Hi, been looking at getting a Fazer and especially an FZS1000 (Gen1) after a few recommendations. I'm new bikes, not that young(!), and experience so far is the XJ600 I've been riding for my DAS. I was wondering though, what the general opinion is between the 600 and thou? I know one won't be better than another, but would be grateful for advice on best / worst bits about both from those who know the bikes well! I'm looking for something that will make me grin when I get off it, do a bit a commuting if I need to on occasion (not often) and not be hard on the wrists... or back! (which puts me off full-on sports bikes). really like the forum here too. What a great site! Sorry for the newbie questions...
hi chris and welcome.......if you do a search you will find this question has been asked before..think i might have started it  ......depends on what you like doing best and your budget....the 600 is good at communting and a blast at the weekend....the thou is a bit big and thirsty around town but better on fast A roads and touring....both great bikes,i have both and this the best option 
One, is never going to be enough.....
Either is a fantastic bike, your spoilt for choice. I'd go for the bigger one, it's the best all rounder ever built, but I'm old and fat, I need the extra grunt. I'll own up to summat though...years back I had a gsxr1100wp, first of the water cooled gixxer elevens. I had the front suspension set up and re internal led by mark brewin, years before he opened BSD engineering. I slaughtered just about everything I came across on that bike, and felt like I was king dick, as you do. One summer evening on the bitchfield to Stamford road I happened across a bloke on a fz600, which had only just come out. There was a clue that he was a good rider in that he was wearing a one piece, but the bike as far as I knew was a commuter with a de tuned thundercat lump. Easy pickings....or so I thought. Time and time again he just pissed off, got 200 yards in front then waited for me, then pissed off again..not only that, it looked effortless, I was hauling my bigass gixxer about trying to stay with him, sweat pouring out of me and forearms feeling like they was gonna burst. It was a very humbling lesson, and I've treated them "commuters" with a lot of respect ever since... :o :o
I think you can't go far wrong with either Chris, but I would say, if you're planning a lot of long trips/touring, the thou just has the size and legs to make it much more relaxing, less tiring. If your riding is more just Sunday blasts or town commuting, the 600 may be a better bet. But the thou will do it all, and so you're quite right to consider it. You should also have no problems going from the XJ to it as long as you take your time getting used to the extra performance. I went from a CB100N to a 750 Turbo after passing my test - scared myself silly a couple of times but other than that had no probs. I've been used to large capacity bikes for most of my riding life, and just know I would miss that too much to have a 600 as an only bike.
I jumped straight onto a Thou after my DAS (and promptly fell off, but that's another story :rollin ).
My instructor advised against a 600 (especially the XJ6) as he thought I'd get bored in 6 months. I looked at a Street Triple and a VFR800 but then a Thou came up in a dealer and it was pristine and original and after a test ride, I had to have it.
I tootled around a town at 30mph and it was as docile and even-fuelled as anything. Out on the road when I cracked the throttle open I was hooked. Still am.
:lol
I have the 600, but because im a fat foccer, I think I could be doing with the thou for the extra grunt.
The 600 is still an excellent bike though, but to me i think you really need to rev it to get the most of the power (the power is all at the op end after 7k RPM).
both are cracking bikes (only ever had one short go on the fzs1000), but both are very different to ride. most has ben said above, the 600 is a bit more agile and good for commuting, but the thou is good for more distance riding.
I think Red98 has the answer though... buy one of each!
One of each is a good call, that's another good thing about these bikes, they are ridiculously affordable. It speaks volumes that anyone who has ever had one would have another in an instant. The fz1000 is arguably the biking worlds best kept secret, and one of the best vfm sports bikes you could buy. Get both, you know it makes sense....
Looks like I need to make some more space in my garage
I keep looking at the thou and thinking should I get one then I could have two bikes I seldom get to use. Anyway day off tomorrow and forecast is good so who knows...
I was lucky enough to do a test for bike mag on the new multistrada awhile back, along with three professional riders, including Pete boast, all round good guy, track day trainer and racer. They chucked three "old" bikes into the mix, including a ten year old gen 1 fazer thou. All four of us picked it over the 14 grand multistrada. That's the beauty of the bike...anybody at any level can get the best out of it. If your good you will slaughter people on race bikes. If your new to big bikes it will look after you, and grow with you. It's a true riders bike and then some
The ONLY bike I ve ever felt sorry about selling was my Gen 1 thou. It was an incredibly good machine for all purposes but owing to advancing age & health issues-mainly loss of strength I was fortunate enough to do a straight swap for a beautiful 03 Foxeye-low miles & well looked after. Apart from the difference in power the weight saving has allowed me to keep riding. The thou is a gentle beast when trickling along(get an Ivanised one if poss or get the work done) but takes off like a missile when youre ready for action! The 600 needs a few more revs & use of gearbox but its one helluva good bike. theres never been a better time to buy either as prices continue to tumble. In my opinion don't go for the FZ6(fuel injection 2004 0n & beware 2006 Gen 2 thous(fuelling issues). Give me the carbed bikes anyday! :lol
thank you all for the great feedback. I'm going to stick to looking at the FZS carb'ed Fazers, and try to test ride one of each next weekend (I've found a dealer not that far away that has both - if he'll agree to me taking them out). But I know from a short test ride I'm not going to push the bikes (don't want to drop them) so not get a full picture of their capabilities. I was wondering if size or age (of the rider, not the bikes!) have an influence? I'm mid-40s, 5'8" and slim(ish). Any ideas of how long I could keep riding a thou' before it became too much?! Also, in terms of getting into and out of corners, is one far better than the other, or it it a matter of technque and experience? Any other feedback gratefully received. In the meantime, my Fazer hunt continues!
Chris, I cant comment on a thou but I returned to biking after over 10 years not riding onto a 600 (02 plate) 2 years ago. i'm bout same age & hieght to you. I ride (commute) 32miles each way (Mway/A road/B roads) and then go home to cornwall (250 miles/ 4hours) on mine and love it! have to stop to refuel after bout 200 miles but need to stop at least 1 other time on a run that long (numb bum syndrome)
also have the occasional ride out along the south coast on a nice evening and I find it the perfect bike!
just my opinion on the 600!
depends on what kinda ride you are looking for and what you intend to use it for
It ain't what you ride, it's who you ride with!!!
Chris-I stopped riding the thou this summer aged 65-I could have carried on but it was awkward to get round my restricted access path to shed whereas I can get the 600 round easy. I wouldn't think of the thou as a sportsbike-it really is docile unless you decide otherwise. Remember the throttle works both ways :eek :lol ! Ride both & get a feel for them. If still unsure why not have a spell on the smaller bike ( its surprisingly agile & will shift when required then you can trade up to a thou or better still keep both!
Chris, there is lots of great advice here mate. I have a 2000 FZS 600 (Black ones are best ). I bought it just over 2 years ago. I passed my test and bought a CBR 600 and sold it within 10 weeks. Had the Fazer ever since. I have learned so much riding that bike. I agree with what the guys have said about both being good bikes. I ride mine a lot and easily pass lots of Sunday riders out on their litre sports bikes (which gives me so much joy - see my "chicken strips" thread). This is accredited to the confidence that the Fazer have given me over our 15000 miles together. As for touring, I took him to the Nurburgring last month (and round it 4 times), covering 6 countries in 10 days with a 62mpg average over the trip, including a full tank at the ring. The bike never skipped a beat, so touring is plenty possible on the 600. Although I would not want to do any 700 mile motorway days on it, I imagine the thou would do that much better. You can't go wrong with either, but I would (and did) start with the 600 and go from there. If you "get board" after 6 months, you can always move up. Happy riding and welcome to the forum.
Not quite sure what to do with my early mid-life crisis. Ideas on a post card to P.O.BOX 150...
Difficult one to call :eek
I have both and love both of them 
I find them both cracking all rounders.
The 1000 is a little heavier and even though it is very powerful it is quite sedate and very managable below 3000 rev. Above that is is great and pulls well in all gears from 2000 revs. Both handle well when set up correctly and the 600 will embarrass many sporty models in the hands of a good rider.
I have toured on both two up and where as I thoughly enjoyed the power of the 1000 my dodgy right leg and iffy right shoulder make the 600 much easier to move around when loaded up with panniers and tank bag and just as much fun.
I would suggest if possible you ride both back to back and make your decision then, but since you are coming from an XJ600 the 02-03 version 600s might be best option to start with.
Never mind what some of these delusional Foccers say the Red and Black 600s and 1000s are definitely the best of the lot. :lol
Hi chris, when i got my gen 2 thou i had gone to the dealer to buy a 600. the salesman advised i get the thou cos within 6 months id be looking for a thou. i dont know if he was right or wrong but i do know the fz1s is by far the best bike ive ever owned and i would not swap it for the world. Of course its black, the best colour.
a bird in the hand poops on the wrist
thanks for all the great feedback. I've got a test-ride on both planned for next weekend, and will take it from there. Sat on them in the showroom yesterday and wish I could have both!
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