2000 Intruder
Junior Member
Ok, so I had my first real ride on the FZ6 yesterday. I rode it home from the dealership last Saturday, but it was too cold to do much highway riding. Yesterday it was about 55 degrees F, and sunny, so I got in about 90 miles in the afternoon. My first impressions are below.
My last bike was a cruiser, and I have to say that the FZ6 is a completely different animal. Now I understand why there's really no way to compare the two without riding both of them.
Comfort - I think the FZ is going to be more comfortable for longer rides. My weight seems to be more evenly distributed across my seat, legs, and arms, rather than all of my weight resting on my backside.
Slow speed maneuvers - the higher center of gravity of the FZ6 makes slow speed maneuvers a little more tricky. I was trying out some figure 8's in a parking lot, and I found myself putting my foot down more often than I liked. I'll probably take the MSF ERC this spring to refresh my skills.
Engine/power - plenty of power. I actually like the way the engine is a little more tame at the lower RPM's. It makes the power delivery more manageable, especially when I'm just easing around town. But the beast comes out once the RPM's break 8000. Nice. :thumbup:
Overall handling - very responsive. The bike absolutely goes where I tell it to.
Vibration - I've read some reviews that say the FZ6 buzzes at around 5000 RPM's. Since my last bike was a V-twin, by comparison I find the vibration of the FZ6 negligible.
Brakes - the back brake locks up waaay too easily for my taste. I was practicing some emergency stops to get a feel for the brakes, and while the front brakes are great, it takes very little pressure on the foot pedal to get the rear brake to lock up. That's going to take some getting used to.
Noise - surprisingly, the turbulent air coming off the fairing hits me square in the helmet. It makes for a louder ride due to all the buffeting wind noise.
Overall the FZ6 is great. I'm really going to enjoy this year's riding season. :Flash:
My last bike was a cruiser, and I have to say that the FZ6 is a completely different animal. Now I understand why there's really no way to compare the two without riding both of them.
Comfort - I think the FZ is going to be more comfortable for longer rides. My weight seems to be more evenly distributed across my seat, legs, and arms, rather than all of my weight resting on my backside.
Slow speed maneuvers - the higher center of gravity of the FZ6 makes slow speed maneuvers a little more tricky. I was trying out some figure 8's in a parking lot, and I found myself putting my foot down more often than I liked. I'll probably take the MSF ERC this spring to refresh my skills.
Engine/power - plenty of power. I actually like the way the engine is a little more tame at the lower RPM's. It makes the power delivery more manageable, especially when I'm just easing around town. But the beast comes out once the RPM's break 8000. Nice. :thumbup:
Overall handling - very responsive. The bike absolutely goes where I tell it to.
Vibration - I've read some reviews that say the FZ6 buzzes at around 5000 RPM's. Since my last bike was a V-twin, by comparison I find the vibration of the FZ6 negligible.
Brakes - the back brake locks up waaay too easily for my taste. I was practicing some emergency stops to get a feel for the brakes, and while the front brakes are great, it takes very little pressure on the foot pedal to get the rear brake to lock up. That's going to take some getting used to.
Noise - surprisingly, the turbulent air coming off the fairing hits me square in the helmet. It makes for a louder ride due to all the buffeting wind noise.
Overall the FZ6 is great. I'm really going to enjoy this year's riding season. :Flash: