Didnt know where to post this, soz if its the wrong place.Just a bit of context about the noob asking all the questions 
I'm ancient, ran UJMs up until the mid 90's. Life took over then.In 2019 I had a stroke, and as part of my rehabilitation I bought a Kawasaki W800. I said that if I lose 50lbs of lard and recovered well enough to pass a "refresher assessment" I'd ride again, partly as a rehab objective, partly 'cos I never wanted to be a 21 stone gimp in bike gear
Bloody hard work and brilliant support I passed the assessment in Jan 2020.
I continued recovering and realised that althought pretty and inoffensive, the W800 was actually a pretty awful motorcycle: A twenty minute seat, hopeless brakes, sixties pastiche suspension, radials, 19 inch front wheel... All very period perfect, but I was at the level of wanting to do longer runs, maybe even touring. Enjoying my new, hard-won health and life.I didnt want to pay big cash, and I was two decades out of the loop regarding what bikes would do what, so I had a few test rides.
I tried an FJR1300, but its so heavy under 40 mph. VFR800 (dull), SV100 (shite ergo).
Then my mate Des told me he had a FZS600 in his garage that he had only MOT'ed for yonks, as he rode his other bikes. I saw it, tried it, fell in love and project "Half an FJR1300" began !
I don't need all that room, weight or power so apart from my not liking the bulk, I just didnt need a FJR. The FZS was miles more torquey than I expected under the power band and it had fairing lowers and a double bubble screen fitted, which makes it a frankly brilliant highway-at-80 bike.
The handling with Wilbers fitted is just glorious, in no way dated twenty years, though I might back off the rebound a tad as it is a bit uncomfortable over broken roads.
Braking with lister lines fitted progressive and powerful.The riding position , especially with the fitted renthals is just excellent, the seat is the best Ive used since my CB900F2 in the eighties. For real touring comfort and safety however I am fitting some adjustable footpegs to allow my still slightly strokey right leg to have less extreme folding.I fitted a Givi rack and M3 plate and am looking out for a 50l monokey topbox.
Now I know all this may seem boring, and perhaps a waste of the fighting ability of this feisty middleweight but I assure to me its all a dream more wonderful that I could even imagine back in April 2019 when I couldnt walk.I've had the bike two weeks, and already done 1200 miles just pissing about and going to gigs.
Sucking a few tanks of gas through the carbs has tidied up the hunting at idle wonderfully. I still need to give it the beans off the mark and in traffic then rein it in with the clutch but I know thats carbs for ya.The headlights are comedy shit (dual mod pending) but honestly the fazer is a fantastic UJM. And so there's my dull tale explaining all my questions on these boards !If theres a touring bit of the boards could you folks point me at it please ?
Thanks for being welcoming, helpful and brilliant !
I'm ancient, ran UJMs up until the mid 90's. Life took over then.In 2019 I had a stroke, and as part of my rehabilitation I bought a Kawasaki W800. I said that if I lose 50lbs of lard and recovered well enough to pass a "refresher assessment" I'd ride again, partly as a rehab objective, partly 'cos I never wanted to be a 21 stone gimp in bike gear
Bloody hard work and brilliant support I passed the assessment in Jan 2020.
I continued recovering and realised that althought pretty and inoffensive, the W800 was actually a pretty awful motorcycle: A twenty minute seat, hopeless brakes, sixties pastiche suspension, radials, 19 inch front wheel... All very period perfect, but I was at the level of wanting to do longer runs, maybe even touring. Enjoying my new, hard-won health and life.I didnt want to pay big cash, and I was two decades out of the loop regarding what bikes would do what, so I had a few test rides.
I tried an FJR1300, but its so heavy under 40 mph. VFR800 (dull), SV100 (shite ergo).
Then my mate Des told me he had a FZS600 in his garage that he had only MOT'ed for yonks, as he rode his other bikes. I saw it, tried it, fell in love and project "Half an FJR1300" began !
I don't need all that room, weight or power so apart from my not liking the bulk, I just didnt need a FJR. The FZS was miles more torquey than I expected under the power band and it had fairing lowers and a double bubble screen fitted, which makes it a frankly brilliant highway-at-80 bike.
The handling with Wilbers fitted is just glorious, in no way dated twenty years, though I might back off the rebound a tad as it is a bit uncomfortable over broken roads.
Braking with lister lines fitted progressive and powerful.The riding position , especially with the fitted renthals is just excellent, the seat is the best Ive used since my CB900F2 in the eighties. For real touring comfort and safety however I am fitting some adjustable footpegs to allow my still slightly strokey right leg to have less extreme folding.I fitted a Givi rack and M3 plate and am looking out for a 50l monokey topbox.
Now I know all this may seem boring, and perhaps a waste of the fighting ability of this feisty middleweight but I assure to me its all a dream more wonderful that I could even imagine back in April 2019 when I couldnt walk.I've had the bike two weeks, and already done 1200 miles just pissing about and going to gigs.
Sucking a few tanks of gas through the carbs has tidied up the hunting at idle wonderfully. I still need to give it the beans off the mark and in traffic then rein it in with the clutch but I know thats carbs for ya.The headlights are comedy shit (dual mod pending) but honestly the fazer is a fantastic UJM. And so there's my dull tale explaining all my questions on these boards !If theres a touring bit of the boards could you folks point me at it please ?
Thanks for being welcoming, helpful and brilliant !