I've been reading of issues with a high speed weave on the FJ. They're limited to 115, but some still exhibit the problem, especially with a top case. People have all manner of solutions, from tire pressures to suspension settings. Reminds me of this old gem.
Rediscovering the FZ1. I really like the bike. The looks are amazing. The only fault is the old school five valve engine is pretty high-rpm biased. It makes them easy to ride, but kinda boring unless wringing it out. It starts making power at around 4k and stops at 11.5k.
They sell for cheap and have a nearly endless aftermarket.
I expected better numbers from the FZ-10, based on the engine and it being 2017. That's pretty much what the "almost 10 year old" 1125R does with a pipe and tune.
(Message edited by fresnobuell on August 28, 2017)
Got an insurance quote for the FZ-10, as I figured that would be the worst...only $32/month over my existing policy. This is about the only time being more mature in age has it's perks
Ducati still amazes me they can get that much HP from a V-2. If you watch WSBK, they are not handicapped power-wise to the IL4s whatsoever, which was the case not too long ago.
However, looking at the Panigale the big flat spot between 5,900 and 8,300 tells you it's tuned for top-end and makes for a lousy street ride.
There are 3 different R1's. The R1M, the normal R1 and the R1S. Out of the 3 R1's the "S" is the most streetable for everyday use. It also can be had for much less than the other model R1's
The FZ-10 powerband is much more ideal for the street than the R1. It has more torque than the R1 everywhere across the RPM range until 10,000 RPM. Also it's geared a couple of teeth lower as well. It's a fun bike. As I have said previously, the only downside is fuel economy. I was cruising down the freeway yesterday in 6th gear @75 MPH in ECO mode, and the instant MPG was reading 45.5MPG, but the second I would goose for a quick blast, the instant MPG would read in the 20 MPG range. My average fuel economy has been running in the low to mid 30's. My bike isn't quite broken in yet, I have been obeying the brake in RPM limits but I due vary the RPM quite a bit.
The black one's definitely look more menacing, the grey with the dayglow rims looks more transformerish. I chose the grey, needed a break from black, I can always change out the rims to tone it down. Do a test ride, you may be surprised.
Weird. I was scanning the pic, looking at the Yammie, noticed the fraction of a rear car bumper in the frame. Late '80's Dodge product? I used to be able to hear an 80's IL4 motorcycle and tell what it was, across the neighborhood. Valve trains and such were different sounding.
I grew up memorizing the body shapes and lights of Crown Vics and other likely po-po vehicles, to tamp down my hooligan if need be. Not as easy as it used to be, but I'm watching Dodge sedans a lot more nowadays.
There's a guy that rides a crossplane R1 around town frequently, and it can be heard and recognized from blocks away. That would be an exception. Those engines sound amazing.
"There's a guy that rides a crossplane R1 around town frequently, and it can be heard and recognized from blocks away. That would be an exception. Those engines sound amazing."
That's another reason to go with the FZ-10. The crossplane sound is addicting.
That's a trait the big DR and Buell have. They both have a top end clatter that sounds terrible at idle. Once underway they both sound like music...and can probably be heard from blocks away.
Pulled up next to a big Super Tenere today. Sounded real good with lots of grunt. Texas plates and a fairly aggressive rider, no contest for The Beast but not bad.
Funny thing about the sounds that can be heard blocks away... I live on a divided four lane in the country. My driveway is near the top of a hill that has a slight curve with a long straight on either side all a wooded area along the road sides with open fields.
Often I work outside my shop door where I hear all manor of bikes running by from dirt bike single four strokes to IL4s to loud ass HD pipes and Gold Wings with their radio's cranked up, and frequently on weekends 100+ bike caravans for some benefit ride.
Lately the state police have been collecting funds for their kids college programs. So fun to hear an IL4 scream by at 100+ mph, followed minutes later by police sirens also screaming by at over 100 mph. The road opens up to a nearly two mile straight that I am sure the officers like to stretch it out on! The landscape is such that I can only see them directly in my drive area, but I can hear them for a few miles in either direction.
All such a distraction with a Uly sitting in my shed!
I rode my roommate's FZ8 yesterday to the shop for new tires. Other than no shield and being lowered 3 inches it is a fun bike to ride. So easy to turn, shift, etc. Quiet too so that's a nice change from my Buells.
I'm eager about the FZ10 so think I'll test ride one of those in October at Biketoberfest.
So fun to hear an IL4 scream by at 100+ mph, followed minutes later by police sirens also screaming by at over 100 mph.
There was a backroad going partway from Orlando to Kissimmee when I used to make that commute. It was always rather untraveled. It became a bit of a personal raceway for me. On one occasion I exited this road with some intensity and was quickly pulled over. I got grilled for some time and even had backup arrive. To make things even worse the wife was passing by and stopped opposite the road.
After what seemed like endless grilling over real and perceived equipment violations and questions over VIN and engine numbers and other such things...they smiled, laughed, and said they just wanted to see what I was riding.
Matt is racing his EBR at Daytona that weekend and I am planning to attend.
Probably be doing some test riding also. I can usually get in 3 or 4 test rides in a day. If you haven't made a decision by then, come on down.
Yes, she's short and wanted to touch. She likes it and gets lots of compliments and not too concerned about knee dragging (just pegs...lol). I lowered ex's ninja an inch which helped but she still tipped it over twice in 1 day on a slope.
The FZ-10 looks as it does in exploded diagrams...little bits of plastic everywhere. It's still a cool bike. Very wide in the middle compared to what I've been riding. That would take some getting used to. It's another single footer (I teeter on both the current bikes). I still like it. There's very little I would change on it.
The FZ-09 is quite narrow and feels much lighter...though the actual difference is about 40lbs. The kid likes it better...something about the back seat, too. That's a two-footer, though it's not a real big deal.
They had no XSR or FJ. A dealer across town has the XSR. I'd have to travel a bit to look at an FJ.
The Kawasaki Z900 looked better in person...though it's a bit uninspiring.
Same for the Suzuki GSX-S 1000. It's just a little too Japanese sea-creature-ish. Taking off a couple pieces of bodywork would probably fix it up...but it's still rather bland.
There was a Z125 there. It looks like it would be a riot. It would be better than a scooter for the wife. Scooters are a bore.