He got it mostly right. There's actually all 3, but the 78hp version is the old Fazer now, NOT the S2. You can still buy the now old Fazer here, but it's been detuned to 78hp for some reason. The new S2 is avaliable as mentioned with 98hp, like the old version, and restricted in some countrys at 34hp. Also worth mentioning is that the S2 is reworked a bit, and it's not only cosmetics, so it SHOULD be a better bike. Only one downside, and it's a big one considering the subject of this thread. The windscreen is _smaller_ and sits lower then before, and most mags have reported that the wind protection is worse then on the old model
Any bike can tour........ is it the ideal tourer?? no You mention LUGGING the motor?? I never lug my motors if I can avoid it, to me lugging is down out of the range where the bike will pull away, maybe slowly, with light throttle. Doesn't sound like it is the ideal bike if you lie to LUG your engine. On the other hand it looks like you live in the Texas Hill Country so other than touring do you get out and hit the wonderfull roads of that area? I'd think that the FZ6 would be a GREAT Hill Country weekender/Commuter/Part-Time Tourer.
Id go 500+ miles on mine anyday. And the sudden burst of power kicks in at about 7.5-8k rpms. Givi makes a good bag setup, puig makes a tall screen, there is a headlight mod to turn on both low beams, and yes the bike is capable of 140mph. iv had mine almost to 130 and there was plenty of RPMs left and my bike is completely stock other than a windscreen.
+1 I've done 20k+ miles of touring on a less comfortable bike with worse wind protection and less power. Other then torque, the FZ6 is an amazing mix of sport and touring with almost no compromises IMHO. Maybe a Bandit 650/650S/GSX650FA is a better choice, but the FZ6 is a riot to ride, and it's electric motor smooth up to about 6000 (and you can lug that engine all day long, it's smooth from idle up). But after 8k, it's turbo-time, yeah baby!
one of the finest do it all bikes you can get. Put a decent seat on it (I had a Corbin on mine, big improvement) and it is comfy enough to tour on. I never got less than 50mpg, so range was well over 200 miles. You can add some Givi V35 panniers to it and a top box for touring. If you go with soft luggage you have to get a bit creative with how you mount it due to the underseat exhaust. I did a multi day camping trip to the mountains on mine. It was a blast. I highly recommend the FZ6.
You can go any where on any bike I reckon.... I tried a FZ6 and brought it away for a few weeks ..It did the job well but I remember working the gearbox a lot ...No big deal...Fuel will be around the 50 per gallon and the tank is large enough to give you decent range.... Go for it ...Bring it on a tour !
Damn, you guys that whine about having to shift a gear once in a while or high revs must be 400lb sloth cruiser riders lol. I much prefer a high revving bike, that is where all the fun is. Who wants a street bike that redlines at 6k That is boring and slow like an old coal truck.
The actual act of puling in the clutch and depressing a lever in its self is not a big deal you would think. I am just getting lazy and prefare to ride along on torque....Its me and not the bike that are at fault ....The FZ6 remains the the smoothest bike I have had and is a great bike ... Stay safe and enjoy the ride
I personally liked being able to kick it down 2 gear real quick and pull off like a rocket. It will tour. 3400 miles in 10 days and the cheapest luggage one can find/make. I'm 6'2" 220ish, bike always felt good size for me. I have since gone bigger. And a year later with more advanced and ridiculously oversized top box paired with undersized side cases.
Hell yeah it can tour! http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=801283 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34068258@N02/7402733588/" title="photo25/64/4d/9d5716b43598.jfif by ag_streak, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7402733588_7830d6238d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="photo25/64/4d/9d5716b43598.jfif"></a>
Properly outfitted, literally any bike can tour. I remember reading an article by the incomparable Peter Egan years ago about riding from Wisconsin to New Orleans on a Honda 50. It's as much about frame of mind as it is the motorcycle.
No disrespect, but I don't think you remember very well... I'm not certain myself, but I believe the article on his trip to NO was on a Bonneville, and the trip on the Bridgestone 50 was with a friend on his BICYCLE, and I think it was maybe 70 or 80 miles each way. I just looked through Leanings II and I can't find the first book, so I can't swear to it, but I don't believe we ever wrote about going from Wisconsin to NO on a 50cc...
I took my FZ6 to Americade this year. Bike ran perfectly, got 50mpg, and I only saw 2 other FZ6s there. Rode up with a buddy on his new yamaha Stryker. Nice ride, did @700 miles in 2 days.
