What is the ukrm considered opinion on the Fazer 600. Is it a good bike for a newly passed rider or would a GPZ500 (cheaper!) be better for a few years? All wisdom gratefully listened to. TIA Iain NS125F (at the moment) -- Certified Virus Free by Norton Anti-Virus
I think the general consensus on the Fazer is that it is a decent bike with a good engine and good handling. I've only ridden one as a hire bike but I thought it was fine. IIRC the current edition of Bike magazine has a write up on second hand ones as penned by our very own TOG. In terms of the decision about the GPZ vs the Fazer I think it boils down to how quickly you will develop your riding skills and what riding you do. If you have no desire to take long trips or go quickly and will probably just commute then the GPZ will be more than adequate. If you believe you want to develop your skills, ride down twisties and perhaps go on a tour then the Fazer will be the better choice between the two. Insurance costs are also an important consideration and may be the overall decision making factor. Any bike can bite back if you don't ride it correctly and there are plenty of people who have gone straight to powerful machines post test and managed to survive.
I had one as a courtesy bike and really didn't get on with it at all. There again, I was riding a TRX at the time.
Fazer will keep you happier for longer. It's a lot faster, has much better brakes & suspension. If you are considering new bikes then the Fazer has just had a major revamp whereas the GPZ has been much the same for a decade. They Fazer is popular so if you decide to change it in a few years it will likely depreciate less than the Kwak. GPZ running costs will be lower as tyres are cheaper & it will be in a lower insurance group. You really need to ride the bikes to find if the riding position suits you. I felt too cramped on a GPZ whereas the original Fazer was fine.
I had a TRX as a loaner. Quaite naice. Later, I dumped a GSX750 loaner on my knee. Not as naice... -- Platypus - (unreal) VN800 Drifter, R80RT, Z200 DIAABTCOD#2 GPOTHUF#19 BOTAFOS#6 BOTAFOT#89 FTB#11 BOB#1 SBS#35 ANORAK#18 TWA#15
The GPZ would be cheaper of course, but a Fazer is likely to last you longer as it is suitable for most purposes. My Fazer is my first big bike and I am having trouble justifying replacing it with something else. How much money are you considering spending? Also look at the Suzuki SV650S. If you're buying new Honda has a new CBF600 which might suit.
Does better mean faster, or Honda build quality? I found it to be a rather dull bike[1] imho. [1]The CB500.
Yes. I should have qualified what I meant by better - The CB500 is cheaper to run - lower insurance, no fairing to fix when you drop it (The OP has just passed his test). - The CB500 depreciates slower than a GPz500. - Hondas generally do better for reliability than Kawas. - The CB500 has very decent performance for a 500 twin (it could do with better brakes IMHO). - Upright riding position means you can see the road ahead very well. (Having said that I do like the GPz500 as well and I've never ridden a Fazer so I can't comment on them.) You said you found the CB500 "a rather dull bike". What's that in comparison too? The OP has a 125 - I'm sure the CB500 is a bit more exciting than that! Regards.
Ok if you're buying a bike to sell / exchange again. Dunno about that, never had a Kwak. Same for my Bandit, but I fitted low bars, coz I felt like a wind sock on fast roads. I had one as a loan bike once, for a time.. I found it to be ok, but just a bit dull to ride, that's all. When I did my DA test, we were on the Suzuki GS500E and the instructor was on a CB500. How we did enjoy it that the instructor couldn't keep up on the dual carrage ways. 125s imho, are in a class of their own. The CG125, is in a class all of it's own.
Well, despite the uncertain focussing, even I can see it's been dropped. -- Platypus - (unreal) VN800 Drifter, R80RT, Z200 DIAABTCOD#2 GPOTHUF#19 BOTAFOS#6 BOTAFOT#89 FTB#11 BOB#1 SBS#35 ANORAK#18 TWA#15
Yes, I think they still make them. My one is a 2002 model with electric starter, does about 100 mpg. If mpg is what you want, then a Honds C70 is the way forward. I've heard figures of 200+mpg being spoken about on this ng.
Depends how you ride it dunit. I got up to 150 mpg out of my old Brazil and about 125 out of the XLR, it occurred to me though after Champ said here http://tinyurl.com/2qsvb “I've seen a carburettor described as "a device to deliver just the wrong amount of fuel to an engine for an given set of operating conditions"” [1] that you may be able to get even more extreme MPG out of them by fuel injecting the buggers, sounds like a project for someone [2]. [1] look mummy that nasty man is quoting a chap quoting another chap, is that a bit like having two mirrors facing one another in the bathroom? [2] not me. -- Bob Currently borrowing a black and red Yamaha XJ750 with fuel injection Present: Honda XL125RF (FS) Past: Honda CG125 bob at homeurl tomato dot co dot uk remove the red fruit if you’d like to email me.
