We are the last


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stache

New Member
It will be curious to see how this all plays out over time. Is it a fad? Will there be a brief blip on the timeline of naked vs faired bikes in America?

Are we seeing more interest in naked bikes in America because the riding community is finally buying function over form?

If the answer is 'yes' then this bodes well for us getting better selection in the future, both naked and faired.
Honda CB650F (look at those header pipes! LOOK AT THEM!)
KTM RC390 (*drooool*)

If it's just a fad, we'll see a few years of great bikes coming to our market and then a return to lots of the same ol' stuff.
 
Z

zcypher

Member
They should offer faired and naked. The 6R is a sweet bike! The FZ-07 looks pretty cool too but seeing the 6R go makes me sad. I've contemplated the 8 or 9 as my next upgrade but they don't do it for me as much-- though that could change entirely after actually trying them.

But a twin in the 07? I dunno.. I LOVE the I4 in my 6R. :-D
 
F

Fizzer6R

New Member
stopped by dealer today and they have no word (yet) of this being last year for the FZ6R, guess we'll know in a few months.

they also haven't heard anything on the rumored FJ09, fingers crossed!
 
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latony007

New Member
How hard would it be to design a bike that you can either sell faired or non faired or even better one that you could take the fairings off with a couple snaps like the old t-tops so you could have both. I personally think all these bikes are great bikes, fz09, street triple etc. i just like the faired for wind and looks, some like the look of naked, so i say give us both in all the bikes!:confused:
 
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buzzbomb

Senior Member
Elite Member
FastFreddy said:
The Fz6R was perfect for me at the time ; learner legal (under 650cc), 4 cyl and similar weight to a superbike and had a fairing and comfortable seat for both. Personally I had to have 4 cyl even though I know 2 and 3 cylinder bikes are more efficient for the power curve we have, I just wanted to get familiar with the high revving 4s.

There doesn't seem to be any Sportbikes or faired naked bikes available that are within 10 kg of the supersport style bikes.

I think naked bikes are popular because of the riding position more than the lack of fairing.
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Gotta disagree with the last sentence. It's just the current style. Just like everyone was chopping their bike up to make a cafe' a decade back. Now it's the retro-look. Just check out Honda's 2014 CB.

The cool thing about the retro's besides their look, is indeed the ergonomics. Imagine an eighties standard, with all the parts visible, but with modern technology and that wonderfully comfortable upright seating position...

It's not going to cruise like a cruiser, or cut corners like a sport bike. I know from my 82 Honda CB750C that's it's a pretty nice ride, regardless. It's sort of the best of all worlds.

If the current demographic of new bike owners wants retro? It's no wonder they are being produced. Honda, as an example, is ever at the forefront of foresight, market-wise.

I read a great quote in "CyleMag" that stated, and I may be paraphrasing: "Honda makes bikes for the customers they wish they had." That was pretty close to reality. Truth is Honda is willing to take chances, and makes bikes for the customers they think they CAN have.

Naked is the current "hot." Retro is the next. Polaris, with their own line and the Indian are now proving that cruisers will follow quickly on the tail of "Hot."

Their bikes are pricey. They might just become the Bentley and leave Harley as the Cadillac. Honda and Yamaha cruisers would stay as now - Hyundai. The less expensive alternative to the vehicle you wish you could afford.

I can only wish that after those two trends are over... Nix that. The retro trend. The cruiser trend is really just gaining more ground and will never end. Fact is most riders just don't ride that much, and when they do, they want to look cool, be comfortable and ride a bike.

Here's my hope: Once the retro trend is over, maybe, just maybe the Japanese makers will be back to Sport Bikes!
 
D

Dave

New Member
Love the engine in the fz09 and street triple but I need a windscreen of some sort. The bike can still be mostly naked however give me some wind protection please.
 
B

buzzbomb

Senior Member
Elite Member
Dave said:
Love the engine in the fz09 and street triple but I need a windscreen of some sort. The bike can still be mostly naked however give me some wind protection please.
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Actually the FZ07 is the more impressive bike, from the reviews I've been reading. A really decent all around motorcycle, actually.

I rode naked bikes from '86 up until my 6R. In the proper riding position it's not that bad. You tend to lean into the wind, or just sit up and enjoy it. I do not have experience being poised like a sport bike demands and riding without wind protection. I can't say what that would be like.

I'll admit that I'm currently attached to the plastics on my 6R. Don't let that be a deal-killer though, if you want a naked. Unless you ride 80mph all the time, or plan on touring, the wind is doable.
 
W

weaponzero

New Member
I can't speak for the world, only for Americans, but...

All of the reviews I've read say that the FZ07 is an overall better machine in virtually every way barring one: Engine vibrations (No twin will ever be as silky smooth as an inline four). That being said, 75% of American buyers don't care. They want something that has the LOOK of a fully-faired, race-bred supersport. And given the choice, they would rather have something that LOOKS more like one than a naked bike that PERFORMS more like one. There are a lot of people here who wouldn't even look twice at the FZ07 purely on the basis of being a naked bike but would happily buy an FZ6R. This is a very poor decision on Yamaha's part, one that could only be rectified by somehow producing a fully faired version of the FZ07. And even then it wouldn't necessarily be able to replace the FZ6R. The FZ07 will never be as good at long distance riding.
 
M

Marthy

World Most Bad A$$ 6R
Elite Member
I rode the FZ07 for a week when I did the exhaust. Sweet bike! 2 cylinder version of the FZ09. In my book if there was a battle betwen both they will break even.
 
S

Scott_Thomas

Insert title Here
Elite Member
Yamaha now has a 2015 FZ6R listed on their site. So it's not going away yet.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
 
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latony007

New Member
weaponzero said:
I can't speak for the world, only for Americans, but...

All of the reviews I've read say that the FZ07 is an overall better machine in virtually every way barring one: Engine vibrations (No twin will ever be as silky smooth as an inline four). That being said, 75% of American buyers don't care. They want something that has the LOOK of a fully-faired, race-bred supersport. And given the choice, they would rather have something that LOOKS more like one than a naked bike that PERFORMS more like one. There are a lot of people here who wouldn't even look twice at the FZ07 purely on the basis of being a naked bike but would happily buy an FZ6R. This is a very poor decision on Yamaha's part, one that could only be rectified by somehow producing a fully faired version of the FZ07. And even then it wouldn't necessarily be able to replace the FZ6R. The FZ07 will never be as good at long distance riding.
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Well i agree that they seem to be only concerned with naked bikes at the moment, if the FZ1 is gone and the FZ6R is gone that is going to leave only naked bikes and supersports. I dont think thats a good business decision but thats just me.
Scott_Thomas said:
Yamaha now has a 2015 FZ6R listed on their site. So it's not going away yet.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
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Are you sure about that? someone would have one by now, i heard the same thing about the FZ1 but no one has those either?
 
S

Scott_Thomas

Insert title Here
Elite Member
latony007 said:
Well i agree that they seem to be only concerned with naked bikes at the moment, if the FZ1 is gone and the FZ6R is gone that is going to leave only naked bikes and supersports. I dont think thats a good business decision but thats just me.


Are you sure about that? someone would have one by now, i heard the same thing about the FZ1 but no one has those either?
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It's on their site. Don't know why else they'd have it on there.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
 
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latony007

New Member
Scott_Thomas said:
It's on their site. Don't know why else they'd have it on there.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
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i don't remember them being on there before but i could have missed it. i see they are on there now. However it would not be the first time a website was wrong, No one seems to have any i have seen, none on cycletrader and i checked a few dealer inventories and nada, maybe they are just going to be very late. However if your in NY i did see a dealer selling an FZ1 New for 5999 im sure plus some freight assembly or whatever they wont budge on because of the low price but still seems like a steal.
 
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FJRGuy

New Member
While the FZ6R isn't going away (yet) Yamaha is making great additions to the line-up with the FZ-09 and FZ-07. I first saw and sat on an FZ-09 in June 2003 and loved the look and feel of the bike. (Unfortunately it was a pre-production bike and we could not take it out for a ride for insurance reasons. :( ) They are appealing to the true motorcyclists who are more concerned about riding than looking 'cool' like the SS wannabees. While 'entry-level' is subjective, I wouldn't call either of these bikes as entry level, that's what the 250s and 300s are for. They, like the FZ6R, can make a good first bike for someone wanting to skip the entry level step, but I personally would, and do, stick to true entry level bikes for someone just starting to ride. (Just bought a Suzuki GW250 to teach a ladyfriend to ride. Mighta bought a Yamaha if they offered a similar bike :( )

BTW, Absolutely Funniest analogy I've read in some time:
"...Harley as the Cadillac. Honda and Yamaha cruisers ... as ... Hyundai."
I didn't know Cadillac's were way overpriced noise makers that left oil stains everywhere they go. :p
And if you're gonna make a car analogy, I think Toyota might be a better choice for the Japanese bikes. ;)
 
X

xinu

New Member
FJRGuy said:
...Just bought a Suzuki GW250 to teach a ladyfriend to ride. Mighta bought a Yamaha if they offered a similar bike :( )
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That's the first time I've heard of GW250. Must a new model. About $500 below it's competition. Looks like a nice choice. When is delivery are they available now in the show room?
 

R

Recvery

New Member
Scott_Thomas said:
I'll never buy one. They always seems to get rid of bikes that have big following (FZ6, FZ6R, R6S, etc.). It wouldn't be so bad if they offered like Suzuki did with the SV650 offering a naked and faired version. I doubt they pick up new riders with the FZ07. Same power as 6R with less weight is probably too much power for a first time learner. My next bike will probably be the GSXR750, but not for a little while yet.
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My brother switched to a gsxr750 after the fz. He loves the power and handling but says the fz was way more comfortable. Not a bad next bike, but youll miss the fz when you hit stop n go
 

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