Leggy EXUP Lumps...

....do these put up with high miles or not, really?

I know they've a reputation for burning oil - not too fussed about
that within reason.

More interested in whether or not they're reliable at higher mileage
if reasonably well fettled.

 

The short answer I think is "yes". Lozzo can probably amplify.

 

Ok... you don't really seem to see that many around with 50k+
mileages, is why I ask.

Maybe I've been mixing in VFR circles too long. ;-)

 

Well we're only going on an example of one here, but it had around 38k
on it when I passed it on to Loz, and the guy who took it off him then
used it, IIRC, to commute between England and Germany.

 

Mine and Colin Irvine's old one has about 130,000 miles on the clock
now.

 

You are correct, and it's still going strong in Glasgow from what I can
make out. It was just starting to use a little oil when I had it, but
nothing drastic. I sold it with just short of 47K IIRC

 

Going back to the original 1000 EXUP I've never heard of any big weakness.
The Yamaha cycle parts die long before the engine.

 

<satisfied smile>

 

Sounds good.

Test rode a Fazer 1000 earlier with 48k on the clock.

Felt very flat at higher revs actually, and not what I was expecting
at all - possible issue with the EXUP valve?

 

If the exup vaklve is sticking the rev counter keeps winding up to 7000
revs and staying there before going back to zero, then going back to
7000 etc. The clocks have a diagnostic feature that tell you via a
number of different needle sweeps what the problem is.

 

Ok... then it wasn't that (ta for the tip though) ;-)

I have to say, I didn't think much of it at all really - it didn't
feel very planted, the brakes weren't as sharp as I was, having owned
a Fazer 600, expecting.

Most importantly, whilst the front felt light under hard acceleration,
it didn't feel like it was going to pop up on the back wheel any time
soon, something which I'd expected these to be like if provoked in the
right manner.

 

They aren't as sharp as the Thunderace. The Ace isn't a missile like a
9R or a Gixer Thou, but they do let you know they are moving quite
rapidly. They don't so much accelerate as gather speed fucking quickly,
IYSWIM. Any Fazer Thou should lift the front wheel on the gas when
being nailed to the redline from a standing start, and again when
banged into second at the redline. If it doesn't then walk away or
check the gearing hasn't been altered. They are geared qite low as
standard.

 

It did 80 in first... which I believe the 'ace does as standard, so
assume these are the same.

However, it didn't lift the front wheel with any sign of commitment
like even my VFR does. So guess this says it all.

Interesting comments regarding the 'missile' like characteristics of
the 9R, though.

The one I was supposed to be getting yesterday had 'issues' involving
back brake calipers coming adrift at motorway speeds and doing a bit
of damage as a result, hence why I've not bought that.

Sounds like they're more what I'm looking for, anyway.

In a weird twist... I've been looking at R6s as well - anything that
redlines that high must be fun to ride.

 

At your height you'll be crippled within half an hour of riding one,
The older ones aren't so bad to ride on the road, but the newer ones
from 2006 onwards are awful gutless things until the tacho needle is
damn near in the red. Not my idea of a useable road bike; they're like
a very fast 2-stroke with massive reliability.

 

Not flip necessarily, but light front ends is certainly one reason. MV
stuck a litre engine in the original 750 Brutale to 'see what it would
be like', & rapidly decided not to put it into production. They do seem
to be leading the way now with naked power outputs though, so maybe the
Japs will follow suit.


--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

It's yet another one of those questions I'll always be wondering the
answer to until I actually try one, I guess.

There is a part of me starting to think maybe I ought to just keep the
VFR for now and save up and buy something a lot newer / quicker.

In fact, I'd be happy to keep the VFR and have something a bit newer /
lairier as more of a toy, in due course.

And I say all this as if the VFR isn't doing it for me really - it
does (1), but as stated before, I miss the peaky 'kick / adrenalin
rush' as it were, you tend to get with a decent inline four when
really going for it on some nice twisties.

You say that like it's a bad thing. ;-)

If I were to get one, it would be something like a 2k model.

Actually, a mate has one... I might ask him if I CHAGM.

 

Ok, ta.

Well it didn't exactly feel like a beast down low either - yet another
one in an increasingly long list of bikes that haven't lived up to my
expectations.

Indeed.

If I weren't so allergic to Triumph electrics, I think I'd have a look
at a 955i Speed Triple - they're supposed to be a bit lairy.

Well I think it would be rude for me not to try another one soon, just
to be sure this one wasn't a knackered dog... however, from what
you've said it sounds like it just be the nature of the beast.

Oh, and I don't remember the 600 being quite so 'sit up and beg' - the
minute I jumped on the one of those I had, I felt completely at home
lobbing it around twisties - the 1000 felt distinctly alien, and
didn't really inspire any more confidence the further I rode it.

 

It's not even as if they're any more economical than the higher
powered equivalent IME - fair enough, aerodynamics are part of this
particular part of the equation, but even so...

Indeed - actually, I've had a revelation of late along those lines,
too.

I used to periodically go through a phase of worrying I was overdue a
big lob, and would invariably get rid of the bike for a while having
convinced myself it was all about to go horribly 'Pete Tong', as a
result.

Not had that at all in the last year since that stint of commuting to
London and back... just worry about the lifespan of my licence, given
I tend to 'enjoy' the VFR a bit too much at times, IYSWIM. ;-)

 

Have you considered getting 'things' done to the VFR to make it more
what you want? Suspension can obviously be sorted by the usual methods
(e.g. Maxton), & a custom exhaust & Power Commander did wonders for the
grin factor on my brother's.


--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

Actually, no... but that might make sense really. Either that or flog
mine and buy one that's had it already done, as these do come up from
time to time and the price doesn't generally tend to reflect how much
the mods cost.

Suspension wise I'm happy with it really - would probably do wonders
for it if I got the slow puncture on the front sorted out. ;-)

I've got an ART race can on it - definitely freed up a few more horses
up the top end, and the fuel 'economy' reflects when I'm off on one.
Keep meaning to get it on the dyno down where I help out from time to
time, to find out exactly how much difference there is between runs
with this and the standard can.

Power Commander... what sort money do they cost? Like I say, got
access to a rolling road (1), so can tweak it to my hearts content
once fitted.

(1) ...which was nice, as my Passat will testify - tis a tad more
pokey now than when I first bought it. VAG TDIs rock for this sort of
thing.