THE MISSION

I have been pestering my friends for about twelve months. On-line and off, I was in a constant flux about buying another motorcycle. Not just a bike to have sitting in the back of the garage, but one to be a daily rider, or at least one that I will really have fun on. Asking questions, test riding bikes, reading reviews, and changing directions and priorities every other day. Well, the wait is over. The questions are answered. The decision is made.

Much of my concerns revolved around exactly what I wanted to do. My current main bike is a 1997 Kawasaki Concours. A bike that can do just about anything and has served me well for many years. This motorcycle has never given me a problem and has always brought me home. I have used it for sportriding for years, but it can be a chore to ride that way. I wanted a nimble, powerful machine, one that would elicit joy, and re-kindle the passion for riding. The Concours and I were riding less and less each season. Still a great long-distance mount and set up as such, I really don’t want to get rid of it. We are attached! I had sportbikes, such as two FZR1000’s and now a GSXR1100 alongside the Concours. However, I really did not want to be bent into a pretzel to have fun. So, I began looking for a supplement to the Concours. Fast, comfortable riding position, great handling and just lots of fun to ride.

Three bikes came to mind that might fill my bill. The Suzuki Bandit 1200, the Kawasaki ZRX1200 and the Yamaha FZ-1. The Kawasaki doesn’t have a centerstand, so it was out right away. The Suzuki has the air/oil cooled GSXR based engine that I know very well, including it being buzzy. What was left was the Yamaha. And since my favorite dealer was a Yamaha / Kawasaki dealer, I found a few reviews to see what the major print and ‘net mags thought. Overall, the reviews were very positive and it was all I had to hear. I wanted to ride one. A trip to my dealer found a brand new 2002 silver sitting on the floor and it looked spectacular. Also, a salesman there rode a black 2001. I knew John for several years, and after explaining what I wanted to do and asking to ride his FZ-1 on a sportride I was leading into Vermont, he said I could ride his FZ-1. A case of beer just sealed the deal.

The FZ-1 I was riding for the day was a black 2001. Completely stock, save for the larger Yamaha windscreen, and the clock only had 851 miles on it. I rode my Concours to the dealer and just rode the Yamaha away. Luckily, it had a steel gas tank for my magnetic Marsee tankbag. The bike fit my big frame very well, and I immediately felt at home. The seat, pegs, bars and riding position all felt great to me. Alright Yamaha, sell me on this bike!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

John told me that the bike was a little lean on the jetting and he was right. Full choke, no throttle and it turned over for a few seconds before finally catching and settling into a high idle. I rolled out of the lot and with the choke still on hit the road. A crack of the throttle and the bike leapt away and we were off! This bike had a bunch of low-end grunt. Much more than I expected out of an in-line four. Up to 5000 rpm’s, it made so much power that it seemed the front wheel would just launch skyward. If you were a wheelie fanatic, this is the bike for you. The FZ will effortlessly loft its front wheel anywhere.

After a very slight off idle flat spot, the carburetion is spot on perfect all the way to 10,000 rpm’s. Another thing I noticed right away is that the bike is geared very tall. Shortening the gearing would make it even peppier, and would probably help its off-idle manners. With it being cool out, the lean condition off idle, in conjunction with the very tall first gear had me slightly slipping the clutch to take off. As the day warmed up, this situation disappeared. This was the only mechanical issue. The seating position was perfect for my 6’2” body, and the wide, superbiker style bars gave you plenty of leverage. Fit and finish was excellent, and the black paint was perfect. I could not believe how nimble this bike was.

ENGINE MECHANICALS

The engine really shocked me. I have ridden the YZF-R1, and both that bike and the FZ-1 share many engine components. It is written that the new cylinder head that is on the R1 based Fz-1 engine, in conjunction with cam and carb set-up, was all designed to boost low end and mid-range power. I believe it. The EXUP valve is here in force, and working with all the other tweaks really gives this bike a Saturn 5 type boost. Power, and lots of it. The only other bike to really impress me in this department was Mike Norian’s GSXR-1000. That bike scared me. The FZ-1 is up there. It may only be 117hp to the rear wheel, but it feels like 150 to me. The trannie was notchy, but then the bike only had 800 miles on it. Some more break-in, combined with synthetic oil should smooth that right out.

The engine, like all the FZR/YZF litre bikes is very smooth. A slight tingle reaches the bars, but nothing a softer grip couldn’t solve. This engine LOVES to rev, and it will spin effortlessly to redline in a split second. On the road, this quick throttle response combined with awesome power made for some impressive roll-on power. For example, 70mph to 100mph was accomplished in the wink of an eye. I couldn’t believe it. And the bike still felt like it was going 70. Also, with the engine so powerful and smooth I often found myself cruising around in 4^th gear, not even realizing that I had a 6-speed gearbox. The engine didn’t care. Carburetion was perfect when the day warmed up. The only issue I had was off idle on the cold morning; otherwise Yamaha did a perfect job of sorting this department. There were no steps in the powerband. There was just ALWAYS power!

FRAME and CHASSIS

As I had said earlier, the bike fit me perfect. To the point where it just felt like a natural extension of my body. The machine felt like it would do anything I wanted it to. The suspension really needed to be dialed in for me, as on some bumpy twisties at about 85mph the rear was bobbing, to the point where I thought it would really upset the bike. The front forks felt better, but seemed to suffer from too much compression damping, which was hurting it while tracking over some bumpier roads. I don’t think Yamaha went cheap here as some OEM’s do, but that I really need to work on it. Both the front and rear are fully adjustable.

Fit and finish on the bike was perfect. All the welds were clean; the silver paint on the frame was perfect, along with the black on the body. I would say it rivals Honda fit and finish. To me, it looked and felt that good. The seat was good for all day riding and at 220 miles I felt fine. The view to the gauges is straight and neat, though I do wish the tachometer were a little bit bigger. You get an analog tach and Speedo, with a digital odometer that double as a dual trip meter hosed in the Speedo, and digital clock housed in the tach. The only other gauge is a fuel gauge. I was shocked to see a temperature idiot light, no actual gauge. I have never seen this oversight in a liquid cooled bike. It should have one and will be the first thing I add to mine.

The upper fairing, in conjunction with the taller Yamaha Touring windscreen, gave surprisingly good weather protection. The mirrors, however, were completely useless. My elbows never looked so good. My only major complaint, if they were stretched out maybe an inch they would work. Now? The bike needs bar-ends instead. The wheels are 3.5 and 5.5 X 17’s and that’s great as a ton of modern rubber can be spooned on them. The stock Bridgestone Battlax’s were fine, though a set of Michelin Pilots would be next on my list. Attached to those wheels are standard YZF-R1 brakes. These things just plain WORK! Not two finger, these are one finger brakes, and even then it’s just a caress, not even a squeeze. My first use of them had me fighting going over the bars. Coming from the Concours, which has good brakes, these binders were amazing. The rear brake was a bit touchy, but never locked up on me.

My only other complaint in the chassis department would be the pegs. They had a very thick rubber pad on top, and it was very flexible. My Dainese boots kept moving around on them, to the point where a little hanging off with the bike had me making sure my foot was planted on the inside peg. I shouldn’t have to worry about a peg!

FINAL THOUGHTS

I have said it earlier and I’ll say it again. This bike flat out handles and will do anything you ask of it. Never once did it feel uninspiring, and once the suspension is dialed in I can only imagine it getting better. The engine is amazing and is fun to rev and shift. It likes to be at 7000 rpm’s and even higher! I think it was taunting me! With plenty of clearance to the exhaust pipe, this bike will easily take soft luggage, though I plan to add a Givi E50 hard case to it.

I’ve praised it over and over and really have nothing else to say. I came away very impressed and smitten. It was much more than I expected. It was NOT an R1 with a bikini fairing. It was a comfortable sportbike with sensible ergonomics. In conjunction with the 5.6-gallon fuel tank and averaging 40mpg, it can do 200 miles between fill-ups. You don’t have to make friends with a chiropractor in order to spend all day on one, nor do you have to be 5’6” and 160 lb’s to fit on it. Great handling, great power, and at about $8000.00 from your dealer a great price and it comes in blue or silver for 2002. Honestly, you cannot go wrong. This bike is the real deal.

I’ll take the silver, please.

AND ONE MORE THING....

This bike will replace the Concours. Yes. I said it. Believe it. On the ride home from the dealer on my Connie, I just could not see why to keep it. The only reason why was for my trip to Montreal for Formula One next June. Keep a bike which I won't ride anymore for a once a year 800 mile trip? Sure I own it, but why have it just sit? My dealer will take the Concours and give me what I want for it. That bike has been very good to me, and will make the next owner very happy. All set up for LD riding and properly maintained, it should be making someone else smile. We grew apart and I don't know why. Only 3000 miles this year did we travel together and that was not nearly enough.

The FZ-1 made that strong an impact on me.

And that GSXR-1100 is for sale, too.