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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 8 Jan 2009
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FZ6 Fazer
Im just gonna throw this idea "out there" to see what peoples suggestions are.

I bought myself a new FZ6 Yamaha fazer 600 in april last year and i love it. Goes well, reliable and comfy. What do you lot rekon it will be like as a RTW bike 2up?

Ive been looking for some time now at what bike i want for the task but cant really make my mind up. The big BMW's seem monster heavy (and expensive) and the smaller 600's and 650's might be abit slow for my type of riding. The fazer is good in that has the power of the bigger bikes (although less torque) with lightness and cheap

Ive used it two up alot and it goes well, can sit at 80, 90mph no problem. Comfort is also pretty good, would be better with a taller screen and new seat tho.

How difficult would it be to make it a proper RTW tourer? Ground clearance isnt great and suspension etc would obviously need uprating. Do 4 cylinders not really lend themselves to touring?

We have a summer trip planned round europe for 2 weeks on the fazer so that will give me a good idea of its abilities on roads.

Cheers for the help folks, Dave
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Old 8 Jan 2009
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Oh btw first post, love the forum been snooping about for ages lots of great info around
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Old 8 Jan 2009
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Fazer?
DaveK,

I can't offer a comparison, but I ride a V-Strom 1000 and some buddies of mine ride the Wee-Strom 650. Either of these make a great overland bike, and they're not too costly. I think a new 2009 V-Strom 650 runs around $6K? Used ones are around. I love mine. It's my upgrade from a KLR 650 thumper.

Just put another 1000 miles on the Strom last week (about 200 on dirt roads) out in Texas' Big Bend area. I commute to work on it the rest of the time (45 miles one way).

There are some discussions on advrider.com too if you want to read what others have to say. There are also some pics of the FZ6 rigged for long-distance overland travel.
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Old 8 Jan 2009
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Stick a bash plate on it , and some longer travel forks as well as crash bars and it will do as long as you don't stray too far from the road I reckon (contrary to what I said in the Africa twin thread is because I want to go off the road and thus the Africa isn't suitable)....

I think the biggest issue is maintenance, in that the FZ6 is based on the R6 engine , Yamaha engines for a long time have been based around the 5 valves per cylinder arrangement and thus every 15000 miles you will need to adjust 20 valves , which it being a shim under bucket engine is fiddly and you either carry shims around you in your pocket (expensive as they are £4 each)....or you are stuck until somebody can ship some out to you..


Ontop of this its a sports bike engine and thus will need an octane booster probably , due to the high compression to generate the high amounts of power it produces else it'll run like a dog. KTM640s have a switch to run on low octane petrol , a guy I know who came back from Mongolia stated petrol there can get as low as 70 octane.
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Old 8 Jan 2009
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Good point on the fuel grade, forgot about that. I wouldnt be deliberately aiming for severe off-roading so i guess it may fair ok. Just checked my manual and the valve clearances dont need to be checked for 24000miles so i could get those done before leaving and it would be alright.

Tis a tricky decision. I think afew test rides on beemers, vstrom etc may be on the cards
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Old 10 Jan 2009
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with the valves ask around on fazer forums (must be one or two) see if they normally need doing. ive got a gsx1400, the valves get done every 15k BUT very few people ever need to change the shims until over 60k.

or for about £100-120 you can get a box of shims from motorsport type suppliers, get someone to post it to you when you get to that mileage. then you've got the shims if you need them, with dealer prices its probably a good idea anyway.

EDIT: oh fuel, isnt the fazer lower compression than the R6? which should make it less picky for fuel quality.
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Old 10 Jan 2009
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Originally Posted by Hooli View Post
EDIT: oh fuel, isnt the fazer lower compression than the R6? which should make it less picky for fuel quality.
Yeah I'm pretty sure the even the newer fazers are de-tuned versions of thier sports bike brothers. Lower compression, valve spring rates, exhaust.etc.

I think engine temperature would be your major concern in an off road situ.

Just a thought, what did the guy that took the R1 round the world do to his bike ? I haven't read the book or seen the DVDs.
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