Thai girl

[Skydancer]

She grew up on scooters!

 

[aus_andyk]

Would be great having a partner that enjoys riding with you.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Skydancer]

She comes home from work and wants to go riding for an hour or two. She loves it!

 

[DaveC]

Lovely pics!

Does she ride as in on the front of the bike or as your passenger?
Cool either way, just wondering.

Reminds me of a time waaaay back when my wife and I were dating we used to take my then bike - kawa ZX-10 out a lot. I was on an open stretch of road one night, tucked in and hit 145mph but was just kinda stuck there. I left off the throttle and looked back to see my passenger (now wife) not tucked in and holding on for dear life while acting as a parachute behind me. That was the fastest we ever went 2-up and I got a pretty good scolding afterwards.
Good times.

 

[Skydancer]

Lovely pics!

Does she ride as in on the front of the bike or as your passenger?
Cool either way, just wondering.

Reminds me of a time waaaay back when my wife and I were dating we used to take my then bike - kawa ZX-10 out a lot. I was on an open stretch of road one night, tucked in and hit 145mph but was just kinda stuck there. I left off the throttle and looked back to see my passenger (now wife) not tucked in and holding on for dear life while acting as a parachute behind me. That was the fastest we ever went 2-up and I got a pretty good scolding afterwards.
Good times.

Wow your wife (girlfriend) is a trusting soul! Lol! 145 is pretty fast for 2-up, I would be kicking and screaming. I’m a horrible passenger on a bike.

My wife can drive a small motorcycle, she got on the Harley and said it was too big, I told her I’d get her a small 250 Honda or something, but for now she is happy to ride on the back. The only problem is she falls asleep on the back of the Heritage, I got a detachable tour pack (sofa) every once and a while I have to check and make sure she’s still there.

Took her out to dinner on the FZ1 and she hated it! Mainly due to the on and off again jerky throttle, and the fact I opened it up a couple of times and she was hanging on for dear life. She told me that was the first and last time she would ever get on it. That’s fine cause it take off the passenger door rests … ha!

She told me one time she was driving in Bangkok and she hit a taxi from behind, she went flying up over the taxi came down in front of it and landed on both feet!

Ive never been so terrified riding on the back of motorcycle taxis in Bangkok, they weave in and out of traffic, spitting lanes with cars pulling out in front of you everywhere — crazy!

Does your wife still ride with you?

 

[DaveC]

My Zx-10 was a pig of a bike by today's standards- the precursor to the Zx-11. This helped it run high speeds with grace, plenty smooth on top end. It claimed a 10.30 quarter at ~130 ish and a 170 top speed.
Funny thing is I could wheelie that beast easier than the FZ and never felt like I might be looping it.

That's funny about your wife hating the FZ-1 and then again with flying over the taxi.
I did that maneuver with my second bike- in high school- Suzuki GS 700ES- I did roll on the road before bouncing back on my feet. Teach me to be checking out girls in the next lane when mine had come to a stop.

Bangkok driving- is that one of those places that use the horn as a second language with no traffic or stop lights?

My wife would ride if I had the comfortable limo you have posted there^. I'm seeing room for her vodka girly drinks in those saddle bags- within easy reach LOL.
But no, no desire to be on the back of the FZ, which is fine by me. I'm just using it to jet around from time to time, ain't really going anywhere but having fun doing it.

 

[Skydancer]

The Kawasaki zx 10 is the 1000cc Ninja?

I used to race motocross when I was 16 years old, entered in State races here in NM. I few times I crashed was in a jump, and a guy came down on top of me. These crazy kids will do anything. I had a Husquvarna 250. First time I got on it I hit the throttle and it came right up and I fell off the bike and skinned my knee down to the bone, still have that scar today. I got pretty good on it and placed third in one race. Later on got a Honda 1000 4 cylinder had had a bad accident, back in 1988 and never touched a bike again until last year. My brother moved in with us due to health reasons and along came his Fat Boy. I took it for a spin and was hooked again. A week later I bought the Heritage. My wife was really excited to get it, without her consent It wouldn’t have been possible, she really wanted me to get it. We took the Harley out to Madrid for lunch a couple days ago and I forgot where the damn start button was on it, I kept hitting the turn signal, wondering what’s wrong. I felt totally disoriented on the Harley.

you are thinking of India where the horn is a form of communication. Trucks there have a sign on the back saying to use your horn. Traffic in India is insane! Thailand on the other hand is very sophisticated, never witnessed road rage there and hardly anyone uses their horn. Excellent public transportation, and Taxis, are super cheap. Love it there. There are a disproportionate number of motorcycle accidents there however, I think 75% of fatalities per year are motorcycles.

Going out now to do a little video blog on the FZ1. Later Dave. BTW, what part ofthe country are you in?

 

[DaveC]

The Zx-10 was a 1990 model. It was a ninja (damn near every bike kawa makes is) 1000, but not the Top Gun model, the one after that.
1987-90 were 10's, then they were replaced with the 175mph top of the heap for the time ZX-11.

Different controls on Harley ? I can see the confusion. At least you didn't mash the horn instead of the start button as I did on one of my maiden voyages on the FZ.
The scene was complete with two hotties within eyesight, getting in their car, thinking I was honking at them. SMH.......I couldn't get away fast enough.

Texas, Houston area.
Houston area traffic is completely jacked up. I have no plans on going anywhere near it.
I live on the outskirts, plenty of long grass farm roads around my area to terrorize, I mean ride.

We've drug our Travel trailer through your state a few times in the last 5 years, you definitely have better roads to ride out there in NM than we do in the H-town area.
Tx. Hill county would be a different story, But I ain't near there.

 

[Skydancer]

The Zx-10 was a 1990 model. It was a ninja (damn near every bike kawa makes is) 1000, but not the Top Gun model, the one after that.
1987-90 were 10's, then they were replaced with the 175mph top of the heap for the time ZX-11.

Different controls on Harley ? I can see the confusion. At least you didn't mash the horn instead of the start button as I did on one of my maiden voyages on the FZ.
The scene was complete with two hotties within eyesight, getting in their car, thinking I was honking at them. SMH.......I couldn't get away fast enough.

Texas, Houston area.
Houston area traffic is completely jacked up. I have no plans on going anywhere near it.
I live on the outskirts, plenty of long grass farm roads around my area to terrorize, I mean ride.

We've drug our Travel trailer through your state a few times in the last 5 years, you definitely have better roads to ride out there in NM than we do in the H-town area.
Tx. Hill county would be a different story, But I ain't near there.

Huston! Have some friends down there, never been there though.

Tutting your horn at the babes, ha! Did they hop on the back? My simple rule is if you want to ride on the back of my bike you have to wear a dress.

Yea, there are some fantastic roads out here, and the good thing is within 5 minutes you are out of the city, Santa Fe is pretty small. I have a YouTube channel called the Turquoise Trail Biker. The Turquoise trail goes down from Colorado to Albuquerque, lots of fun!

BTW, I can’t do power wheelies on the bike, Vcyclenut suggests to do the air box mod and gut the cat.

 

[DaveC]

Huston- you ain't missing anything, hot, humid, flat, straight roads, bookoo traffic, road rage......it's a lovely city- to stay away from.

The babes were easily half my age, so no, no hopping on back.
I want to keep all my stuff, having to give up half would tick me off.
I don't buy into the happy wife happy life montra, but purposely pissing her off isn't something I toy with either.

I don't know if you saw it in the classifieds but I have a LARS modded lower airbox section I'm willing to sell for whatever it cost to ship. (this would allow you tro try out while keeping your stock - stock - incase you don't like it)
I first did the LARS mod, but found it too loud so I ordered another off ebay and performed the newer Ivans mod. - which has a smaller section cut out and leaves the snorkel section.
http://www.ivansperformanceproducts.com/2006fz1_airboxmod.htm - that's his description and comparison of the two.

But if you wanna save money and the hassle, just pull off the Ivan's mod as I found it to be a happy medium between LARS noise and stock quiet.

Yeah I'd gut that cat and consider removing the 02 sensor and installing a plug.
This is speculation on it helping at all, but the O2 sensor is sticking in the exhaust stream, looks like it would restrict it a smidge.
Now I'm wanting to look at mine and see what's what on that.


I can power wheelie in 1st with some effort- it ain't exactly easy, but using that youtube video technique I can do it, but am not graceful at it yet.
Second takes a lot of effort for little lift, the high gearing and my 180# ass yanking on the bars don't help.

 

[Skydancer]

Huston- you ain't missing anything, hot, humid, flat, straight roads, bookoo traffic, road rage......it's a lovely city- to stay away from.

The babes were easily half my age, so no, no hopping on back.
I want to keep all my stuff, having to give up half would tick me off.
I don't buy into the happy wife happy life montra, but purposely pissing her off isn't something I toy with either.

I don't know if you saw it in the classifieds but I have a LARS modded lower airbox section I'm willing to sell for whatever it cost to ship. (this would allow you tro try out while keeping your stock - stock - incase you don't like it)
I first did the LARS mod, but found it too loud so I ordered another off ebay and performed the newer Ivans mod. - which has a smaller section cut out and leaves the snorkel section.
http://www.ivansperformanceproducts.com/2006fz1_airboxmod.htm - that's his description and comparison of the two.

But if you wanna save money and the hassle, just pull off the Ivan's mod as I found it to be a happy medium between LARS noise and stock quiet.

Yeah I'd gut that cat and consider removing the 02 sensor and installing a plug.
This is speculation on it helping at all, but the O2 sensor is sticking in the exhaust stream, looks like it would restrict it a smidge.
Now I'm wanting to look at mine and see what's what on that.


I can power wheelie in 1st with some effort- it ain't exactly easy, but using that youtube video technique I can do it, but am not graceful at it yet.
Second takes a lot of effort for little lift, the high gearing and my 180# ass yanking on the bars don't help.

Sorry I was on a road trip out to LA and back. Thanks for the offer Dave! I think I’ll just do the mod on the air box myself. I can’t imagine not liking it. And if I don’t I’ll just buy another. It will have to be when I’m not gonna ride for a week or so I’ll have to send the ECU back to Vcyclenut to get flashed for the air box mod and cat. Otherwise, I heard you lose HP cause it runs too lean.

Vcyclenut said to disconnect the O2 sensor from the connector under the tank, so you don’t have to take it off the header, which I did and can feel a bit more power.

Yea, can’t really power wheelie as it is now, at least as in that video, and I don’t want to do clutch wheelies. Actually, don’t want to wheelie, just get the front end off the ground a little. Ha!

My son called me and wants to borrow the FZ1 tomorrow to go on a ride with a friend of his who has an R1. He is selling the R1 and my son is interested in buying it. My son has a very nice 2012 Sportster Classic, couple weeks ago I let him ride the FZ1, now he is hooked on sport bikes.
I might go along with them on the Harley, and ride the R1 myself just to see what all the fuss is about. Ha!

 

[DaveC]

What year R1? Their crossplain crank engine made it to the FZ lineup on 2017, not sure when it was introduced to the R-1.
interesting engine /concept.



if you do the Ivans airbox mod the noise increase is subtle but not annoying. Does Vcyclenut nut prefer on airbox mod over the other?

 

[Skydancer]

Not sure what year, will let you know tomorrow. I read the cross plain crank was in the 2009 R1.

not sure which one he recommends, I’ll ask him when I send the ECU to him, then I’ll do the air box mod.

 

[Skydancer]

Not sure what year, will let you know tomorrow. I read the cross plain crank was in the 2009 R1.

not sure which one he recommends, I’ll ask him when I send the ECU to him, then I’ll do the air box mod.

It is a 2006 R1 with 5K miles on it, Abe bought it from his boss who bought it new. The ECU was flashed and had some awesome pipes on it. My Son rode my FZ1, his friend Abe, on the R1 and me on the 2020 Heritage. We drove down to Madrid for lunch, and on the way back let me try the R1, my son on the Heritage and Abe on my FZ1. I never rode a sport bike with clip-ons before, so was a little apprehensive about the ergonomics, but they weren’t bad. The R1 cornered better than the FZ1, mainly I think because your head is low, and your in a more aggressive position, I felt like I could live with an R1, but would need other bikes too! The R1 is a bit of a novelty. Oddly enough, my son and I thought the Heritage handled the best in the corners. I think because you are sitting very low in the saddle and the center of gravity is lower. The 2018 and later softail shave a new performance frame, and they are very responsive, I was surprised.

as far as power goes it felt like the R1 has a more even power range, but that might be due to the sound of those pipes that make you feel there is more power. I noticed when I put new pipes on my Harley I thought it was faster, when in fact it technically lost 3 foot pounds of torque. Ha! Psycho-acoustics!

My Son was interested in buying the R1, but after he rode it for a short time wanted to get right back on the FZ1, he said the R1 was too uncomfortable and didn’t care about the slight edge in power. He had no problem keeping up with Abe’s R1 on the FZ1. My son had a slight case of R1 fever, now he seems to be cured. Ha!

Abe was popping wheelies all the time on the R1, but he was doing clutch wheelies. I asked him if he could do power wheelies and he said those are harder to do on the R1, not sure if he could do them on it.

Any way that’s been my exciting day. Do I want an R1? Yea, some day, but not as my main bike.

 

[Skydancer]

What year R1? Their crossplain crank engine made it to the FZ lineup on 2017, not sure when it was introduced to the R-1.
interesting engine /concept.



if you do the Ivans airbox mod the noise increase is subtle but not annoying. Does Vcyclenut nut prefer on airbox mod over the other?

Oh I responded to my own post, about your question.

 

[DaveC]

That's some great feedback. Sounds about like what I'd have expected except for the Heritage handling best in the corners part. - reminds me of seeing the Goldwings laid over about as far as they can get- but doing it smoothly. Speaking of, if you haven't watched a baggers race yet, it's pretty neat to watch- they could no doubt get around a track quicker than I could.

If I could have a garage full of toys sounds like I'd have an R-1 or ZX-10 on the list.

Being folded in half and your nuts in a bind is more of a young mans (or womens) game.