2009 Yamaha FZ6

In our search for an upright-sitting standard bike that Heather and I can swap back and forth, we came across the FZ6. It wasn't too tall; she could sit on it comfortably with feet firmly planted. The bike utilizes a handlebar rather than the clip-on's you see on most sport bikes, and the sitting position was not overly aggressive. I was really looking forward to riding this bike and the Triumph Street Triple at Bike Week to see if the Yamaha was as fun on the street as it looked on paper.

For starters, riding the FZ6 after the Street Triple was not a fair comparison. I'll try to remain objective while describing the Fizzer, but the honest truth is I'm biased. The Triumph just did everything better and was a more exhilarating yet comfortable ride.

I'm approximately 5 foot 10 and was able to stand with my feet flat on the ground and butt almost off the seat. While riding, my right foot felt stretched... if I kept my foot in a natural feeling position it kept pressing down on the brake. Keeping it raised enough to avoid the brake felt awkward and uncomfortable. I finally solved the problem by resting my toes on the peg and ignoring the rear brake altogether. Hey, it only provides 25% or so of the stopping power anyway, right?

Handling was adequate; the rear shock has an adjustable preload and the front is non-adjustable. We never got into a curve that felt like it was pushing the suspension to its limits, but also never really got exciting, either.

The FZ6 redlines at 1400 rpm, which hit right around 62 mph in first gear. Acceleration was... adequate. That seems to be the recurring word with the FZ6- adequate. Maybe it's because I rode a more exciting motorcycle first, maybe I was just underwhelmed after expecting more than the bike delivered.

The FZ6 is not a bad motorcycle, and the $7,290 MSRP vs $9,499 for the Street Triple R reflects how unfair a comparison this really is. I almost feel the need to apologize to the FZ6 for not liking it more. It handles better than a cruiser, accelerates better than a beginner bike, and does a decent job as basic two wheeled transportation.

I find myself giving a resounding "Eh, you could do worse."

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Scenes from Main Street

A handful of pics from Saturday...

Yes, a kid on a mini-chopper. Rode past at least 4 cops that we could see, no telling how many before he got to us or after he passed.

Segway Cops! Probably chasing a 9 year old on a mini-bike.













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2009 Kawasaki Concours

I haven't really ever been interested in a touring bike. I'd ridden my father's Ultra Classic just to see what it was like, but will admit a tourer just didn't light my candle. However, a buddy who owns a Goldwing, a Concours, and a Busa had some good things to say about the sport tourer and peaked my interest enough to give it a try.

Though the Concours felt wide when I sat on it, my feet were able to sit flat on the ground, no tip toes or stretching. With my feet on the pegs it was a very comfortable, upright position. There's a world of features on this bike, including a push button adjustable wind screen, tire pressure indicator and gear indicator. All the gauges were within easy view without a lot of head movement. The luggage was large enough to fit a full face helmet, and removed from the bike in seconds. While looking at the big, chunky key and thinking how uncomfortable it would be to carry around in a pocket, the key fob was explained. The bike won't start unless the key fob is in close proximity, making the key more of an ignition switch that can be safely left on the bike. There's a center stand, but with the Concours' shaft drive eliminating the need to clean a chain the stand seems superfluous. I started to consider the possiblilities of a sportbike with luggage to use as a daily rider, room to carry paperwork & laptop and a few groceries on the way home. The windscreen could be completely lowered and the bags removed if desired. Hmmm...

Once we got on the road, though, my consideration started to wan. Calling it a sportbike with luggage is being a bit generous. It was quick, yes, sportier than I had expected but not hooligan quick. At slow speeds leaving the staging area the throttle seemed on/off, difficult to find and maintain my desired speed smoothly. The bike felt quite stable and at the stoplight I was able to play the balance game with neither foot touching the ground for several seconds.

After we got up to speed on the street the Concours was a joy to ride, very responsive and not shy of curves. I found myself doing 75 in 2nd gear but shifted up through the other four for puttering purposes. In the turns our group leader would hang back then slingshot forward, giving us a chance to lean in and play which the Concours does very well.

I may not want it for a daily rider but the Concours 14 was a lot of fun, and would make for a great bike on an extended commute or long trip. A friend tells me of a co-worker who rides his every day from Gainesville to Jacksonville, which is just the kind of commute we're talking about.

Now I'm kind of jealous.



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