Should i buy an fz6

The Yamaha FZ6 Fazer had big shoes to fill. Put a detuned Thundercat engine in a simple frame with cheap suspension and then sell loads of them. The bike went through several changes up until when European emissions laws cut the fun short. With a few tweaks to the formula including a new catalytic converter, Yamaha came back with the FZ6 Fazer in and it wasn't bad at all.

The updated FZ6 Fazer was well put together and performed in all sorts of situations. It's old rival, the Suzuki GSF Bandit , was left behind with its antique styling and carburettors, and the updated Suzuki GSF Bandit that came out in was pretty underwhelming too.

The main threat to the Fazer came from the Suzuki SV which was also a lot cheaper but its V-twin engine was less refined. The Yamaha FZ6 Fazer looks sharp, has a brilliant motor, excellent handling and offers huge versatility. Towns, twisties and long treks… it can do it all. A great all-rounder - so much so, in fact, that MCN award it the Best All-rounder in our awards back in It passed through many team members' hands, including in restricted 33bhp form suitable for new riders at the time.

In a suite of new colours was released - black, silver and blue are meant to echo the unfaired FZ6 and larger FZ8. These things add up. A lot of people gravitate to the more popular segments, refining their tastes over time. The important specs are listed below. See the Wikipedia page for more detailed specifications. Share Tweet. By Cameron Martel. What I Like Integrated center stand — This makes it easy to work on the bike, not to mention it helps the FZ6 tuck away discreetly when stored.

The power — The FZ6 runs in about 3. The power is predictable and addictive. But the noise that hot exhaust makes?

In all the fuss about the R6-engine, most testers forgot to mention that the FZ6 generation of models are very good handling bikes indeed and lightyears ahead of the wobbly old FZS There is bags of ground clearance and despite lacking adjustment the suspension is fairly decent, helped by the fact it is set quite stiffly as standard.

Or you can take a punt on a used OE unit on eBay, which is a gamble. The four-piston calipers are very robust but the sliding ones can stick on their sliders due to corrosion, which is a quick and fairly cheap fix that a competent DIY home mechanic can easily achieve.

Obviously, the Fazer is a better tourer than the FZ6 thanks to its half-fairing you can buy aftermarket fly screens for the FZ6 and many riders do take theirs on long trips. The seat is firm but not that bad, riding position comfortable and the fairing actually quite good.

As a lightweight tourer, a set of throw-over panniers careful of the underseat exhaust! As the Fazer is perfectly happy to sit at 70mph it is more than up to the job of covering big miles. The only rider aid is ABS, which was an option on post models.

A fairly decent system, it is probably worth having if you are given the option. When it comes to accessories there are loads to choose from with most aftermarket firms catering for the FZ6.

A belly pan helps protect the exhaust from rusting too badly, a grille keeps the radiator safe, heated grips are a blessing in winter, top boxes and luggage racks are popular and taller screens are also good additions. The FZ6 and FZ6 Fazer are solid middleweights that although unpopular at the time are very good value in the used market, solidly built and practical.

Maybe not the sexiest of bikes, they deliver on no-frills commuting and are more than up for a bit of weekend amusement when the sun is out and the tarmac is warm. Looking for motorcycle insurance? The Yamaha FZ6 rocks!!!! Handles tight corners extremely well with bike leaned over. Throttle and clutch takes getting used to as throttle is small tolerances and clutch is short to engage.

Rear brakes maybe too good as locking up rear tire is too easy to achieve. I recommend using only fronts as they're good enough to stop the bike with 2 fingers without losing traction. Initially thought seat was stiff but after mi trip with no pain feel seat is perfect.

Bike handled high desert crosswinds, drenching rains, and snow like a pro. I was looking for good performance in a cc bike and this one has it.

The four cylinder sport engine is hardly breaking a sweat in day-to-day riding conditions, and runs as smooth as a top. Other bikes in this engine size tend to feel a tad cramped to me, but the fz6 is a little taller and rangier, which I like. Excellent acceleration, excellent braking, very "tight" feel in turns, very stiff frame.

When I first got the bike I thought the tranny seemed a bit clunky, especially in lower gears. BUT, I've discovered the main reason is that you tend to shift too early on this bike. If you rev to at least rpm before shifting - much smoother shift.

Engine performs so well even at lower rpm that you keep forgetting there's a beast inside there! Very relaxed. Be prepared if you do, that's all I can say. Comfort wise, you tend to slide forward and wedge your nads between the front of the seat and the back of the gas tank whoever started calling the gas tank a "nut ramp" is to be commended.

But this happens on most non-cruising bikes. You just have to shift back occasionally or get used to singing soprano. Lots of great practical features on this bike: excellent instrument package; huge gas tank; standard center stand; nice standard fairing. The rear view mirrors are mounted on the fairing so they stick out a bit wider than mirrors on a fully naked bike. You don't get a perfect rear view, but it's okay. You just have to shrug your shoulder a bit to get a complete view.

So if I were you, I'd install a permanent charging harness that sticks out from under the front of the tank, and plug it into a Battery Tender Plus whenever you're not riding it. Increases battery life considerably and helps avoid the hassle of having to change out the battery. Overall: truly excellent bike.

Highly recommended. If you're a newbie, just be cautious when you rev it. There's an animal inside this thing. Now, the good stuff: great riding position, fast or slow - you'll enjoy the ride. It's always turning heads too. I've taken it up past mph and it did not feel like I was going that fast and I wasn't even tucked behind the windscreen.

It's mild mannered or a beast, take your pick. Touring or twisting, it's all good. I needed this bike to be a great commuter first, since I ride miles per day, and a great performer second, since we all like to have fun on the weekend rides!

After owning this bike for 2. The attention to detail is also evident everywhere you look. If you treat this bike nice, you may see 50 mpg, which is what I am averaging on commutes. Sure it will drop to around 42 mpg if you start using the power band but then that's to be expected.

This bike handles very well around town and at slow speeds, making it an excellent choice for commuting. When you let the horses out of the corral, boy does the motor sing and the bike instantly transforms into a totally different animal. At speed the bike is sure-footed and leaves even a novice rider like myself full of confidence in the bikes cornering ability and stopping power.

Selecting a bike is mostly about personal preference these days since the manufacturers are putting out high-quality products that perform.

I'll just summarize and say that for me, the FZ6 was the perfect choice and I can see me owning this bike for many years to come.