Tempted to get an FZS1000 for motorway/commuting duties, but have questions.

[AyJay]

Yes Nick, I agree with everything you say - the price was ridiculous to start with and every write up in the last few years has said it's excellent but I still think the perception is that it's a bit ho hum, which is what Nickodemon touches on about the looks. No one considers it to be a legend like an early Blade or a 916 and I honestly think it deserves to be thought of in the same way. It's just not got that aura.


The extraordinary thing is, even having ridden a Tuono V4, Multistrada, the most recent Blade, VFR1200, ZZR1400, I still get back on my now 14 year old bike and think "This damn thing is still current, and christ, is it good fun!"


I can't wait to have a test of the new GSX1000F thing. Again, not a great looker, but it could be as versatile as the FZS. I really ought to get shot on the BMW S1000 too, but I wonder if either that or the Suzuki could be as easy to work on, cheap to repair/modify and as reliable as my bike. Heck, we all know the answer there - Nope. Not a chance. I'm stunned by Yamaha's build quality, even if second gear let go on me due to a manufacturing fault. The second unit now has 80k on it and still hasn't needed a valve service.


I cannot get over the fact I've had it for 14 years. That means it's been ridden through 13 winters let alone thrashed on several track days, 20k miles of foreign holidays, 40k of general hooning about and 70k miles of commuting. Mind you, it looked it this evening. It was black this time last week and tonight it looked whitish grey with all the salt. I must get that jet wash out of the box again….