Yamaha Gen 2 FZ1 Review - Riding the 2006-2015 FZ1 - Best Sport-Standard Motorcycle?

[@beaurex4756]

I owned 2 of these, both 2008 models. I totaled the first with 24k miles. I liked it so much, I found another, identical bike with 4k miles and bought bought it. I've been riding since 1965 and it's the best bike I've ever owned.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Nice Beau, it's always great when you find the perfect bike for yourself!

[@beaurex4756]

@Jon's Motorcycle Rescue and Review I'm still looking for the perfect bike, currently riding my second MT09. They're loads of fun, but the FZ1 is more refined. That said, now I want a new XSR900. So many bikes, so little time.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@beaurex4756 No kidding!

[@scottb6815]

I have owned a fz1 for around 5 years now....probably the best all rounder u can buy....my only niggles with the bike are snatchy fueling which I sorted with a power commander and an ecu flash and the second niggle is that the bike is totally dead below 4000rpm which is a real pity.....even after 4000rpm nothing much happens....but heck when you hit 7500rpm,thats when the bike really shines....otherwise a fantastic motorcycle.....Ive ridden over 40 different bikes and this one does it for me.......happy riding to you Jon

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Great comment Scott. I wonder if the re-tune solved the snatchy fueling and really softened the low end at the same time. Every FZ1 I have owned/ridden was fairly stout at lower rpm. Thanks for the long term insight!

[@ppopovich2847]

I'm with Jon. Mine pulls nicely at low RPM, pulls with authority above 3500 rpm and is ridiculous at above 6000 rpm. Gearing was too tall stock. I did drop a tooth on the front sprocket, which made a very nice difference. Bike is stock otherwise. Fuel snatch is mildly annoying, but I've learned to ride around it.

[@The9meister]

Good video, very underated bike, I have had mine for 13 years since new, great alrounder, still looks new.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Gotta love the first gen FZ1. The fueling on that bike is much easier to modulate than the early fuel-injected models!

[@jamesmclaughlin3460]

My 2009 fz1 has 82k . I live in New Jersey, I've been to the great lakes threw Virginia all the way to Tennessee , tail of the dragon love my bike. I've only seen 2 others on the road. Always wondered why.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

They're certainly nice bikes!

[@dr6507]

What part of Jersey, i just bought a 08 fz1 with 7300 miles on it. Just got it a couple of weeks ago and i live in Burlington county NJ..

[@jamesmclaughlin3460]

@@dr6507 I'm in Warren County north jersey.

[@RealMNreviews]

Ty! Not many fz1 videos but they are starting to pock up in the used market! I would love any mod or maintenance videos!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

I have a video of how to service the FZ1 as well. It is on my FZ1 playlist.

[@postersm7141]

Last year I traded my Kawasaki 2021 Z900RS cafe for a 2023 Yamaha MT10 and I love it. It also has the R1 motor and is just a phenomenal motorcycle. Electronic package is amazing with it's 6 axis IMU, quick shift up and down with rev match and auto blip and all the other bells and whistles. It's basically a YZF 1000 and the modern version of the FZ1. The FZ1 is a great bike also. You have a nice sample.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! By all accounts, the MT10 is a fabulous bike!

[@Cyverion]

I'm sad they stopped making the FZ1. I absolutely love mine. Comfortable enough to tour on but sporty enough to hang in the twisties. Yes the stock exhaust is crazy quiet. If anyone is looking for exhaust imo the 2 best sounding options are the Yosh slip on and my personal favorite and the one I have the Akrapovic Carbon slip on

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@mrboostification]

Mt10 is the newer fz1

[@jerodrobinson4040]

This is My next Bike, been thinking Probably next Spring. I love these 5 Valve's.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

Great work here. Thumb up for the great review. Those highway pegs surprised me. :) Keep up man and drop by when have time.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks!

[@Paulie1978100]

Gorgeous bike!! I have an FZ6 gonna make the leap to an FZ1, like yours the semi faired version, Great video!, cheers from Ireland man! safe riding 👍🏽

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on Paul, cheers!

[@seanmcgrath7339]

Hi , I just left a comment , de half fairned bike is truly a beaut 😊

[@vicpnut1]

Everyone else whos owned one has said how rock solid they are,and i tend to believe it..mine on the other hand 🤷🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️.. long story but for 2 years ive owned it its been in the shop at this moment since 7/22/24 and broken down since late 2023 ..new wiring harness , new ecu and minor tUne up and it ran great… but started out of the blue skipping with engine light coming on ..rev it lightly and it would stop But after just shy of $3k after having it fixed i sent it back to the shop . … bottom line when i got it in late 2022 i knew it was most likely a bit of a fixer upper(it had obvious small lay over road rash and a naked conversion ) but had no clue to this extent …id tell others if you dont know the history (like from a used bike dealer where i got mine ) and it looks far from original and rough …..dont 😬or get a warranty to be sure if it breaks down within 90 days youre covered …again when it runs its an amazingly fast (much more than i realized and needed )and somewhat comfy ride , and now I imagine prices for these have dropped quite a bit .

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks for sharing your FZ1 experiences! You have hit on some great points and come to some solid conclusions. When buying a used motorcycle, the newer it looks and the more history you have with it, the better. It's better to keep emotions in check and walk away than to get home with a fixer upper. I wish you luck with the FZ1. Cheers!

[@seanmcgrath7339]

I'm a gen x from Ireland 50 + , I never had an interest in de classics, always rode Japanese bikes , my 2006 half fairned FZ 1000 is de best bang for buck I ever had ,I'll never sell her , in de last few years " lock down excluded " it doubled in price ,a great one is very rare 👍👍

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Hi Sean! Yes, it seems that lockdown doubled the price of almost all bikes. It's getting harder and harder to find nice ones here.

[@seanmcgrath7339]

You are truly rite my friend

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@seanmcgrath7339 Right on!

[@hasty10805]

Thanks Jon for a great video! You explained it to a T!! Keep the videos coming! ✌🏻

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks!

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

Great job here. Enjoyed it too. Waiting for the next one. p.s. Drop by man.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@RRRRefuelRideRace Thanks. Are you local?

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

You have to REDLINE IT at least once every time you ride it, it's in the owners manual and part of the man code.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Just because it didn't make the video doesn't mean I don't 😉.

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 it's like a adrenaline Injection machine.

[@PoisonousPen]

“Pulls like a Banshee” 🤨 Are Banshees known for their pulling abilities? 😅

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

If they are the Yamaha racing 4-wheeler... 😉 Cheers!

[@PoisonousPen]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 tbf, I had forgotten about the quad 😅👍

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@PoisonousPen Right on! My friend worked at Yamaha in the early 1990s and raced a heavily modified Banshee. He let me take it for a ride one day after work. One trip into the powerband was all I needed 😳. I rode it gently back to him, humbled by the insanity of that machine. Good memories. Cheers!

[@PoisonousPen]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Sounds like blast 😄 I always wanted to have a go on one, but never knew anyone who had one 🫤🤷‍♂️ All this being said, great vid! 👍 I’m strongly considering the FZ1 as it falls well into the daily commuter/weekend toy that doesn’t look as dull and humdrum as a bandit/hornet - in fact, I’d say it looks pretty damn good 👌 My only concern is that I’ll be riding it through winter - now I know from experience that Suzukis HATE winter and that Hondas are pretty hardy by comparison, but I’ve never owned a Yamaha before 🤔 Any thoughts?

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@PoisonousPen The FZ1 is fine in cold weather riding. The carburated versions are set up well (unlike the lean 1200 Bandits) and the 2006 and newer FI bikes should work well in the cold. The early FI bikes (2006 and newer) had abrupt fueling that required re-mapping. The only other potential "issue" with the FZ1 was an electrical stator rotor that could shatter. Hope that helps! The Bandit 1250s are also a good bike. They're fuel-injected, more roomy, and surprisingly capable at any type of riding. Cheers!

[@amriksinghdhillon]

Hello! I'm looking to get myself a FZ1, 2009 vintage. From what I hear the bike is awesome in all regards EXCEPT fuel range. Could you clear this up for me, please? I'm gonna put my bike through heavy use in ALL scenarios and in ALL seasons. I'm not gonna thrash the hell out of it (certainly not most of the time). Nice, chilled riding through town, on highways and backroad twisties will suffice. Thanks!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

The FZ1 is very sport oriented and not really a chill ride. I don't mean that in a negative way - just want to make sure you know what you're getting. I don't know what the range is, but you should be able to look it up pretty quickly online. Cheers!

[@teocampos8657]

I’m thinking of picking one up myself primarily for commuting any other purpose would just be secondary. Previously I had an MT 07 used it 5 days a week to commute about 12 miles one way. This looks like a solid bike. Do you think it would make for a great commuter in a busy urban city like Los Angeles?

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

It certainly has plenty of power, Teo. It is best on smooth roads. So, it depends on what you want in a commuter bike. The FZ1 is edgier than the MT07 and not as easy to ride. If excess power and performance is what you're looking for, then the FZ1 may be a good choice.

[@deegaw11]

Just sold my CB 919 and thinking of picking up a fz1. Have you ever ridden a CB919? If so, how would you compare the 2?

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Yes, I owned a 2007 CB919. First off, the FZ1 is faster and I think the brakes might be a bit more powerful. The 919 is better behaved in the throttle input category - it is relatively smooth on and off throttle. The 2006 FI model FZ1's fueling was more abrupt though they refined it over the years. It made the FZ1 feel fast but could be tricky mid-corner. The CB919 is easy to ride and intuitive. The FZ1 takes more concentration but is ultimately more capable. And the wind protection on the FZ1 is a real plus.

[@deegaw11]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 that’s probably the only thing I didn’t like about the CB 919. Anything over 70mph and I’m just fighting the wind blowing me around. I’ve ridden an r1 a couple times and it was ridiculously faster than the 919 but stop light to stop light it wasn’t much faster than the 919. I know the fz1 has a r1 engine but does it feel as fast as a r1 or it feels more tolerable?

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@deegaw11 More tolerable than the R1 for sure.

[@andybowie8590]

I had what you call cb919, it was called the hornet 900 in the UK, the fz1 is different league, suspension is far better, with decent tyres it'll handle great and you have more tyre choice if you've still got the 16inch front wheel on your Honda, brakes are better too and it pulls from any rpm, with a power commander you'll get about 160bhp at the crank which is plenty for a road bike, id say get one and you won't be disappointed.

[@bnlabelle]

I just sold my CB919 to buy a 2012 FZ1 and I can say the FZ1 outperforms it in every category. If you loved your Hornet you will love the FZ1 even more.

[@amacmotovlogs]

I have never seen one with highway pegs. Where did you get those from?

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

The highway pegs were on it when I bought it. I don't know where the were purchased from or what brand they are, sorry.

[@shujayethossain6554]

Hi Is it a good bike to learn on?

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Great question Shujayet! The FZ1 is absolutely not a beginner bike. It has way too much power and requires finesse on the controls that a beginner just doesn't have.

[@petedelano4881]

What kind of seat is that? TIA

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

I'm honestly not sure. It is an upgraded gel seat but I don't remember the brand. I sold the bike, otherwise I'd go to the garage and check.

[@hasty10805]

This was a Yamaha's gel seat. It is a lot more comfortable than the factory seat.

[@mallumotovlog232]

Does it have ABS?

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

This FZ1 didn't have ABS.

[@mallumotovlog232]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 that's such a shame for such a powerful bike, it should have one.

[@TomMFP]

1250 banshee comparison

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Similar to the ZRX1200R. The Yamaha is sportier/edgier, but the Bandit is much torquier, roomier, plusher-riding, and long distance comfortable.

[@TomMFP]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 what about a GEN 1 FZ1 compared to a zxr and bandit s

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@user-jq8kh1hy7e The ZRX1200R is the sportiest. The FZ1 is smooth and comfortable and straight-line fast, but the suspension gets odd when pushed (it doesn't like it). I had a minor "off" while sport riding a first-gen FZ1. I tried to change my line mid-corner but ended up off-roading it 😬. The 1200 Bandit wasn't as smooth or as fast or as nicely put together as the ZRX or FZ1, and it also had poor front suspension.

[@TomMFP]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I’m stuck between a GEN 1 FZ1 and a 1250s bandit! Which one would do you think would handle dual sport tires for dirt road riding/adventure touring better

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@TomMFP I'm going to let someone else answer that question since it's beyond my experience. All I will say is that the FZ1 might be lighter. Cheers!

[@twowheelpursuits]

I have a 2009 that is way faster but it's been modified.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@MarjanZuza]

That the only naked bike . The best naked😊😊😊😊

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!