1st Gen. FZ1 On Crappy Road

[hoax]

I took my FZ1 off road once. I ended up high centered in the mud and my bike was stuck upright. Rear tire would just spin and I couldn't push it off because my feet would just slide in the mud.

Thankfully some dudes in a truck stopped and helped me out. Haven't been off road since.

[AllBlackPearl]

Fitter, that's amazing!
never seen a kilo-fazer doing stuff like that, just great! i surely do love my 1st gen a lot - don't know if i was able to "do" that to her, though..
however, great stuff!
tell us more and let the pics come!

[Fitty]

Like Grainbelt said, most any bike can be ridden on crappy roads if the pace is reasonable. One exception is mud. I never rode in much mud, and that was on purpose. And my size and long legs did a lot to make this possible. The biggest issue in the rocks was lack of ground clearance. This was the only trip that was that extreme. I mostly limited myself to gravel roads. I did ride some pretty good dirt, rocky trails in the North Carolina mountains, along with some other 1st and 2nd gen FZ1s. Again, just went slow.

Here's two more pics from Nevada.



When the road quality reached this level the riding got a lot more fun.



Proper jetting and a 3 degree timing advancer gave that bike more low end torque than you would expect from an I4. I could lug down to 2500 rpm when I had to and still pull out of it.

AllBlackPearl, have you checked out the FZ1 Owner's Association at www.yamahafz1oa.com/forum? It's a great group of people and FZ1 resource.

[Fitty]

Here's a small (very small) video taken on Tusquittee Rd. in North Carolina. I had gotten behind the dual sports because I had to go slow, so they waited for me past this small water hole in order to video it, and hoping something would happen. As you can see it was obviously no big deal, but it's all I've got for water crossings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_SP2muGy7o

[Duelsporter]

Originally Posted by Fitty

Here's a small (very small) video taken on Tusquittee Rd. in North Carolina.

I've said this before, Bill. You're just a crazy old man.
Vern

[Fitty]

Originally Posted by Duelsporter

I've said this before, Bill. You're just a crazy old man.
Vern

Hey, who you calling OLD?

[AllBlackPearl]

Dunno if you're old, but crazy you are!

Thanks for sharing the pics. I will try to find the few from my very short offroad "adventures" with the Fazer. Not tonight, though.

Yeah, sure I know the fz1oa, although I am not a member there. Got too much to do with the German Fazerforum, ADVrider, Couchsurfing... Don't wanna spend too much time at the PC.

What other mods have you done on your FZ1? (BTW, I just mounted a 15 sprocket pinion and find the torque pretty good as it is...)

Cheers, mate.

[Fitty]

I had a 15-46 setup on for that trip. Stock is 16-44. I also used a 16-46 a lot. No other mods, other than suspension mods mentioned previously. I no longer own the bike, but sometimes I wish I still did.

[Bandit 1200]

Originally Posted by Fitty

Like Grainbelt said, most any bike can be ridden on crappy roads if the pace is reasonable. One exception is mud. I never rode in much mud, and that was on purpose. And my size and long legs did a lot to make this possible. The biggest issue in the rocks was lack of ground clearance. This was the only trip that was that extreme. I mostly limited myself to gravel roads. I did ride some pretty good dirt, rocky trails in the North Carolina mountains, along with some other 1st and 2nd gen FZ1s. Again, just went slow.

Here's two more pics from Nevada.



When the road quality reached this level the riding got a lot more fun.



Proper jetting and a 3 degree timing advancer gave that bike more low end torque than you would expect from an I4. I could lug down to 2500 rpm when I had to and still pull out of it.

AllBlackPearl, have you checked out the FZ1 Owner's Association at www.yamahafz1oa.com/forum? It's a great group of people and FZ1 resource.

I recently bought a bandit 1200 which is real simular i would say and i would like to start doing some light off road riding and was wounding how the FZ1 was on dirt gravel roads, and what kind of tires you used and how they worked.

[Dilligaf0220]

Originally Posted by JamesG

I don't know how you somehow connected a big ol' liter streetbike to dual-sports or motards, but what ever floats yer boat.

He's not the only one, who wouldn't want a GS with more than 50% mo'powah, proper gearbox and alot less weight.

There are ofcourse ways to make better.

[Fitty]

The only tire choices I know of are Dunlop 616's, Pirelli Scorpion Snycs, along with a new Scorpion that just came out, and Conti Trail Attacks. I had 616's on for the NV trip, but I regularly ride dirt/gravel roads with whatever tire is on the bike at the time, usually Dunlop Q2s or Roadsmarts. Maybe let the air down a little and avoid mud if at all possible.

[Grainbelt]

Continental just released the TKC-80 in 120/70 17 and 180/55 17.

If you're really going to get stupid, that would be the way to do it.

[Truckin_Thumper]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

Continental just released the TKC-80 in 120/70 17 and 180/55 17.

If you're really going to get stupid, that would be the way to do it.

oh fuck!

[Grainbelt]

Beasts thread http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=752207

Images of pending stupid:

[Fitty]

Ho lee crap. I've been dreaming of the day. Thanks for the heads up.