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Buying a liter bike...

J

Jerm

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Joined
Mar 22, 2010
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41
Location
Racine, WI
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So I've been riding 600cc sportbikes for years but have never rode a liter bike. I was hoping to test drive an FZ1 before buying but both the dealerships that had one in the area wouldn't allow it. They will start the bike and rev it but I can't test drive it, only sit on it. Do most dealers operate like this? I was tempted to take off for a quick test driv e as I was sitting on it while idling but decided it probably wasn't the best idea...

I've never ridden a bike this powerful and just wanted to go for a quick drive to see what I may be getting myself into!

Anyone else have similar experiences with the dealer? Has anyone here moved from a YZF600R (not R6), to an FZ1? Did it take a while to get use to it?
 
As far as I know that is normal for most dealerships to not allow test rides. If you really want to test ride one go check out some used ones. Let the guy know your looking to buy one and were wondering if you could try it out. I did that when I bought my R6 I gave the guy like $50 or something and he let me take a quick spin.
 
Jerm said:
So I've been riding 600cc sportbikes for years but have never rode a liter bike. I was hoping to test drive an FZ1 before buying but both the dealerships that had one in the area wouldn't allow it. They will start the bike and rev it but I can't test drive it, only sit on it. Do most dealers operate like this? I was tempted to take off for a quick test driv e as I was sitting on it while idling but decided it probably wasn't the best idea...

I've never ridden a bike this powerful and just wanted to go for a quick drive to see what I may be getting myself into!

Anyone else have similar experiences with the dealer? Has anyone here moved from a YZF600R (not R6), to an FZ1? Did it take a while to get use to it?
Click to expand...

The liability issue is why most dealers don't allow test rides. The manufacturers do this with travelling test ride days.

I went from a FZ 600S to the FZ-1. The increased power is not an issue if you have self control and a good basic set of riding skills. Just like any bike you will rarely ever use close to its potential on the street (not legally). The biggest difference is the comfort and handling improvement, and of course the ability to "get up and go" that much quicker.
 
If you have the seat time, the FZ won't be a problem. Just slowly learn it's personality. I would have the dealer get rid of the tour tires and put some regular powers on the bike, even if they wanted the extra money.
 
Our local dealer will not let you drive anything new but cruisers, the used stuff they will let you drive, probably varies from dealer to dealer based on what insurance they carry.
 
The dealers in my area only let us test ride used bikes and more or less on a per customer basis, as in, if you show up on a bike they let you ride one. As for the power difference I went from a 650 V-twin to the FZ1 and didn't have much of a problem, as long as you know there is more power and respect it the power is very manageable :-)
 
Strange that they don't let you test ride a new bike. My dealer didn't mind me test riding it. Before i bought mine I was able to testride twice for an hour
 
My experience has been the same as Pierce. If they know you, or you show up with a bike they frequently will let you test ride if they have one with a few miles on it (they like to sell bikes with "0" miles and the customer likes to buy them that way as well).

You won't have trouble with the FZ1. I came from the FZ6 as well. Just don't "goose" the throttle till you have lots of miles on it because this thing is powerful and may spin out the back wheel. If you are not 100% happy you went to a liter bike I'd be shocked. BTW, the mileage sucks compared to the FZ6: 52 MPG to 38 MPG for me. But I'm addicted to the power so the mileage would have to go down to about a half mile per gallon before I would go back.
 
This is a good example of why it's important to get a good raport with your dealer. The dealers I deal with have known me for years and I don't even have to ask them, they ask me if I'd like to test out a new bike. Of course, they also hope I'll purchase it.
 
I'm actually moving from a YZF600R (not the FZ6 or R6). Hoping to get a step up in comfort and power and just a newer less mileage bike.

Unfortunatley the only 2 dealers that have an FZ1 are 45 minutes so it was my first time in either. I live in Harley land so the 2 closest dealers to me are harley dealers that only sell cruisers and no metric bikes. There's a metric shop that's close but no FZ1 there. They did have a Z1000 which I liked the looks of but it just didn't feel as good sitting in the seat as the FZ1 did.

I was also looking at a Honda 919 but I've heard many have problems with exhaust fumes making the rider stink and sometimes just sick from the fumes. That pretty much turned me away from it right there.
 
Cake!!

Jerm said:
So I've been riding 600cc sportbikes for years but have never rode a liter bike. I was hoping to test drive an FZ1 before buying but both the dealerships that had one in the area wouldn't allow it. They will start the bike and rev it but I can't test drive it, only sit on it. Do most dealers operate like this? I was tempted to take off for a quick test driv e as I was sitting on it while idling but decided it probably wasn't the best idea...

I've never ridden a bike this powerful and just wanted to go for a quick drive to see what I may be getting myself into!

Anyone else have similar experiences with the dealer? Has anyone here moved from a YZF600R (not R6), to an FZ1? Did it take a while to get use to it?
Click to expand...

No sweat!! FZ1 is tame at lower Rpm's the rest is all about throttle control and if you have been riding sporties it will be a non issue.:rmwl:
 
The local place here pretty must lost my business because he wasn't prepared to let me take the bike out. There was no way I was spending 10g's on a bike without at least taking it around the block.

There's a local event called bikes blues and bbq every year and the wife and I go up there just to test out the bikes. :D
 
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