FZ6 range per tank and clutch

[Nny]

I'm thinking about getting an FZ6 or a Kawasaki Z750s, and I'm looking for some FZ6 owners to chime in with their mileage per tank / mpg.  Also, how much of a pain is the clutch long term?  I've ridden one for about a half hour and the clutch was just really irritating for trying to ride smoothly.  Is there an adjustment I can make to widen the engagement or something aftermarket I could do?

[Mr Sunshine]

When riding down to Cali in 2005 on the wife's FZ6 I was getting 40-43mpg.

The clutch is frankly super annoying and I never got used to it after 1500miles from the trip.  I'm going to get her an CRG clutch lever and hope that with it being adjustable the right location can be found.

If not I'm gonna talk to some R6 people and see what I can do about the clutch.

[Nny]

When riding down to Cali in 2005 on the wife's FZ6 I was getting 40-43mpg.

The clutch is frankly super annoying and I never got used to it after 1500miles from the trip.  I'm going to get her an CRG clutch lever and hope that with it being adjustable the right location can be found.

If not I'm gonna talk to some R6 people and see what I can do about the clutch.

What RPM's were you running?  Was that on the freeway or twisty roads?  

Please keep me posted on the clutch issue..  

[Mr Sunshine]

What RPM's were you running?  Was that on the freeway or twisty roads?  

Please keep me posted on the clutch issue..  

Both freeway and twisty roads.  I generally stay below 10k on the bike on the twisties and below 7k on the freeway.

[SuperHans]

I average around 45 mpg on my 2004.

The clutch has a very small friction zone but you do adjust to it after putting some miles on the bike. The key is to have very little free play in the clutch lever. I adjust mine so there is almost no free play at all. There is a mod you can do that will help. If you check out the FZ6 section on sportbikes.net you can find some info on it.

[Nny]

The clutch has a very small friction zone but you do adjust to it after putting some miles on the bike. The key is to have very little free play in the clutch lever. I adjust mine so there is almost no free play at all. There is a mod you can do that will help. If you check out the FZ6 section on sportbikes.net you can find some info on it.

Is this the mod you're talking about?

[SuperHans]

Someone on the board was actually making a whole new arm not just extending the old one. I never felt the need to make any changes. While the clutch may be touchy it is something you get use to. I never really saw it as a major problem. It only took me a few hundred miles to adjust to the feel of the clutch.

[Max Wedge]

Links to FZ6 board and clutch mod threads: http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,4237.0.html  (in my post)

I get 45 - 52 mpg.

[dalan]

My wife gets around 60mpg with her '06 FZ6  , which is stock except for Leo Vince cans.  Neither she nor I have noticed any difficulties with the clutch....  the fizzer is easier to launch than the YZF600R she had previously.

[Nny]

Hmm..  I guess I might just adjust to it after a while if I didn't get the longer clutch um... arm thingy.. (technical term  )  What is that called?

[Allan]

I never noticed any issue with my cluch. I came from a XJ600. That was my first bike so if it had a short engagement I guess I just got used to it because its what I learned on.

I got anywhere from 38-46 MPG. I have heard you can get more if you baby it, but I never did.

[StacyT]

Hmm..  I guess I might just adjust to it after a while if I didn't get the longer clutch um... arm thingy.. (technical term  )  What is that called?

PUSH LEVER ASSY

[Nny]

PUSH LEVER ASSY

Thank you.

[spork47]

In 3700 miles of riding my FZ6:
- total avg mpg is 46.something. High of 56, lowest was 40 even, and was the first tank, so lots of time spent going very slowly. More typical is 44ish. Most of that time is spent in mixed commuting: 14 miles of 75ish mph interstate cruise, 3 miles of 40ish mph back roads.

- total avg distance per tank is 195, with an avg of 8 miles ridden with the reserve light on.

I don't find the clutch to be bothersome at all. My prior bike, a craptangular 80s Suzuki twin, had total clutch engagement within the first .5" or so of lever travel. Compared to that, the FZ clutch is smooth and easy to modulate, and gives good feedback as to its engagement points. Even in stop & go traffic up a steep hill, its never been a concern.

The only thing I find difficult to be smooth is riding at low (< 3500?) rpm with a closed, or nearly so, throttle. Basically anytime approaching a stop. I find myself pulling the clutch and just coasting earlier than I would otherwise like.