FZS 1000 2001 - colected, thoughts and questions

[River Valley]

Collected my fazer on Tuesday and rode it to Hull ferry that afternoon, then on to home in the Mosel, Germany, on Wednesday (torrential rain and poor visibility almost the entire way). I've had two first gen fazers before.
It seems to be as good a bike as I remember it to be (hence buying another), but I've a few questions I hope you'll help with:

- the suspension has been 'sorted' (previous owner's words) by Ktech. The front end feels a little firmer than I remember, but still a little 'bouncy' (especially compared to my blade). The rear seems ok. I can't recall the standard shock at all, visually. This has a red spring, a cylinder (excuse my ignorance), remote resevoir?, with blue adjustment collars and a blue end 'cap' on the right side of the cylinder. What have I got? just the Ktech spring or a complete unit?

- the ride height seems higher than I remember and looks jacked-up. I read the thread on dog bones and it would appear that mine are shorter than standard, explaining the height. My legs/hips seem to ache sooner than I remember on my previous bikes. My question is, does having shorter dog bones and subsequent raised ride height, affect the relationship - in terms of distance - between foot peg and seat? I ask because I've just measured it on the fazer and on my blade and they're about the same, which is interesting, because I got the fazer because the blade was causing aches in my legs. Coul be that I'm just getting old and stiff of course! You can see where I'm going with this .... if the leg position is more-or-less the same, I'm wondering if I should just fir higher bars to the blade (cnc comfort kit), as it's - in my opinion - a better handling bike. If there is a relationship between dog legs/ride height and distance between pegs and seat, then maybe I can sort it by returning it to standard.

- Is there an easy way (ie for a mechanical numpty) to tell if the exup is working as it should be? I was told that the previous owner serviced it every year, but the collector box is quite rusty and I don't know if this is significant regarding the exup?

-The tyres are Bridgestone Battlaxe, with an 015 on the front and an 023 on the rear. Is this an acceptable or commom combination?

Hope you don't mind me asking so many questions, being relatively new to the forum, but as they say in my native Northumberland, 'shy bairns get nowt'! Thanks in anticipation.

-

[VNA]

OE shock;




OE shock upgraded to K-Tech spec;



Collector box is cast, I wouldn't worry about a bit of rust.  Pop the cover off (hopefully the previous owner has fitted stainless screws) and have a look.  Turn on the ignition and it should zero.  Fire up the bike and it should open a bit, twist the throttle and it'll open more.  If it zeros and moves, it's working.  But you'll be wanting to service it soon anyway I would think. 

Not difficult to service EXUP - guide here - http://www.cartestsoftware.com/fz1/exupmaintenance.html

Tyres should be fine I'd guess. 

Dunno about dog bones.

[ghostbiker]

the blade is a much more lean forward position so would effect back more than legs. at least i found the blade fairly roomy for legs, it was tank shape and my back that caused me issues.

I dont have measure ments to hand but i would have thought a raised rear would give greater leg room, i raised mine and there was a marked differance in seat to floor hight but i didnt notice a huge amount of diff between seat and peg hight.

the blade IS a better handling machine, there is no doubt about that at all. its power delivery and comfort where the main diffs are between the two. fazer is more midrange and blade is more top revs, fazer is "ment" to be more comfortable but that will allways depend on the rider.
some ppl hate the feel of race bikes but others much prefer the way you sit in them rather than on them.

[Falcon 269]

Hi, welcome and congratulations on the new Fazer.   Sounds like yours has the full K-tech shock upgrade which looks like this, minus spring:



Footpeg and seat relationship isn't affected by jacking up the rear end since both are fixed to the main frame.  However, having the rear end higher might be throwing your weight forward and that could be contributing to the hip/back issue.  I'd give it a while longer to get used to the ergos, though.  Higher bars on the Fazer and a bit of seat re-shaping might be worth considering if it still remains less uncomfortable than you desire.

Ditto everything VNA said about the EXUP.  Get in there soon and check/copper grease everything.

The tyre combo isn't a common mix but if it rides OK, stay with it.  I personally prefer to run matched pairs.

Cheers!

Mike

[ghostbiker]

Footpeg and seat relationship isn't affected by jacking up the rear end since both are fixed to the main frame. 
Cheers!

Mike

ROFL that would explain why i didnt notice a diff in leg room then. as soon as you said it i thought DUH! of course it is, i only had the damn pegs of yesterday to

I do prefer the jacked up rear (and forks droped through by 10mm to) way the bike feels but it has put more wieght on my arms and this has been an issue now and then round citys etc. the renthals may help counter that a little but not a lot as 758's are close to oe in hight.
the other thing i noticed with the rear jacked is i have to keep pushing my butt back as i tend to move against the tank more than i used to. if i get the spare cash i would like to reshape the seat to give a little better rider hump.

[River Valley]

Thanks guys, that's clear, helpful and makes a lot of sense. I've clearly got the Ktech upgrade. I'll take a lok at the exup (should be able to get the cover off - if it comes easily - then ask a mate to do the maintenance bit, as I don't trust myself). I'll try the riding position for a while. If the jacking-up doesn't affect the peg/seat distance, I'll have to see if there is a peg lowering kit or bracket? as it's the bent leg position that kills. My back is fine and can take sports clip ons without a problem. ie it's defo a leg problem for me.

[cable tie]

Hi and welcome seems someone has spent some money sorting out the issues on the gen1 and no doubt you have a sorted bike, and the rds around the Mosel are ideal for such bike, infact that part of germany has such good biking rds and only down the rd from the ring NICE, I've stayed around the mosel twice now and it's always been fantastic place to ride, I'm out that way again in June the 500 will be our playing ground.

Dave.

[PieEater]

Regarding the tyres, I used to run a bridgestone sports tyre on the front (014) and a touring tyre on the rear (020) on my first blade with no issues, I did this because I didn't realy trust the touring tyres and felt more confident with a stickier front on a sports bike, I asked my regular mechanic if this would be an issue and he said not. I'm guessing the previous owner of your bike either felt happier with a stickier tyre on the front or maybe he did a trackday at some point and replaced the rear afterwards, either way it's not an issue as from experience Bridgestones sports and sports/touring tyres work well together.

I had an RR-R blade and an RR-Y, although it was a while ago I wouldn't say that my Fazer is particularly outclassed in the handling stakes (your blade is probably newer though), but I have spent money on upgrading the Fazers suspension which I didn't on the blades. I suspect you might need to spend a little time tweaking the suspension to suit your requirements and to adjust to the new riding position. I find the natural riding position on the Fazer isn't condusive to more 'spirited' riding, I find when the red mist rises I drop forward into more of a sports crouch putting more weight over the front and giving more freedom of movement in my arms to shift my weight around, at which point I'd say I'm as quick on my Fazer as I was on any of my previous bikes.

[River Valley]

Good points, well made. Didn't expect such full replies - think I'm going to enjoy it here!
Yes, it's a fabulous area that we live in, especially for bikers. The climate is great (microclimate due to the geology and aspect of the valley) and the roads are fantastic. A lot of people go to the Nurbugring, 30 miles from us, but in truth, the local roads are just as good, albeit you can't go flat-out of course - but you can go very fast and policing is very low + you save 28 eurs a pop!
My blade is a year 2000 929, has standard suspension (the best standard on any bike I've had), but with PCIII and damper. It fuels beautifully and handles like a dream on the road. I just find it cripples my les after a while - which is why I got the fazer. To be honest, I was surprised that it cramps my legs so much and had expected more leg comfort. I guess it's due to me last having a fazer thou a good few years ago and I've passed the 55 mark, noticing a definate stiffening-up and aches in my legs when riding. Love the fazer though, its easy power and smooth engine, great brakes and practicality, so will keep it and maybe look at getting the pegs lower by an inch or so. Got to be some brackets or kit for this?

[pitternator]

Hi there, just a comment on yer tyres. Having had now 3 sets of 023 front and rear I am happy to recommend just using the pairs. The 023 front has very grippy side rubber, proven on a cadwell park track day .The 023s displayed fantastic grip,as good as sports rubber.
I used to put an 010 front on a 020 rear as it felt it was more grippy, but with the 023 its not necesary, and your tyres usually will be cheaper bought as a matched pair. I find its still 2 rears to 1 front in terms of general wear rate.
The other great thing about the 023 is the stability they give all the way down to minimum tread.

[Minty]

Here's some figures based on several postings of measurements
made to raise and lower FZ1's.
The centre to centre distance between the bolt holes and the resulting
change in height.

137mm = 22.5mm
138mm = 17.4mm
139mm = 12.6mm
140mm = 8.1mm
141mm = 3.8mm
142mm = -0.2mm
143mm = -3.9mm
144mm = -7.3mm
145mm = -10.5
146mm = -13.5
147mm = -16.1
148mm = -18.5
149mm = -20.6
150mm = -22.5
151mm = -24.1
152mm = -25.4

[sadlonelygit]

getting the pegs lower by an inch or so. Got to be some brackets or kit for this?

SEARCH is your friend here

[Rangrally]

Hi there, just a comment on yer tyres. Having had now 3 sets of 023 front and rear I am happy to recommend just using the pairs. The 023 front has very grippy side rubber, proven on a cadwell park track day .The 023s displayed fantastic grip,as good as sports rubber.
I used to put an 010 front on a 020 rear as it felt it was more grippy, but with the 023 its not necesary, and your tyres usually will be cheaper bought as a matched pair. I find its still 2 rears to 1 front in terms of general wear rate.
The other great thing about the 023 is the stability they give all the way down to minimum tread.

I would totally agree: bought my 600 with the 010/020 front/rear combination and was never confident pushing through corners. I had a pair of 023's fitted on the recommendation of my local tyre fitter and the transformation is quite staggering: much more confidence in the bike even from cold and the rear just digs in and follows where the front goes - brilliant!