Warp speed

[nick crisp]

So was there enough advantage for you going from the Fazer to the R1? Perhaps a later R1 might have been a better bet? Curious, cos I've oft considered doing an upright spec GSXR1000 K4 or 5. This one wouldn't be my choice of colour scheme, but I like what he's done with it:

[stevierst]

The biggest difference is weight. The R1 is about 30kg lighter than the FZ which means it reacts better almost everywhere.
I had a '98 model for almost 7 years and transformed it into something special. I shed a tear when she went! I've wanted another one ever since.

After the FZ I was after a 03 plate R1 which is one of the first fi models. I got offered this mint 02 bike on carbs instead and took it.
The later R1's have the same engine characteristics as the FZ, flat sub 4k bottom end, and the necessity to wring it's neck everywhere which is just not quite right for British roads. Especially when your wingman has a high powered v-twin! I needed more low end torque to punch out of bends so I could keep up.
The bike I've bought and built is just better at doing what I want my play bike to do. The FZ was about 90%, but had too many niggles for me. Fuel consumption/tank range was my biggest bug bear (36-40 mpg!!!), power delivery was second.
The R1 does 45-55mpg, and about 30 miles further on a tank of juice.

[stevierst]

My old beasty.



My new beasty.



My 'old' fz1.

[nick crisp]

It is nice to have that low down grunt - agreed, makes it much more accessible for day to day riding, which is why I thought of the GSXR, which is meant to have plenty of low down, as well as excellent handling. And also, I guess these things are largely affairs of the heart too, so totally know where you're coming from there too!

How does putting the normal handlebar on affect the riding position? Are you feeling you could do with moving the footrests now? This is one of the main things that makes me wonder if this kind of bike is really worth doing for me(foot/bum/upper body position relationship). I notice both of your R1s have standard peg position - will you being going to adjustable rear-sets on this one, or has the overall position worked out ok?

It may be that it won't work for me with my dodgy arm and long legs, hence sticking with gen 1 Fazers for so long - they are just right for me as far as riding position goes. Much less leg room and I'd have bother. But it sure would be nice to have something a little more flickable.

Ridiculous about the fuel consumption really isn't it? I thought FI was supposed to give you better in that regard; seems that's not always so  :\

[devilsyam]

Recon my 09 is about as mad as I wanna go now and the 06 reminds me of the 05 r1 I had
Both mine ain't got big holes low down pull really well but gen 1 still whoop em in a roll on contest

[stevierst]

Recon my 09 is about as mad as I wanna go now and the 06 reminds me of the 05 r1 I had
Both mine ain't got big holes low down pull really well but gen 1 still whoop em in a roll on contest

But you've still got that rubbish tank range/fuel consumption devilsyam! It was the straw that broke the camels back for me.
And the carb'd r1 is a much better road bike than the fi imho. The fi is too revvy for me.

As for bars/pegs position, it's always been comfy for my 6'1" height, but I've got a short body, and 36" inside leg with overlong arms. (yes I'm a mutant)

It feels a bit like a very high powered supermoto which is what I wanted, but it's comfy all day. I can get another 30-40 miles out of the seat compared to the FZ.

[JoeRock]

It is nice to have that low down grunt - agreed, makes it much more accessible for day to day riding, which is why I thought of the GSXR, which is meant to have plenty of low down, as well as excellent handling. And also, I guess these things are largely affairs of the heart too, so totally know where you're coming from there too!

How does putting the normal handlebar on affect the riding position? Are you feeling you could do with moving the footrests now? This is one of the main things that makes me wonder if this kind of bike is really worth doing for me(foot/bum/upper body position relationship). I notice both of your R1s have standard peg position - will you being going to adjustable rear-sets on this one, or has the overall position worked out ok?

It may be that it won't work for me with my dodgy arm and long legs, hence sticking with gen 1 Fazers for so long - they are just right for me as far as riding position goes. Much less leg room and I'd have bother. But it sure would be nice to have something a little more flickable.

Ridiculous about the fuel consumption really isn't it? I thought FI was supposed to give you better in that regard; seems that's not always so  :\

You say that Nick - but I've just bought a ZX10R (2006) and cruising at about 80 for 200 miles from where I picked it up in north yorkshire to kent, i got 59mpg. Funnily enough my dad's actually thinking of buying one and sticking a flat bar conversion on it too. the GSXR 1000 K5 is a brilliant bike, with a real mid range hit, but I've always been a fan of kawasakis engines, hence why I went for the 10. That, and it was about 2k cheaper than a K5 1000, and for £2k I can completely sort the bike out!

[nick crisp]

Actually, I don't really know why I bother about all this talk of sports bikes. My knees just aren't happy bending that far, which is one reason I'm on my 4th Fazer. And all the newer bikes, sports or not, seem to be so cramped in the leg department. I guess I'm supposed to buy an "adventure" bike or some such, but that doesn't interest me at all.

Better stop now before I do a Noggy on ya  :lol

[bigralphie]

Bitches please 

[noggythenog]

Did someone say noggy? :groan


God Nick just hurry up and get better and start riding and less moaning :uhuh


Starting to sound like me :lol


I dunno woth yous guys honestly, here i am trying to be sensible and opt for less power and more road riding abilities and i get a slating....perhaps i should be lying about my capabilities and saying stuff like oh the FZ1 aint quick enough for me i need more power bla bla.


Anyway i'm with Stevie on the fact that i think on normal roads most sporty motored 600's will keep up with the thou at the more legal end of the spectrum.


Yes like i say if you plan ahead and are sitting at 50 behind a car on a straight then a 3rd gear overtake sure is tasty.......but you wouldnt wanna be up in that rev range mid corner coz it'll spit you off the road when it hits its second wind.......so i usually choose 4th gear for smaller B road corners when i dont want to be carrying too much speed and i can use the engine braking a bit more......3rd is a bit suicidal because then you start struggling with the jerky throttle trying to maintain a constant corner speed.....then on the quicker corners im in 5th gear which allows for a smooth bit of power.......but then when youre finished with the corner and in 5th you just dont have that punch and you're waiting on the revs building up again and this is where other bikes come into their own......ok so you can kick it down a gear but that isnt the point of a thou.


Where the thou excelled yesterday was on the A44 where the corners are big, long and well surfaced......once you get the speed up then it starts to feel like a lighter bike and you can just keep pushing it over further in a turn........but that is one road that i have to travel to......the majority of the roads i ride are small B roads that are more technical and demanding an don them the thou seems a bit lardy and you're always reigning in the power and feeling like a bit if a pussy.


This is why im looking at the MT07 as i think it'll be perfectly suited to me on these roads and ill be able to thrash it and at least "feel" more like im shifting regardless of actual speeds......ok so the range isnt much better on these little bikes but the comfort will be better......my inner thigh muscle was cramping up badly on my way home yesterday and that was only after a couple hundred miles.


Yes i'll miss that blistering speed on occasions but i think the rest will more than make up for it.

[stevierst]

Have you been on either of the new mt's Noggy?

Not had a go on the 7, but the 9 is ace!

[JoeRock]

Actually, I don't really know why I bother about all this talk of sports bikes. My knees just aren't happy bending that far, which is one reason I'm on my 4th Fazer. And all the newer bikes, sports or not, seem to be so cramped in the leg department. I guess I'm supposed to buy an "adventure" bike or some such, but that doesn't interest me at all.

Better stop now before I do a Noggy on ya  :lol

Very simple solution to that mate - you can buy jack up plates for most sports bikes for the pegs for about £20 off eBay (poor mans rearsets). Fit them upside down and swap the sides and voila, you've got jack down pegs!

[noggythenog]

Have you been on either of the new mt's Noggy?

Not had a go on the 7, but the 9 is ace!

I sat on an 09 stevie and i liked it. 8) .the tank was a strange shape but i thought the foot pegs were a nice position and the feel on the bars was plush........one bike that i instantly had that ooh this feels comfy on was actually a tuono....again because the bars just felt so natural.....but i aint having one o them either...im trying to be sensible.


I've yet to try an MT07 so i hope it isnt a let down but every review i read on it is positive......i think bike snobbery will keep some away from it.....ok the 09 certainly has more cred but with 07 i could basically have a new one for not much coin......i can really see them being almost as popular as the FZS600 in a way......not in the same numbers as i think that the original fazer owners have now aged and moved on to the likes of tourers or exotica and not been replaced with sufficient numbers in that age group......but i still see a good following and that means lots of aftermarket bits and plenty spares in future.

[stevierst]

I certainly know my next play machine  after the R1 has gone will more than likely be an mt-09. But that won't be for a few years yet until the mt price comes down and I've scared myself on the R1!

[unfazed]

Actually, I don't really know why I bother about all this talk of sports bikes. My knees just aren't happy bending that far, which is one reason I'm on my 4th Fazer. And all the newer bikes, sports or not, seem to be so cramped in the leg department. I guess I'm supposed to buy an "adventure" bike or some such, but that doesn't interest me at all.

Better stop now before I do a Noggy on ya  :lol

:agree :thumbup :lol