Oldschool
Moderator
The relativity factor
Sometimes comparing Apple to Oranges can be enlightening. It’s easier to point out the differences by comparison. Same thing as going swimming, when you first step in the lake on a hot day it may seem very cold. Once you take the plunge it seems to get warmer. In reality the lake or pool is the same temperature, it’s your perception of the water that has changed. Put this to the test if there is a pool and hot tub side-by-side, notice how frigid the pool is if you jump in after a soak in the hot tub and vise versa.
Having two very different bikes is just like this. When I first bought my 2008 FZ-1, I came from a 25-year-old FZ 600, and the differences in every aspect of the bike were huge. I got a good idea of this when I did a power lift after pulling out of the dealers parking lot (the day of picking up the new machine), using similar throttle to what I would with the 600. Quite an eye opener, and the first of many revelations as to how far performance had come in two and a half decades. After one season of riding I had become acclimated. The astounding performance of the FZ seemed less incredible. In reality I had just become used to having such incredible performance.
Very recently I made another bike purchase, a 2010 KLR 650. For those unfamiliar with the bike, it is what is known as a “thumper”, a 651 cc single cylinder, carbureted, 35bhp, at 432 lbs. A dual sport with a bolt upright riding position, wide bars, tall bike, with softly sprung suspension. It feels down right anemic in regards to power after jumping off the FZ.
In one day I can go back and forth (and have), and it’s easy to see the brilliance in the design of both. The FZ-1 shines in the handling department and in the power. Anyone that thinks that the FZ isn’t powerful enough should ride the KLR for a day. You would never complain about lack of power or about the delivery of the power, nor of vibration again. Vibration is a fact of life with a big single. It is low frequency to be sure, but vibration non-the less. The big single is all about torque and in that regard it delivers from the moment the clutch is released. Smooth, shuddering power as linear as the salt flats. By the time you max out the KLR’s power the FZ would be in the next state.
The suspension is in a different galaxy on the KLR, than the FZ as well. The KLR is long travel, soft and cushy where as the FZ is short travel, taunt and very effective when set up. Most riders will never push the FZ beyond what the factory suspension has to offer (or at least shouldn’t on the street, lets be honest). The KLR has primitive suspension but seems to work. It is soft and soaks up even the worst of typical city and highway road damage, but I would not want to push the bike in the corners like I do with the FZ. Under hard braking the front dives sharply, which doesn’t seem to adversely affect the ability to come to a quick stop. It just can’t hold a candle to the FZ in this regard either. To be honest though, you will never have to stop the KLR from as high a speed as the FZ because it will never go that fast. The KLR’s 35 ponies will run out of steam long before the 150 horses (give or take) that propel the FZ.
Getting off the KLR with it’s expansive handle bars, the FZ’s bars felt like clip-ons (about 10” difference). The KLR would not fit through the 36” man door on my garage without being at an angle and scraping one side. I upgraded the KLR’s brake lines before I took it home so the stock brakes are as good as they can be and do a very respectable job of stopping the thumper. The rear brake on the KLR actually offers better feedback than the FZ’s. The single front disc is nowhere near as good as the duals on the FZ. If it were I could wear the T-shirt that says, “I do my own stunts”. Once again, it feels right for the bike, but shows the brilliance of the FZ’s equipment. The sum of the parts (and how they work as a package) is often overlooked with machines.
Comparing the two machines is very much like comparing Apples to Oranges. Side by side they are easy to show just how good each is in its own right. By going from FZ to KLR (and back) each shines for its intended purpose. For the FZ 1 owner or perspective owner (as an FZ 1 owner) let me tell you how truly excellent our bike really is. If you have become jaded after riding such a finely honed instrument, do yourself a favor. Go out and ride a totally different type of motorcycle, even if just for a day. It will be like going from the pool to the hot tub. When you get back on to the FZ you will know how hot your daily ride really is! Everything is relative.
Oldschool
Sometimes comparing Apple to Oranges can be enlightening. It’s easier to point out the differences by comparison. Same thing as going swimming, when you first step in the lake on a hot day it may seem very cold. Once you take the plunge it seems to get warmer. In reality the lake or pool is the same temperature, it’s your perception of the water that has changed. Put this to the test if there is a pool and hot tub side-by-side, notice how frigid the pool is if you jump in after a soak in the hot tub and vise versa.
Having two very different bikes is just like this. When I first bought my 2008 FZ-1, I came from a 25-year-old FZ 600, and the differences in every aspect of the bike were huge. I got a good idea of this when I did a power lift after pulling out of the dealers parking lot (the day of picking up the new machine), using similar throttle to what I would with the 600. Quite an eye opener, and the first of many revelations as to how far performance had come in two and a half decades. After one season of riding I had become acclimated. The astounding performance of the FZ seemed less incredible. In reality I had just become used to having such incredible performance.
Very recently I made another bike purchase, a 2010 KLR 650. For those unfamiliar with the bike, it is what is known as a “thumper”, a 651 cc single cylinder, carbureted, 35bhp, at 432 lbs. A dual sport with a bolt upright riding position, wide bars, tall bike, with softly sprung suspension. It feels down right anemic in regards to power after jumping off the FZ.
In one day I can go back and forth (and have), and it’s easy to see the brilliance in the design of both. The FZ-1 shines in the handling department and in the power. Anyone that thinks that the FZ isn’t powerful enough should ride the KLR for a day. You would never complain about lack of power or about the delivery of the power, nor of vibration again. Vibration is a fact of life with a big single. It is low frequency to be sure, but vibration non-the less. The big single is all about torque and in that regard it delivers from the moment the clutch is released. Smooth, shuddering power as linear as the salt flats. By the time you max out the KLR’s power the FZ would be in the next state.
The suspension is in a different galaxy on the KLR, than the FZ as well. The KLR is long travel, soft and cushy where as the FZ is short travel, taunt and very effective when set up. Most riders will never push the FZ beyond what the factory suspension has to offer (or at least shouldn’t on the street, lets be honest). The KLR has primitive suspension but seems to work. It is soft and soaks up even the worst of typical city and highway road damage, but I would not want to push the bike in the corners like I do with the FZ. Under hard braking the front dives sharply, which doesn’t seem to adversely affect the ability to come to a quick stop. It just can’t hold a candle to the FZ in this regard either. To be honest though, you will never have to stop the KLR from as high a speed as the FZ because it will never go that fast. The KLR’s 35 ponies will run out of steam long before the 150 horses (give or take) that propel the FZ.
Getting off the KLR with it’s expansive handle bars, the FZ’s bars felt like clip-ons (about 10” difference). The KLR would not fit through the 36” man door on my garage without being at an angle and scraping one side. I upgraded the KLR’s brake lines before I took it home so the stock brakes are as good as they can be and do a very respectable job of stopping the thumper. The rear brake on the KLR actually offers better feedback than the FZ’s. The single front disc is nowhere near as good as the duals on the FZ. If it were I could wear the T-shirt that says, “I do my own stunts”. Once again, it feels right for the bike, but shows the brilliance of the FZ’s equipment. The sum of the parts (and how they work as a package) is often overlooked with machines.
Comparing the two machines is very much like comparing Apples to Oranges. Side by side they are easy to show just how good each is in its own right. By going from FZ to KLR (and back) each shines for its intended purpose. For the FZ 1 owner or perspective owner (as an FZ 1 owner) let me tell you how truly excellent our bike really is. If you have become jaded after riding such a finely honed instrument, do yourself a favor. Go out and ride a totally different type of motorcycle, even if just for a day. It will be like going from the pool to the hot tub. When you get back on to the FZ you will know how hot your daily ride really is! Everything is relative.
Oldschool
Last edited:
