Test rode an FZ6 today...!
 

After riding an SV650S yesterday, this morning I went out (in the rain! :( ) to test ride a Fazer 600 FZ6. Both bikes were completely standard, so this is probably as good as it gets for a comparison.

Anyway, first impressions were once again good. It feels better built than the SV and, although I thought it was a bit ugly in the pictures, it looks much better in the flesh (thou still not quite as sporty as the SV). The riding position is much more upright (bars vs. clip-on's I guess?) too.

The bike felt quite a bit heavier, particularly at slow speeds, and I found the clutch a bit jumpy too - the biting point wasn't as progressive as on the SV. This wasn't helped, perhaps, by less low-down power than the SV seems to have, but it was an awful lot smoother and I soon got used to the clunky-but-firm gearbox too. At low cruising speeds in built up areas (30mph & 40mph) the FZ6 is smoother, if not as much fun as the SV.

Out on the road, it was pretty quick low-down still, but nothing like the SV. However, hit 7,000rpm and it really took off! I have no idea how far I managed to hold on to the revs for but I'm sure it was nowhere near the 14,000rpm (?) redline. It also made a pleasant growl if you were toodling at 40mph in 6th and opened the throttle - very nice. Whilst not having as much 'roll-on' acceleration in top, knocking it down a couple of gears provided all the grunt and revs necessary to make very quick progress indeed.

Bad points - not many for me to be honest, just wish the clutch was a little more progressive but I guess that can be adjusted, right? Biggest issue was for the missus - I was expecting this to be infinitely better for her as a pillion than the SV and largely it was - bigger, lower seat, better grab rails, more in line with my body height to act as more of a windbreak...but the two bits of upper rear fairing that stick out really dug into her legs! Does anyone know if this is a common problem, and can it be overcome at all? It seems ridiculous to have these bits of plastic jutting out for no reason! You can see them in line with and below my lid in the first pic, with 'Fazer' written just above them:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...Image004_1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...Image011-1.jpg

Also, some info on the FZ6 would be good to. Does it still use an R6 engine and R1 brakes as with the original FZS600, and what is the suspension and frame from or are they an 'FZ' design?

All in all, if I can sort those bits of plastic out, or move/adjust the pillion pegs to suit, then I think I'll pick the FZ6 over the SV650S...any helpful opinions and suggestions appreciated :D

No it doesnt use the R1 brakes. Only the previous model Fazer's do...

Glad to hear you have finally got your own comparison. Are you gonna try the bandit?

And it's its own frame, and detuned R6 motor. Lots of reports of snatchiness etc for these but I've never tried that version...

Pillioning's going to be the problem... You could reshape the panels, I'm sure, unless there's somethign solid on the other side- but that'll impact value and need resprayed. THe peg handers are welded into the subframe so there's no easy way to move them. Anything can be done with enough commitment :)

Yeah...look at other bikes in this class too. Ya getting free luggage with the 650 bandit!

Hornets, CBF600, and Z750 to try as well.

re the pillion aspect, did you get to try your missus on the pillion seat on the sv too (couldn't work that out)?

i have been pillion on my own sv before and i prefer to be higher up, so my head is above the other rider's, so i can see what's coming and also to avoid the old banging helmets together lark...
i didn't pillion for very long (10-15 mins in london so traffic) but it felt fine to me.

The pillion was just a case of her sitting on the back in each case, at a standstill. Sadly she doesn't have any gear available right now!

Based on the brief sitting up there, she said both were as comfy as one another seat wise, but she felt a bit high up on the SV and the grab rail wasn't as good as the side rails on the FZ6. Saying that, she found the rear fairings plastics were really uncomfortable on her legs so its swings and roundabouts.

There doesn't seem to be one bike that fits the bill perfectly - after getting some insurance quotes, I may try a CBR600F at some point as I got a quote that was actually £40 cheaper than for the FZ6 TPFT (£543 for the CBR vs £583 for the FZ....but only £483 for the SV!)

Decisions decisions...

that's interesting about the side rails on the fazer too; i would prefer a rail at the back because you tend to be pushed/pulled forward and backward rather than side to side and you want to put yourself in a position where long-distance you don't have to strain too much (more effort needed to prevent forward/backward movement if you have arms beside you?). I can imagine at a standstill it'd feel more comfy to have your arms next to you rather than behind you - probably worth a test ride with pillion if you can get it!

again this is just from my very short pillion experience so take it with a pinch of salt :D

Buy My SV for £3000 that makes ur total £3483.... that must still be over £800 less than a new one with free insurance. :D

I owned an FZ6 (the naked version) but got bored of it and bought another SV instead! Very revy although I think the latest is less than the first of the R6 engined ones. I like the look of the naked, but not the faired! doh - just my personal preference.

Get an SV, much more fun - you won't get bored! I regretted changing to the FZ6, its like riding a sports bike with having to rev the nuts off it all the time - if you like that then maybe it will suit you - I prefer the SV's low down power!