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So yesterday I traded my bike with a 2008 Yamaha FZ6 owner and we went for an hours ride from Seal Beach south to Newport Beach along PCH and then back inland on the highway. . . this is my ride report:
The FZ6 is a smart looking motorcycle and I've always like its lines as well as the dual under-the-tail exhaust. This one was Cobalt Blue and contrasted nicely with my Pearl Yellow 05 SV650. Sorry - no pics : too busy riding.
The FZ has no clutch switch so the bike will start without pulling in the clutch. The fit and finish on the FZ is superior to my SV's.
The seat is harder but it is more comfortable over an hours time than my SV's.
The seat is just about the exact same heigth as my SV stock seat. I can just get the balls of both feet on the ground riding either bike.
With the FZ, I noticed that the turn signal and other switches have a better "feel" than the SV's. . . pretty subjective but they are noticeably more precise and have less slop than the SV's.
The FZ has a fuel guage with bars showing level.
Starting out the first thing I noticed is that the FZ is much quieter than my SV. I have a Yoshi Tri Oval, no baffles. . . his had after market Leo Vince. . . so makes sense but my point is that I had problems hearing the FZ's engine since I had earplugs in.
The FZ is very, very smooth in all gears, a little buzzy at higher speeds, though. The transmission shifts much smoother than the SV's.
The FZ is more "flickable" I noticed as well and seem lighter.
This is despite the fact that the seating position of the FZ is more standard than the SV naked.
On the SV, my legs are bent more and I have to lean forward a bit to reach the bards. On the FZ, Legs are less bent (noticeably more comfortable) and there is viturally no lean needed to reach the bars so I am sitting more up straight. . its more comfortable.
The FZ's fairing also provides good and noticeable protection although there is wind buffet on the helmet at higher speeds but no head pushing back.
It is a warmer rider than my SV. (less wind blast).
The FZ seems to be a slower bike. Definitely less get up and go at all speeds except when you are doing a rip-roaring acceleration or if you are at a high speed / RPM and want to go even faster.
All this said, the SV is more fun to ride.
The FZ is more comfortable to ride.
The SV is more of a gutteral, mechanical type of riders bike.
The FZ is a comfortable touring/cruising platform.
The SV continuously gives you that acceleration that I seek and the FZ seems like it has no power at lower speeds RPS but if you crank the throttle it will do it for you provided you are fast on the shifter.
Given all the commuting I do (20 miles each way 5 days a week unless it is raining), would I buy and FZ ? Well, I'm really tempted to because it is the perfect commuter platform sans the streetfighter type of powerband I need when in heavy traffic. . . but I'm not sure if I can live without the joy the SV brings me. . . i.e. I do not think I would trade comfort for the fun factor my SV offers. . . .
I think the ideal in this case would be to get the SV650S and put the naked triple tree and bars and higher windshield on it. . . .
but this said, still thinking about that FZ.
The FZ6 is a smart looking motorcycle and I've always like its lines as well as the dual under-the-tail exhaust. This one was Cobalt Blue and contrasted nicely with my Pearl Yellow 05 SV650. Sorry - no pics : too busy riding.
The FZ has no clutch switch so the bike will start without pulling in the clutch. The fit and finish on the FZ is superior to my SV's.
The seat is harder but it is more comfortable over an hours time than my SV's.
The seat is just about the exact same heigth as my SV stock seat. I can just get the balls of both feet on the ground riding either bike.
With the FZ, I noticed that the turn signal and other switches have a better "feel" than the SV's. . . pretty subjective but they are noticeably more precise and have less slop than the SV's.
The FZ has a fuel guage with bars showing level.
Starting out the first thing I noticed is that the FZ is much quieter than my SV. I have a Yoshi Tri Oval, no baffles. . . his had after market Leo Vince. . . so makes sense but my point is that I had problems hearing the FZ's engine since I had earplugs in.
The FZ is very, very smooth in all gears, a little buzzy at higher speeds, though. The transmission shifts much smoother than the SV's.
The FZ is more "flickable" I noticed as well and seem lighter.
This is despite the fact that the seating position of the FZ is more standard than the SV naked.
On the SV, my legs are bent more and I have to lean forward a bit to reach the bards. On the FZ, Legs are less bent (noticeably more comfortable) and there is viturally no lean needed to reach the bars so I am sitting more up straight. . its more comfortable.
The FZ's fairing also provides good and noticeable protection although there is wind buffet on the helmet at higher speeds but no head pushing back.
It is a warmer rider than my SV. (less wind blast).
The FZ seems to be a slower bike. Definitely less get up and go at all speeds except when you are doing a rip-roaring acceleration or if you are at a high speed / RPM and want to go even faster.
All this said, the SV is more fun to ride.
The FZ is more comfortable to ride.
The SV is more of a gutteral, mechanical type of riders bike.
The FZ is a comfortable touring/cruising platform.
The SV continuously gives you that acceleration that I seek and the FZ seems like it has no power at lower speeds RPS but if you crank the throttle it will do it for you provided you are fast on the shifter.
Given all the commuting I do (20 miles each way 5 days a week unless it is raining), would I buy and FZ ? Well, I'm really tempted to because it is the perfect commuter platform sans the streetfighter type of powerband I need when in heavy traffic. . . but I'm not sure if I can live without the joy the SV brings me. . . i.e. I do not think I would trade comfort for the fun factor my SV offers. . . .
I think the ideal in this case would be to get the SV650S and put the naked triple tree and bars and higher windshield on it. . . .
but this said, still thinking about that FZ.
