stupid luke Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 OK, I admit it, old age comes to us all. Last weekend I sold my RC8 which I suspect will be the last sportsbike I shall ever own. I still have my Superduke R that rides like a sportsbike but with the upright riding position favoured by us geriatrics. Trouble is, the plank seat can induce piles in 45 mins. So I want a sports tourer, do they make them anymore? After extensive test riding and rejecting all the latest offerings I end up buying a 2004 FZS1000 yesterday. One owner, 5000 miles from new. I suspect it is / was an import as it is an unusual colour and came from TAZ Peterboghorror for the princely sum of 6000 quid. I paid 2400 which is going rate for a 4+ owner 20-40,000 mile equivalent. Pictures to follow when I can be arsed to take some. In the meantime just imagine a mint but bog stock Jap bike from 10 yrs ago. So a quick ride around the block (no tax or test) today confirms that there is money to be spent. Tyres are 10yr old square BT020's luckily I have replacements sitting in my garage. The bike seems soft at both ends to me...and I havent chucked it into anything like a corner yet. In order of priorities I want it to handle. Still be soft enough to tour on but able to cope with sporty cornering when the mood arises. An afternoon on t' internet informs me the current shock is gash and should be replaced asap. In the meantime it should be would up to: comp damping = max minus 1 click rebound = max minus 3 clicks preload = max minus 1 click Fork springs are progressive shit and should either have an inch hacked off the end or be replace by linear springs (K Tech 85 quid or Ohlins 110 quid) plus new oil, seals. I dont want to spend a fortune on forks as I will likely replace them with lateish R1 forks at some future juncture so spcialist revalving etc is out. So I have been making a list of upgrades and order of priority. This roughly goes, make it handle, make it stop, make it faster, make it more practical (not yet fully in tourer mindset you see) So any advice? I am looking at you Roninige and Marcaztls in particular. What is worth doing? What is internet hype? Give me cheap improvements so I have more left for elderly comforts like a topbox (suprisingly expensive and blingy) and heated grips. I have about a grand to spend on improvements and for that I would like modern handling plus one of those Ivan carb kits installed. If I go over by a few hundred it is no big deal as I intend to keep the bike long term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damnthistinleg Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 I have no advice to offer but will watch your progress with interest. A Fazer thou is on my shortlist of bikes that I may buy later this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaos Theory Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 Subscribed as I see a Fazer 1000 in my future for 2 up touring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronenige Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 Spend the money you were going to spend on the jet kit on your suspenders, see if someone like ktech can do anything with your rear shock as they are a bit errr comfortable, maybe replace the brake seals, I know they're low mileage but they should be replaced every 4 years, You'll get far more for your money making it steer and stop well than you will chasing horses. I've ridden one with a MTC job on the forks and you don't notice them so they must be right, I've also just serviced one with 99960 miles on the clock, motor felt as good as new Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZZR monkey Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 You could fit a nice nitrous system in the top box & still have room for sarnies and waterproofs. No further jetting/motor tweaks required. Just saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignige Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 Rupert Paul sorted one out in BIKE a couple of years ago. I've got them somewhere, I remember a Nitron shock.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stupid luke Posted April 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 Rupert Paul sorted one out in BIKE a couple of years ago. I've got them somewhere, I remember a Nitron shock.. I would be happy to buy the mags off you and pay postage or paypal you a drink if you could scan them and e mail to me. I am not a reader of Bike so wouldnt have seen them. Although now I am accepting middle age I will probably put a copy in my new top box when I get it. I phoned Nitron today as I heard they sell cosmetic factory 2nds at 20% off. Unfortunatelt the girl I spoke to in bike sales was as clueless as it is possible to be. She spent most of the conversation calling the bike an FZ 5000. She only offered 10% which I suspect I could haggle out of a retailer for a cosmetically perfect one. Plus there wouyld be no risk of receiving a shock like an elephants leg for an FZ 5000. I think I am onto something with the purchase of Givi direct from Italy though. It seems to be better than a 3rd off and I dont think I can be saddled with VAT or import duty. I may have a little look for an Italian shock as well, arent Bitubo Italian? There are folks that rebuild the standard shock for about 160 quid plus about 60 quid for a new spring but I still feel that is too close to the basic offerings from an aftermarket supplier to be worth doing. There is also a fella who sells R6 shock conversions but again for the money I would rather go to a specialist manufacturer, for the resale value if nothing else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny Pryde Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 The torque on the FZ 5000 must be awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaos Theory Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 The torque on the FZ 5000 must be awesome. Yeah but they drink petrol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeyJim Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 they are cracking bikes and I salute your purchase, Sir i would be following RonenIge's advice about the suspension, that's where I would be throwing my money. they are luxuriously soft at both ends to the detriment of handling and ground clearance, the latter of which it runs out of quite quickly*. so I'd also be looking at some rearsets, some clip-ons, and a full fairing a very experienced mate found out to his cost a few years ago in Germany. into a corner lean lean lean lean grind grind crash bang wallop luckily the bike was rideable apart from a small oil leak where the engine casing wore through, a local bike shop sorted that though. he was walking funny for a while though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignige Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignige Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignige Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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