a thou though 

[darrsi]

As much as i'd like to, i can't really justify having both, plus i don't really have the space to garage 2 bikes, so it'd be one or the other.
I've done so much work over the last few years on my bike that it makes me extremely reluctant to even think about parting with it, but then i was flicking through Ebay yesterday and saw some very well looked after 1000's in very good nick with low mileage and it kind of got me going! 

[red98]

As much as i'd like to, i can't really justify having both, plus i don't really have the space to garage 2 bikes, so it'd be one or the other.
I've done so much work over the last few years on my bike that it makes me extremely reluctant to even think about parting with it, but then i was flicking through Ebay yesterday and saw some very well looked after 1000's in very good nick with low mileage and it kind of got me going! 

 
had a quick look on the bay this morning    theres some very good bikes on there at very good prices    time of year in your favour 

[darrsi]

Yeah there are some nice tidy looking bikes up for sale at the moment, it is very tempting!
I had 5 numbers up on the lotto last Saturday (between 3 of us), i'm sort of grateful but extremely gutted at the same time, i had visions of a small fleet of bikes 

[limax2]

A mate who I sometimes ride with has a 1000 Fazer and like you I have been tempted to go for one. I think it might be better for the occasional camping trip with all the gear loaded, but for the rest of the time I think I would prefer the lesser wieght of my FZS600. It's really down to personal choice but for me I think I'll stick with the 600.

[red98]

have you seen the thou in for sale section....look for MIKEH57,looks good and a nice mileage/price 

[darrsi]

I've kind of been brought up surrounded by my brother's big engined bikes, he's had a V-Max, CBX1000, Z1300 and an XJ1300.
The only one of those that i rode was the V-Max which was really bloody heavy, and didn't like turning corners too well.

[kebab19]

I went from a 600 to a 1000 to 'get it out of my system'. Mental engine but does feel heavier & slower to turn (in standard trim).
Now I have been there, done it I might return back to the 600, which is probably more suited to road speeds.

If you don't tour or go two-up regularly, the 600 is probably all you need...I just had an itch that needed scratching

[red98]

I went from a 600 to a 1000 to 'get it out of my system'. Mental engine but does feel heavier & slower to turn (in standard trim).
Now I have been there, done it I might return back to the 600, which is probably more suited to road speeds.

If you don't tour or go two-up regularly, the 600 is probably all you need...I just had an itch that needed scratching

 
if iam honest i would agree with kebab........but you do get more respect on the road with the 1000  and its great when people ask what bike you ride and you can answer.....A THOU....with a great big grin on your face 

[darrsi]

The day i get respect on the roads around where i live, pigs will fly 

[bwizz]

I have the two and I agree with all the above, Only area for me where the thou shines is  for 2 up work ,For solo work  its to manic, Even for touring in places that I don't know the power and extra weight of the thou can easily get me into trouble.
The layout is very similar so thats a good thing for maintainence etc . Also factor in the price of a rear shock as standard thou ones are an issue.

[Buzz]

The only time I really ride my 600 is when the wife and I get out of London on the odd weekend and I've never found it lacking in power.   


She only weighs 8st though and I'm only 11.5 st so that's probably why! 

[budgiemurray]

I think a lot of it depends too on where and how you ride.. I ride a thou now but have had the 600 fazer in the past.. I get the get it out your system bit.. Mines was a 1100 blackbird for that..
The majority of my riding could best be decribed as rural, im rarely in citys or motorways but do tend to ride "progressavely" so the thou makes sense for me..
See what 2 ups like in the spring

Budgie

sent from somewhere beyond the rim.

[darrsi]

I live and work in North West London, so basically i ride in a lot of daily traffic.
Judging by all your input it doesn't sound like the 600 is going to go anywhere too soon.
And as people have suggested, i think it is just a case of "scratching that itch", but with the amount of traffic i've been dealing with recently i don't think the extra weight of the 1000 would be appreciated.
Good to hear your views though, i knew it was a question worth asking. 

[His Dudeness]

what you need to do is get a cheap 125. ride that for a month or so. then go back to the 600 and it will feel like a rocketship

[darrsi]

I did consider a rocket ship but the insurance was sky high....... 

[Wookee]

I had a thou for 10 years then downsized to a 600. I too live in North London and use it to commute 15 miles each way through traffic....all I can say is don't go for the thousand!


 I never ride two up and I have toured France a couple of times on the bigger bike, alone, and don't think I'd notice much difference on the 600. Not much chance of me doing too much touring in the future, so I won't be testing it.


So for your main mileage of getting through traffic you will notice the height and weight of the 1000 and it makes a big difference. I briefly had an injected 600 and didn't like that, but now I have a carbed version I can say it's easily the best bike I've had for what I use it for.

[darrsi]

@Wookee, that's an interesting comment about the injection 600 compared to the carbed version, what was it that you didn't like about it?

[Wookee]

@Wookee, that's an interesting comment about the injection 600 compared to the carbed version, what was it that you didn't like about it?

It was the on/off nature of the throttle. I did eventually get used to it, but I still didn't like it. My thou was Ivanised, so was smooth, and my 600 has just had it's carbs balanced and is incredibly smooth too. With the lower weight and better balancing point compared to the thousand for city stuff, going into and powering out of hazards is almost pleasurable.

I would advise anyone with a carbed version to keep them balanced...it really does make a difference

[darrsi]

I had my carbs balanced a few weeks ago due to low speed rough running and it does make a huge difference.

[Lez72]

I know you obviously have more weight with the 1000 but i find mine a much easier bike to ride than my 600. Thats obviously due to the extra 50 odd bhp which allows you to be a bit lazier with the gearbox. I find the 600 a bit lacking in the power department personally which makes for a more hectic ride.

[bwizz]

Having to ride my thou more at the moment as my 600 is damaged, other pluse's of the thou which i had forgot are ,
better suspension less jarring, smoother all round better back brake" which I use a lot" marginal'y slicker box, possibly better on a motorway , but i think the aerodynamics of my 600 with the "home made vario screen" are better.
Both very good bikes !

[Lumpy]

The layout is very similar so thats a good thing for maintainence etc . Also factor in the price of a rear shock as standard thou ones are an issue.

so not really worth putting one on the 600 then?