Hi all

Been riding a while, and I've got an an NC29 - but I'm planning to take a big trip in July this year...

Probably going down to South of France, and riding through the Alps, Switzerland, Germany etc. About 2000 miles over 10 days.

I know the R6 is a no-no (which my mate wants to sell me), as that's killing my wrists at the minute, and was thinking about either a Honda 600 FX, or a Yam Fazer

CBR is my first choice, but does anyone do any serious miles on a Fazer? How's the half fairing working out for you?

Bearing in mind it's going to be dry, and it's touring, not blasting away. Although I do want to cruise at 100mph on the way back.

Things like flip up screens are my next port of call -but I need to find a bike first, as the 400 won't cut it!

Thanks all (in advance)

--Tosh

cue Mally.............................................
he rides the tyres off his Fazer

My fazer. Full set of Non fango lugage currently on E-bay including fixings £158 at the last look.
Now in reply to your question. April 1250miles now 15000miles. Some long journeys completed on it and comfortable all the time. Half fairing keeps a lot of the wind off but can direct the wind to your head instead. You tend not to try and hide behind the screen due to normal riding position being higher than something like a cbr.Double bubble might resolve this but being skint have not replace my screen yet. Tyres last ages only on my second set since 9,000 miles. Bt 020 rear and bt010 front the way to go. Don't expect to cane it like the speedy scots although it will cruise all day at 80 -90ish.

Can push it to the 100's but sustaining this speed for long periods will give you earache unless wearing decent ear-plugs. Can also turn you quickly deaf. I say, can turn you quickly deaf.

Nicely balanced, surefooted and stonking brakes (tested on one or two occassions which I will not mention) and you will be as refreshed at the end of your journey as you were at the start.










Ok, I admit ,I do occasionally run it over a ton for a short while on the dual carraigeways. Cheers Mally




ps blue are best

Well to be perfectly honest ,over a ton everyday. Bit like having breakfast really. REquired daily.

I recall the lustrous Hilts (I know, who he ) being well pleased with the Fazer's cruising abilities on runs to Portsmouth and back... shame it's so damned ugly though but at least you can get a darkened visor for the trip

I always thought it an ugly bike ( first model) but since buying one i have really grown to love the looks!

Hey mally, I did a a 320 mile round trip recently on my mark one fazer 6 and the bar steward thing drank the juice like it was cheap. I got 77 miles before the light came on! Christ! And that took fourteen litres it turned out. Strange thing is that i also did a hundred mile round trip to wombles and back with a bit of here and there on the way and it was good as gold and i reckon averaes over fifty to the gallon. the day where it guzzled juice it had a standard screen and it was incredibly windy the whole time. The second example it had a doobler boobler but it was still windy. Dya think a screen can make that much difference????

I would have no hesitation to tour on my little fazer - its a super bike and no mistake.

The fazer could well be my next bike. I need something with a turn of speed, handles well, reasonably priced spares and will comfortably do 200 miles on a weekend run.

I've looked at other bikes but the sensible decision is probably to go for the fazer. It'll do everything I need and do it well. I just need to get the money together.

Zombie
Not sure about making that much difference mileage wise . I am hitting 150miles before putting in approx 11 quids of petrol. Does the Doubler bubblier divert the wind over the top of your head???
As for ugliness, remember far better to ride an ugly bike and be good looking yersell than ride a good looking zzr and be an ug?y b?k?r.

Cheers MAlly

is that directed at me perchance?
remind me, next time you want some advanced lessons, to wipe the floor with you you orrible ugly bike rider you.(i'll take the cruiser, so you have half a chance of keeping up )

I have decided it was the wind - scuse me missus - no the headwind that really had me holding on the whole way. I worked out that it did 38 to the gallon on that particular trip but ever since with a few longish runs it has seen 150 to the light and a further 30 or so before fill up with about 12 quid so i reckon over 50 to the gallon.
Compared to the big zed it seems to run out of punch quickly but ive learned to live with that and actually started to enjoy caning it. It does handle well and feels nice and light. Its eating front pads but i think thats down to me rather than the bike! _ it makes me want to accelerate quickly and brake hard when it suits the conditions and traffic. On the whole it strikes me as a sound little bike that deffinitely fits that "all I need " category.

Its a matter of time though - i can feel it in my water - the cubes beckon - xjr or similar i reckon................

Hey guys - this is all great info

I'm going to digest, and come back with a few more questions - Insurance on a Fazer is going to be less than on a CBR, and this may swing it for me.

back in a bit...

--Tosh

@Mally

Really useful info - my mate just bought a VFR800 for the trip (git) as he's old enough for the Insurance, and little old me can't afford anything other than a 600...

I know all about the deaf thing - motorways on the NC29 is a killer, AXO helmet is light - therefore loud and I get left with a ringing after a while. And I thought my clubbing days were over!

@Zombie

Are you saying that the double bubble screen you had, actually made a difference? I've been on an R6 with a double bubble screen, and I find that the wind hits me in the head, instead of the neck - feck all difference - still have to crouch/put my head on the tank.

@All

Having never been on a mini-fairing bike - any problems knees-wise with the big speeds and long distances?


Thanks all - and if anyone has anything to add about a 600 FV or FX - please do...

--Tosh

just looked up the insurance groups for CBR and VFR and they're both 14!!!

and the Fazer is group 10!!

I spoke to CIA Insurance and got two quotes:

CBR 600 FX - value £2500 - £540 3PFT, no pillion, 500 excess
Fazer 600 - value £2500 - £440 3PFT, pillion incl., 250 excess

not enough of a difference for me to worry about, apart from the excess.

But if I can't find an FX for 2500 (damaged repairable) it looks like the Fazer is my next best choice.

I've always wanted an CBR6 - need to get the CBR bug out of my system, if you know what I mean.

--Tosh

tosh, try "motorcycle direct" for your insurance mate, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Tosh - yes mate the boobler seems to make a difference on the fazer, for me at least. I have never had a bike that didnt put turbulence somewhere on my body but with the screen the buffeting hits the top of my head and a slight shift back in the seat coupled with a modicum of head down gets me comfy until the tank runs dry.

Tosh
I used clickquote as you get a rough idea on-line. 2nd year ncd tptf 106.88.

Nay trouble with knees, but then again I don't scrape them along the ground.

is the cbr bod

Will do... thanks for the heads up...

@zombie: thanks for the info on the screen

--Tosh

Just checked them. They say its cheaper to insure a two year old fazer, than it is to insure my old VFR.

Cool - I've just found an 02 Fazer - Blue, 8k, Cat D for £2600

Looks like the Fazer is the bike for me - need indicator, mirror, but otherwise ok.

I'll get some insurance quotes before I buy, but things are looking up

--Tosh