New fzs600 owner - Hello :) (more pics added)

[rw711]

Hi I just got a Fzs600
- cheap with quite alot of miles and expired mot, so I am expecting to have a few questions to ask as I am getting it back to being on the road again.

[Graham53]

Welcome
plenty of info on all things Fazer here so I'm sure you'll be able to get your new steed back to roadworthy, have a look around the site youll find everything you need to know
and people are pretty friendly here too
However .........  :useless
post some pics of your bike and tell us a bit more like what part of the country you are , how long you been biking etc etc.

[mtread]

cheap with quite alot of miles and expired mot

Don't worry about the miles. They're fairly bulletproof up to 100K or even more

[rw711]

Welcome
plenty of info on all things Fazer here so I'm sure you'll be able to get your new steed back to roadworthy, have a look around the site youll find everything you need to know
and people are pretty friendly here too
However .........  :useless
post some pics of your bike and tell us a bit more like what part of the country you are , how long you been biking etc etc.

No bother    - I havent been able to get any pics of the bike yet as I only picked up the bike yesterday, I will try get some soon - its a blue 2001 model - I still have my zzr600 it was a bit of an impulse buy  :rolleyes  - I have been having a bit of trouble with knee cartiledge just recently and found that the riding position on the zzr was just on the painful bit, and particularly lifting my leg up onto the peg was getting difficult and painful, the seat on the zzr is particularly low, and the pegs high.  I had a good long' delivery ride' for a friend on a Transalp and realised the upright riding position and higher seat was the way to go, the 'alp seemed a bit slow and soft though and they command a high resale value.

I have ridden bikes , mostly kawa's since passing my test at 18 - with a brief layoff whilst the family was young, I had a lot of kawasaki GT's but finding good ones is hard I've had 2 that sheared their frames.

This is first time for a Yamaha I do like the fazers esp the mk1's as they are individual and dont really look like any other bike.

the one I have has 50k miles and needs mot (but it has only done 300 since last mot) there seems to be bits of coolant coming out of the hole in the engine fins (o/s) but thanks to site read that this is a drainage hole for plugs and seen close -ups with a rad hose going above the plugs so I think I've found where to look.

Pics to follow, pic of an old bike in meantime lol.

[rw711]

cheap with quite alot of miles and expired mot

Don't worry about the miles. They're fairly bulletproof up to 100K or even more

Thanks, my other reply must have crossed -

this pic is my zzr - which I need to sell, maybe after xmas to get the Fazer sorted, they are great bikes and comfortable compared to many of similar style but riding position is quite compact- clipons and low seat/high pegs, would probably suit a shorter rider!

[Graham53]

Spooky , I was just reading a joint bike feature on the ZZR600 and the CBR600 in practical sportsbikes (good mag) never had either but the ZZR gets a pretty good write up and reasonable £££ too, I think when you get the Fazer up and running you'll be quietly pleased 
I've had mine since 05 and have got the mighty 1000 to keep it company on cold evenings as well , good all round reliable comfortable bikes that can be improved and modified immensely with a few £

[rw711]

I think it should be pretty good! - the fazer and zzr have almost identical power/weight/torque stats according to the figures.

maybe top speed is a bit more on the zzr and less fairing is more of a physical limit on the fazer - but lets face it I drive for a living and live where there is no motorways, just A & B roads (rural Scotland)  - i cant practically or justify taking either to their limits lol

If anything I'm hoping the less fairing will slow me down a bit!  :evil :lol

[Graham53]

the fazer has basically the same motor as the thundercat and is pretty nippy I've seen 135 on mine without too much trouble  (on a private road and autobahn of course  )  although the screen can give you wind blast about head height but a double bubble sorts that out and it is a comfortable riding position.
With attention to the suspension and decent rubber she handles pretty sweet as well and lots of guys tend to keep them long term even after getting other bikes as well.
You'll also find that blue IS the fastest colour (good choice btw) although there are some silver owners that may disagree  :lol

[rw711]

the fazer has basically the same motor as the thundercat and is pretty nippy I've seen 135 on mine without too much trouble  (on a private road and autobahn of course  )  although the screen can give you wind blast about head height but a double bubble sorts that out and it is a comfortable riding position.
With attention to the suspension and decent rubber she handles pretty sweet as well and lots of guys tend to keep them long term even after getting other bikes as well.
You'll also find that blue IS the fastest colour (good choice btw) although there are some silver owners that may disagree  :lol

well I just looking through and although the ad has been taken down did find I had saved a couple of pics

[Graham53]

not bad , looks tidy and clean from the pic and it looks it shouldn't need much to get it on the road :thumbup

[rw711]

thats the worse side - the n/s has just a scuff from people getting on and off,

- the fairing on this side has had a repair - and could do with paint touching up,
- fork seals - new spare pair included in sale
- coolant leak to be investigated- think it maybe thermostat
- starts stops and rides like it should
- seems to be cable routing all over shop but maybe thats cos I'm used to a full fairing?

obviously I want to see how it goes at mot before upgrading things just for fun    - the exhaust is a big bodge - stainless header into original silencer with just a jubilee clip - I'll tidy that up if not too much other stuff needed for mot

t'other side...

[Graham53]

The standard silencer should have the clamp and bolt built in but the other items are easier to fit ,when you do the fork seals there are posts about changing to a heavier weight fork oil for better handling
There is some cable routing but I don't recall it being too obtrusive it might just be a combination of it needs tidying where previous owners have not tidied up after maintainance and that you've been on a full faired bike where all that engine loveliness has been hidden away.
K&n standard fit air filter is good option for when you replace and keeping the carbs balanced at regular intervals is a good idea

[rw711]

Fab will take all on board and prioritise- exhaust isn't leaking atm - so will leave well alone till MOT'd then tidy

checked my notes its actually just the dust covers on the forks that needed doing - the bike although I've only had a brief helmetless /no mot etc test ride in my own private car park  :lol  - has revealed the forks are very stiff already, again that may be more a comment on zzr front end soft brakes & suspension?-  you can tell that there has been upgrades already and that some of the stuff already fitted is not the bargain option- Metzlers for instance??

[Graham53]

Many swear by pilot road 3's Ive got Metz on my 1000 but I'm not sure about them but it does look like it's been cared for

[rw711]

auch , got pirelli diablo on the zzr - recommended by the zzr riders group - but maybe we're all cheapskates lol

[Graham53]

Sorry  :rolleyes
Didn't mean that in a derogatory way , I just meant the bike looked cared for and I didn't like the Metz rubber on my thou  :'(

[rw711]

Dont worry :lol  - I'll see how I go with the tyres, unlikely to replace till they wear out unless unsafe   

[rw711]

So found the source of my coolant drip...
Just above no3. HT lead ?? ?

Got a pic but can't seem to upload of my phone... will maybe try later when finished at work ?

[rw711]

Today I got the opportunity to check over the bike in good sunlight, and still not thinking its a complete lost cause lol :lol

- this is the worst side again, conclusion would be that it has had a low speed drop on o/s at some point.

the drip is coming down above the no. 3 sticker on HT lead so it could be the hose or clip that needs replaced, what else is up there?
-read it might be thermostat. - will need to get the tank off and have a good look