First bike, FZ1 too much?

I already have my license and the msf course and I'm looking for my first bike. I have an in family deal for an '04 FZ1 with about 10k miles and nice extras for $2500. I have ridden it once before doing some parking lot maneuvers. This is a first gen so it is carbed, no slapping a tuner on it and dialing it back for now.

So, is it a deal I should go for, a death sentence?

Just a guess, but if you're asking, you may be responsible enough to be ok. Be honest with yourself whether you have enough self restraint to deal with a bike that has limits much higher than yours. Also, is it too nice to trash? Statistically-speaking, it's pretty high risk that you're going to put it on the ground in your first year. FWIW, my first was a kaw 250 baby ninja. Next bike was a liter bike. Never crashed the liter bike, but in hindsight, a nice 600 street bike would have been smarter as a do it all machine from the get go.

It's pretty tough to pass up on a good deal. But...

I've always planned on a 600 as my first bike. Enough to get you in trouble if you aren't responsible, but big enough to hold you over as you get comfortable and experienced.

FZ1 too much for a first bike - yes

Is that bike too good to pass up - yes

Solution buy that and another one too!!!

I would say yes, too much for a first bike. The good news is that some popular beginner bikes can be bought for market price, ridden for a year, and sold for about the same market price at the end of it because the demand is fairly consistent. Ninja 250 and DRZ400 come to mind, but there are probably some others.

I know some folks will argue otherwise, but riding a small bike for a season or two makes you a better rider. Think of the guy who learned by really driving the wheels off a Miata vs. the guy who came up gradually in a Corvette for his first sports car.

If you have the cash, buy two bikes and stabilize and store the FZ1 for a bit. If not, say thanks, but no thanks and start looking around; late-fall to early winter is when the ground is thick with used motorcycle deals.

This is what I'd do. Buy the FZ. Troll CraigsList for a small, under powered bike. Honda Rebel, Suzuki GZ250, etc... Start riding as soon as you can in the spring of 16. Ride for a few months to get comfortable. Then start riding the FZ1. Sell the starter bike, possibly for a profit, as everyone is looking for a starter bike in the Spring and Summer.

It will go no faster than you twist the throttle. If you've the self control, it won't get you in trouble. I doubt there's a human alive with that much self control. But we all like to pretend we are that one with the self control.

It's rather big, rather heavy, a bit tall. All of which are not nice things to deal with as a beginner. None are impossible to deal with. Just make discovering the significance of a pothole where your foot went down much more problematic than if it was a smaller lighter and lower bike. Things like that. It's also a lot harder to pick up after you fall over (and you will, more than once).

So no, in my opinion, it is not a good bike to start out with. But it is not an impossible bike to start out with.

If it's financially possible, I would buy a $500 beater and keep the FZ in the garage all shined up. Ride the beater for a month or two, perhaps a summer and get used to the new noises, new smells and just being invisible.

I suggest this because I've seen a new rider park in neutral facing down hill, it s l o w l y rolled forward and fell over. Get off and not put the stand down, lose your footing at a red light; yeah, you want to do that with a beater.

Goes without saying that pictures are required.

Dan

It's a lot of bike for a first bike. Having gradually moved up the bike chain I'm glad I did it that way. It's much easier to hone your general riding skills and habits on a lower powered bike. You do want something you can drop and not cry too much over. I haven't put a bike down while riding on the street. Yet. My Tiger 1050 will be getting frame sliders this winter. Why? Because E36 M3 happens.

TL;DR Buy the FZ1 if you like it and pick up a beater for a grand to flog and learn on.

Buying 2 is not an option. Also, my local used market is E36 M3. Otherwise I'm likely to go to NA Warhorse for whatever they have used in the spring. Aside from possibly a 400 Burgman, nothing under 500cc. Front runner is a ninja 500 with under 5k for $3.3k.

The FZ1 is on consignment at a dealer almost an hour away, otherwise I would get pics for this.

Don't dismiss that Burgman! They are not insubstantial machines and from everything I've read are very good rides.

I'd agree that an FZ1 is a bit too much as a starter bike, even with the necessary self control.

That is a big, heavy (relatively speaking), powerful bike. I'm going to just flat out say NO for a first bike.

And the price is good but not really unheard of for a first-gen carb'ed FZ1. So I don't think you are necessarily missing out on anything if you don't "jump on that deal."

I would say no. Any FZ6's available in your area cheap?

As someone who learned to ride on a too big, too powerful bike I'm not so adamant that you can't or shouldn't - but dealing with weight and snatchy power delivery from a bike that fast will slow your learning curve and distract you from things you should be paying attention to like which cars are about to kill you or how to actually ride a motorcycle (as opposed to just operating one).

Get something you can barely wheelie on purpose and that you can lay down and pick up yourself without a struggle. Then ride it 10k miles before you buy something that makes your heart go pitter-patter. I think you will be a better rider, sooner for having done it.

Huckleberry wrote: As someone who learned to ride on a too big, too powerful bike I'm not so adamant that you can't or shouldn't - but dealing with weight and snatchy power delivery from a bike that fast will slow your learning curve and distract you from things you should be paying attention to like which cars are about to kill you or how to actually ride a motorcycle (as opposed to just operating one). Get something you can barely wheelie on purpose and that you can lay down and pick up yourself without a struggle. Then ride it 10k miles before you buy something that makes your heart go pitter-patter. I think you will be a better rider, sooner for having done it.

Yup. Agree completely. You won't instant death on it, but learning on a liter bike will throw off your learning curve.

Also $2500 is a decent price, but nothing outrageous. If you wait until further into winter there will be better prices on bikes.

I'll sell you my Kawi 650r (great first bike) and take the FZ-1 if you want.

As a proponent of scooters,and as Foxtrapper stated,don't automatically discount the 400 Burgman(or a Majesty). Besides being a very capable touring machine, they also are capable handlers. Don't be put off by being called scooters, they are great rides,and mechanically sound. I think they are great for first rides and yet potent enough to keep. When it comes to handling, my 400 Majesty is capable of a lot more than its rider.

I put my 2cents in the other thread you mentioned on this bike. While 1L doesn't sound like a lot of power, it can and will most likely scare you.

Yes you can get yourself in a bunch of trouble pretty quick with even an older FZ1,nice and smooth power that is sneaky quick.

Here's a crappy video from mine before I sold it,

https://youtu.be/CXRncYoJ42k

For referene 100mph is approx. 12 o'clock

Ehh, you'll be fine, that thing makes about the same power as a modern 600....granted, I do love small displacement bikes, but I also think people put too much worry into displacement.

WOW Really Paul? wrote: Ehh, you'll be fine, that thing makes about the same power as a modern 600....granted, I do love small displacement bikes, but I also think people put too much worry into displacement.

Haha,600's make 150hp now??

Also while the newest 600's make great power you need to wring their necks to find it,not so much with any litre bike hence the sneaky speed and possible troubles.

In reply to kevlarcorolla:

Since when did a carb'd stock FZ-1 make 150hp? That answer was never, 130-140bhp range pending the year(when new) but very heavy(500lbs or so wet)....current 600 class leaders(636 Kawasaki & 675 Triumph)make barely shy of 130bhp, yet weigh in at 420lbs wet.

Torque, yes, the FZ1 makes liter bike torque, but it is lacking very much in terms of liter bike performance.

IMHO your right hand determines your safety factor, not the bike. I started on a 600 and went to a liter bike. My brother started on a liter bike. Do things stupid on a 600 and most of the time it will kill you just as fast as a liter bike...... YOU make more of a difference than the bike does. Again, just my opinion based on 15 years street riding experience. I have 2 friends paralyzed and one dead and none of them were on liter bikes, they just made bad decisions that were not the fault of the equipment.

My 2 cents and worth every penny...get a ninja 250 or the like first. The best rider I have ever known started out on a scooter. True, you can kill or maim yourself just as easily on a ruckus, but having astronomical limits is a poor temptation for a rookie. 40 years riding experience speaking here, and let me tell you, the first ride on that 50cc benelli at 5 years old was like being strapped to a rocket.

Also, I see FZ1s in the below $3k range frequently.