A new bike for me! Bandit/Fazer? Advice pls

I've been quoted over £500 insurance for a VFR so I doubt I'll get a much better for a FZ1.

Shortlist is primarily FZ6 and GSX-F, with possibles as ER6F (yes, I know, but I kept thinking of the horrible 'unfaired' version that looks worse than the Gladius), ZZR600, Z750.

Gonna try quotes for all of them as I expect some will be similarly expensive and out of the running.

Cheers all for your input, will post again to let you know what I get.

Originally Posted by metalangel

I've been quoted over £500 insurance for a VFR so I doubt I'll get a much better for a FZ1.

Shortlist is primarily FZ6 and GSX-F, with possibles as ER6F (yes, I know, but I kept thinking of the horrible 'unfaired' version that looks worse than the Gladius), ZZR600, Z750.

Gonna try quotes for all of them as I expect some will be similarly expensive and out of the running.

Cheers all for your input, will post again to let you know what I get.

I would definitely discourage you from getting an FZ6 if you're planning to do a lot of town/city riding. I've had one since March and have put close to 10K on it already commuting 40 miles each way to work in Surrey.

It fulfills its purpose by getting me there and back at a resonable pace and with some comfort. However, if I was to compare the enjoyment factor between the FZ6 and my old curvy, the former wouldn't stand a chance.. It's absolutely gutless below 8K (even with the catalyser replaced by a straight through pipe) and the full power comes between 10-12K. You have to slide the clutch a lot to do reasonable start from the traffic lights and can still be overtaken by a chav on a scooter.. As a result in town it has absolutely no character and really is boring. Out of town, on a twisty A or B road it's a completely different thing and definitelly trumphs over an SV. That is providing you keep it in high revs at all times, which will return somewhere around 35mpg. The riding position is reasonably comfy but as I am quite tall (6 foot) with unproportionally short arms, I am seriously considering getting some bar risers as I'm not really able to take a fully upright position at the moment...

Decision is yours; all I can say is that although I've only had the bike for about 5 months I'm already thinking about getting a replacement...

Ps. My insurance for the FZ6 is just short of £800 for Third Party Fire & Theft. I paid around £700 for fully comp on the SV with breakdown and legal cover included...

Originally Posted by metalangel

Shortlist is primarily FZ6 and GSX-F, with possibles as ER6F (yes, I know, but I kept thinking of the horrible 'unfaired' version that looks worse than the Gladius), ZZR600, Z750.

The Kwak Z750, now thats a nice looking bike that i've considered myself in the past. I was put off it originally by the various unfavourable magazine reviews at the time. But if you dig a bit and look at the actual owner reviews then they all seem very happy indeed with the bike.

And i know whose reviews i'd trust out of owners vs mags.

Just had a poke around on MCN compare and got some pretty decent quotes for an FZ1 (which would eliminate some of the 'gutless' aspects of the FZ6, right?) and also the ZZR-600 which surprised me.

I'll still be paying about £450 or so for insurance (vs £169 for my SV) but I put that down to crashing and wrecking bikes!

Still need to go and try these now, stuck in work now until next Friday so I have a nice frustrating wait (hoping my leg gets better) so I can go to some dealers weekend after next and try some of these out!

Originally Posted by metalangel

Just had a poke around on MCN compare and got some pretty decent quotes for an FZ1 (which would eliminate some of the 'gutless' aspects of the FZ6, right?) and also the ZZR-600 which surprised me.

I'll still be paying about £450 or so for insurance (vs £169 for my SV) but I put that down to crashing and wrecking bikes!

Still need to go and try these now, stuck in work now until next Friday so I have a nice frustrating wait (hoping my leg gets better) so I can go to some dealers weekend after next and try some of these out!

I took the FZ1N for a spin at the last Bikesafe show in Hendon. It seemed really good compared to my FZ6 but hard to really evaluate it when you have Mr Plod following your every step.........

What really surprised me was how much better balanced the bike was compared to my FZ6 - it actually felt lighter, despite the bigger engine

bigger engine means lower centre of gravity, on the move it'll feel much lighter.

Originally Posted by Razor

bigger engine means lower centre of gravity, on the move it'll feel much lighter.

Not only on the move - it felt much better balanced from the moment I got on it..

Hope you get better soon, MA (I had heard elsewhere you'd had an accident) !!

One in, one out ....... just got myself an SV, as you are changing

I have to say - so far, I find the riding position a little extreme for commuting ..... but as far as value goes ..... for me, the SV seemed the best buy ....

This place in Cheltenham has both a nice ZZR and FZ6 for sale so with nice weather weekend after next I might pay them a little visit to have a go.