FZ1: personality?

[scottzilla]

just my opinion...don't sell the Hawk. It will be a minor classic.

It was ahead of its time when it was released.

The perimeter frame and single sided swing arm were avant-guard stuff back in the 80s. Throw in a characterful V twin power plant and you have a winner  

A garden variety 1999 SV650 will smoke it in every way.  Sad but true.

Oddly, if there was an STN back in the early 1990's, we would be bitching and moaning about Honda offering the scooterish PC800 and overweight/underpowered/overpriced bikes like the CB400 and Hawk GT.  And lets not forget the GB500.
Now we think these bikes are kinda cool.
Apparently, Honda knows more about STN'ers than we think.

[Orson]

Oddly, if there was an STN back in the early 1990's, we would be bitching and moaning about Honda offering the scooterish PC800 and overweight/underpowered/overpriced bikes like the CB400 and Hawk GT.  And lets not forget the GB500.
Now we think these bikes are kinda cool.
Apparently, Honda knows more about STN'ers than we think.

nahhhh...I liked the GT when it first came out   and the GB500.

and if my memory is correct, so did the bike mags. Unfortunately, I don't weigh 140 pounds  

people throw that "underpowered" flag a lot, but much like Guzzis, specs and quarter mile times can be meaningless in the real world   Apply the ol' "ride a slow bike fast doctrine" and an unassuming bike can turn out to be a whole lotta fun  

but yer right about the "overpriced" part  

[Castaway]

Performance aside (and don't which will out smoke which), IMO the Hawk has a much more refined look. I remember anticipating its release ... it was one of the first bike that seemed so purposeful, no gizmos or fills (though the swingarm may not comply) just a solid bike.

They have problems with head heat/lubrication as I recall, yes?


(this thread is getting bent

[GraniteGray]

What about Gen 1 vs. Gen 2? Has anyone here owned both? Is there a general consensus in the FZ following as to which is better?

They seem to be very different bikes aside from their ability to fit all styles of riding. The Gen 2 has had some frame issues, yes? And the mpg is lower with the Gen 2. Other details?

My buddy had a Gen I FZ1, which he recently sold and bought a new Vmax.

Both the Gen I and Gen II are great bikes, but as suggested above, the Gen II is a much more modern and better handling bike, with it's excellent FI system, twin-spar alloy frame, and superior suspension. The First two years of the Gen II (2006 and 2007) had a few rare issues with cracked frames, and some people found the throttle response a bit abrupt. None of these issues affect the 2008, 2009, and 2010 model year bikes.

Cut that big mudflap of a rear fender off was the first thing I did to mine. In this photo my temp plate ripped the back while riding

I would, but it makes such a great anchor point for the safety bungees I attach to the rear of my Pelican case. And besides, anyone like me, who'd attach a Pelican case to the back of an FZ1, obviously doesn't care that much about how the back of the bike looks.

I like to think of it as a really fast KLR...

 

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

I have been thinking on a spare seat to do just the same thing.  

[GraniteGray]

I have been thinking on a spare seat to do just the same thing.

And the nice thing is...

Yamaha will sell you the complete rear seat assembly for around $85 US. I was pleasantly surprised by that price. When I think OEM parts, I usually think daylight robbery.

Here's how I rigged it up...

Now the case can be attached in seconds, by removing the passenger seat, installing the case in it's place, and simply pressing down until the seat-lock mechanism produces an audible click. The case can be removed with a twist of the ignition key in the seat-lock release which is located on the FZ1's left side panel. No screwing a round with tools and hardware to install or remove the case, and the case is securely locked to the bike while installed. And it's even better than after market luggage, which has a separate key. One key serves both the ignition and the luggage with this set-up.

Here's some photos...
















I can add a softbag to the top for extra capacity on longer trips...

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Very cool, thanks

[SVTNate]

That's a cool setup, but I don't know how I'd ever swing my leg over that!

[spitfiremk21]

In my opinion it has so much personality it's almost schizophrenic...

Agreed. My FZ1 is the perfect 'do everything' bike. It can go from around town commuter to nasty sportbike and be happy with saddle bags headin' for Deals Gap. Anybody calling the FZ1 boring is an idiot.  

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

That's a cool setup, but I don't know how I'd ever swing my leg over that!

Not over through  

[nanbil]

I have to say that the new FZ1 is a great looking bike.  

[GraniteGray]

A few shots from my ride along the coast today...

[dduck]

Well i have an SV1000.....which has lots of visceral personality like the superhawk with the v-twin roar.  I rode my friend's '05 FZ1 one afternoon and thought it had zero personality.  Athletic and very competent but felt like a tool to get the job done to me....and I found it viiiibbbey.

05 is Gen I bike; after 2006 it is a completely different bike.