600 to 1000.....why should i do it?

[JoeRock]

I'm getting the itch & after next season i reckon ill be changing to something just a little more exotic.


1.) [size=78%]-An Aprillia might be nice, but it wont come with the full support team that the Fazer offers, foc-u is worth allot of consideration & a great place, would i want to be a lurker with another bike??[/size]

2.) [size=78%]-If i wont be touring, if i like scratching & summer rideouts...is it a waste to get the Thou?[/size]


3.) -The thou was seriously overpriced when new, but did this equal much greater quality of bits compared to the 600 or are they level par on build quality.?


4.) -Do they suffer less problems with the carbs?, i dont seem to see much on here regards carb issues?


5.) -soeed wise, the gen 1 has more grunt & there is less gearbox dancing required, how are the gearboxes?, dont believe they have any weak points like the 600 with the 2nd gear jumping etc.


6.) -Gen 1 looks a bigger bike, obviously to hold the bigger engine, im quite chunky & tall so would ideally like a slightly bigger bike...but is the riding position any less cramped than the 600?


7.) -is there any more ground clearance?, i mean i know it isnt a sports focused bike but with the little wider rear tyre does it corner qny further over?


8.) -has anyone actually preferred the 600, come on be honest


My plan would be to save about 3k, lots of good ones around this price, i would want a low miler bit at the same time i think its important to wait til i see one on here that has had all the major mods done as ive spent serious dosh just upgrading little bits n bobs on the 600, the one thing i would probably want to shell out big for is an Ohlins rear shock.


A bit long winded as usual, not expecting individual answers to each but generally you guys experiences on the subject would be good.


Cheers!...im all ears!!!!


Nog

1.) There's a lot of good forums out there, so that's not really too much of an issue (although equally there are some bloody bad ones!)
2.) No. Although it does tour better than the 600, particularly two up, I mainly preferred mine for the bigger engine, and better suspension!
3.) IMO, the 1000 definitely has more of a premium feel to it than the 600, which you can tell is really a budget bike - even if it is one that's more than the sum of its parts! THe 1000 also has better suspension as stock, but really does still benefit from work at both ends
4.) There's not really any issues as such that I've heard of, more that you get an excellent fueling and power improvement from fitting an Ivan's jet kit to them. As standard I found it pretty good, if perhaps a tiny bitch snatchy coming onto throttle from a closed throttle at low revs?
5.) Can't comment on the long levity of this, but i know a common mod is to fit an R1 shift arm for a shorter more positive shift.
6.)No, it's definitely more spacious, particularly two up. That's one thing I definitely preferred, I'm not even that tall (5 10, and about 10 stone so definitely not fat), but particuarly two up I feel the 600 is a bit on the small side!
7.) I found it feels more planted in the corners, but definitely takes more weight to tip in. Ground clearance I'm not sure of, I ground the pegs on both bikes easily enough to be honest? The 1000 does improve though with decent suspension as standard its a bit soft and sits a bit low.
8.) Whilst I can appreciate the 600 for being a good bike, the main issue with me is that is neither handles well enough, nor has enough power for my personal tastes. My last bike was a Ninja 900, with about 140rwhp and a lot of suspension work, and although that certainly handled well enough for me, I did feel though it could have done with perhaps a tad more poke (although don't get me wrong, it's sure not a slouch!). That's the main reason I'm going back to a Ninja (9, or maybe 10), as soon as I can - I miss out on the sheer fun factor that the bigger bikes have. THe FZS 1000 definitely was more in tune with what I was after, but its still not a sports bike!