FZ6R-HWD
New Member
Hi all,
Being from South Florida we never really get the chance to ride the hills as of course, we have none. Not unless you count a garbage pile or two. Anyway, I had the pleasure of riding the bike in the mountains of NC during the past week and had some thoughts to share with you. Keep in mind that my last bike was a 1200 class sport tour from BMW and was ridden extensively through the mountains. This is what my comparitive is based on.
First off, 600cc is plenty. For those of you that believe that you need something with a larger displacement for mountain roads, you better see your doctor. I had my doubts before I left home but I am a believer now. If your in the mountains and feel you need something more in the way of power then you might be nuts. I ran into plenty of sport bike riders that could and would pass me like I was standing still dispite taking turns at 50 and straights at up to 70 at times. (most times I keep it sane) Many of the riders may be good but riding like this puts everyone at excessive risk. During our ride on the Cherohola on Saturday my good friend was hit by an out of control sport bike rider who basically did his impression of a vehicular slide tackle. My friend on a Concours and this guy on a 1100 something. His bike was too smashed up to tell anything more then the the fact that it was a Suzuki. Neither died but both went to the hospital. My guy with the broken leg and the other with unknown injuries aside from head trama. The gear kept both from getting a scratch. WEAR THE GEAR. Amazing, after seeing the aftermath how nobody failed to loose any skin is a mystery!!
The bike itself pulled out of turns very well and was very tractable in most gears one would expect to use. Typically 3-4 and allowing the engine to work harder. All depends on conditions of course. Suffice to say there was no longing for power. The suspension was also working well. Not perfect but well enough for sane or slightly insane street riding in the mountains. I weigh 200, kept the shock set at 3, and while I am not perfect, I can ride pretty well. I had no issues with bottoming out or rebound. Handling was well within reason as long as you keep in mind being on the street, not the track. I did observe some flex in the front end as I could hear the brakes slightly distort and rub the front rotors in turns but it did not seem to affect handling. Braking was fade free and hauled the bike down in all conditions. I never found myself needing more. I do have braded front lines however. Although braded would not make that much difference anyhow.
I mention all of this as I am reading how people want to upgrade the suspension, brakes, or other aspects. They long for a larger engine or feel that they might ride better with more exotic stuff. I have to disagree. Any good rider (a professional) could likely run circles around most of the kids riding high end sport bikes on the road, never mind the track! The stock FZ6R will do everything you want it to do within the limitations of road riding. It will do it more comfortably then a high end bike as well.
My opinion, having put the bike through hell over the last week, is that an
FZ6R is as much as this rider will ever need just the way it is. It performed very well. Why mess with success?
Ed
Being from South Florida we never really get the chance to ride the hills as of course, we have none. Not unless you count a garbage pile or two. Anyway, I had the pleasure of riding the bike in the mountains of NC during the past week and had some thoughts to share with you. Keep in mind that my last bike was a 1200 class sport tour from BMW and was ridden extensively through the mountains. This is what my comparitive is based on.
First off, 600cc is plenty. For those of you that believe that you need something with a larger displacement for mountain roads, you better see your doctor. I had my doubts before I left home but I am a believer now. If your in the mountains and feel you need something more in the way of power then you might be nuts. I ran into plenty of sport bike riders that could and would pass me like I was standing still dispite taking turns at 50 and straights at up to 70 at times. (most times I keep it sane) Many of the riders may be good but riding like this puts everyone at excessive risk. During our ride on the Cherohola on Saturday my good friend was hit by an out of control sport bike rider who basically did his impression of a vehicular slide tackle. My friend on a Concours and this guy on a 1100 something. His bike was too smashed up to tell anything more then the the fact that it was a Suzuki. Neither died but both went to the hospital. My guy with the broken leg and the other with unknown injuries aside from head trama. The gear kept both from getting a scratch. WEAR THE GEAR. Amazing, after seeing the aftermath how nobody failed to loose any skin is a mystery!!
The bike itself pulled out of turns very well and was very tractable in most gears one would expect to use. Typically 3-4 and allowing the engine to work harder. All depends on conditions of course. Suffice to say there was no longing for power. The suspension was also working well. Not perfect but well enough for sane or slightly insane street riding in the mountains. I weigh 200, kept the shock set at 3, and while I am not perfect, I can ride pretty well. I had no issues with bottoming out or rebound. Handling was well within reason as long as you keep in mind being on the street, not the track. I did observe some flex in the front end as I could hear the brakes slightly distort and rub the front rotors in turns but it did not seem to affect handling. Braking was fade free and hauled the bike down in all conditions. I never found myself needing more. I do have braded front lines however. Although braded would not make that much difference anyhow.
I mention all of this as I am reading how people want to upgrade the suspension, brakes, or other aspects. They long for a larger engine or feel that they might ride better with more exotic stuff. I have to disagree. Any good rider (a professional) could likely run circles around most of the kids riding high end sport bikes on the road, never mind the track! The stock FZ6R will do everything you want it to do within the limitations of road riding. It will do it more comfortably then a high end bike as well.
My opinion, having put the bike through hell over the last week, is that an
FZ6R is as much as this rider will ever need just the way it is. It performed very well. Why mess with success?
Ed
