17th Jan 2006, 06:08

I own a 2003 model fzs1000.

The comments on the tyres are correct. After 17000km and many scary moments, I have swapped them for Conti Road Attacks. Now I can make stoppis on rainy days.

I ride 12 months a year in Belgium, mostly home to work, but on sunny days the distance from home to work increases just for the fun of riding.

The fzs1000 is my second bike, because commuting through slow traffic is much easier with this bike than with my Kawasaki gtr1000.

Small, very manouverable, fast and good brakes, the ideal every day bike. The 06 model is on my wish list. So my 03 model is spending his last months with me.

21st Jan 2006, 15:22

My wife has the 600 & I'm well impressed, but want a bigger engine. I need a bike for a 115 mile a day comute, nearly all motorway & dual carriageway. Could anyone tell me about running costs on the Fazer 1000? Tyre wear, servicing, motorway mpg etc... Does anyone know the likely longevity of a bike used as above & well serviced? Any advice/experience welcomed.

Thanks,

Neal.

20th Sep 2006, 07:15

G, day. I just bought a silver 05 FZ1000s and what can I say, YeeHaa.

It handles like a dream without the annoying wrist aches and back aches. Opened her up the other day, first, second, third, fourth, wow, past 200KmH, still two gears to go, cars littering the highway like germs, but the Fazer just cuts through the traffic like a knife at any speed.

Hitting my favourite set of twisties has made me realise one thing, I need a new set of sliders cause it just wants to corner. Anything from the flip-flop to the sweeping 160kmh curves, dragging the knee all the way. Third gear, dip of the clutch, up she comes, holds nicely, the anchors washes speed off really fast.

She's stock at the moment, but I have got a plan for a Yoshi tri-oval K&N filter and stage 2 dynojet kit. That should put me at 140 horsepower at the wheel, not to mention lifting the airbox.

It's also handy to know a fella that has tuned them to 160 horsepower. I'll let you know what type of power gains I get once she's dynoed.

It is the perfect road bike that brings a smile to my face everytime I get on her.

4th Feb 2007, 23:47

Addressing Neal's comments... I am nearing my 40th year of riding and am now on my third FZ-1. A 2001, a 2003 and now a 2006 - love them all.

I do very long highway commutes in about every weather condition with mixed road conditions. I feel that the new one is quite different than the previous models, especially a harder seat which I am still working on.

I have to say that I think the "blue ones" were a bit better in the rougher weather/roads due to the fork angle being a bit more shallow. A lowering kit and fuel injection may have made them perfect, except that both the early ones developed a vibration above 3500rpm that drove me crazy. The new one makes me feel that I need a steering dampener to handle the occasional gravel road, as it is much less stable than the predecessors.

Even though I am 6' tall I like having the grips closer, but I feel that I am now a bit less than one with the newer bike.

The high mileages never seemed to have much effect on the bikes over the long haul.

Frisbetariat.

23rd Nov 2008, 12:07

I am a 50 year old male and own a 2002 Fazer 1000. It has covered over 30,000 miles now, a balance of being totally thrashed upto the redline over half its mileage and occasionally ridden around the 8,000 rpm with the wife on the back.

Up until now, there have been no major issues with the bike. The only real problem was the ex-up valve which stuck and gave a loss of power around the 23,000 mile mark. This was soon cured by my local independent bike mechanic for the price of £35.00. The same mechanic gave it the major service at 20,000 miles, including the important valve clearances for the price of £180.00. Having this service completely transformed the bike to the 2000 mile performance with it feeling so more torquey once more.

The only mods from new are a fender extender to keep crap of the rad, a K+N filter for better breathing and save the constant more expensive Yamaha replacements. It is still on the standard can.

I have ridden most days since initial purchase (sun, rain, fog, snow) and the only downfall to the finish is flaking paint flaking from the engine covers and corrosion on the alloy components. All in all, a superb long distance all rounder that will take you and a passenger in comfort with the knowledge that if it's looked after, it will never let you down.