2013 FZ8 Fazer impressions?

TwistedKestrel

TwistedKestrel

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There were other FZ8 threads but they were old and mostly unanswered questions. The 2013 FZ8 is on my not-so-short shortlist for next bike, ticks most of the boxes. Unfortunate that it was only available in black, but you can't have everything. Main thing I'm wondering is what's the motor like?
 
Motor is amazing at 8k+, struggles around 5k (this can be fixed by sending your ECU to Guhls in the states for 300$). Very comfortable sitting position, stock seat is pretty bleh. The colour scheme I find is quite nice with black and gold with red highlights here and there.
Heres my fully loaded 2013 FZ8, shares many parts with its sister bikes so plenty of cheap upgrade options available.
09U5YLD.jpg
 
Can you elaborate on the stock seat? Not that I'm shocked... the only bike I've ever owned that had a reasonable stock seat is, oddly enough, the cheapest built bike I've ever owned - the GS500.
 
I would start to get uncomfortable on the stock seat in an hour, unbearably so in 2. Went with the Shad seat, can go for many hours without an issue. The 2013 has adjustable front and rear suspension which the previous years didn't, but still both are somewhat soft, which can be fixed for 60$ FZ1 rear shock or R1 Shock with an adapter, can swap front springs with FZ1 or do I what I did and got Racetech Springs for 100$. Makes the bike insanely better for cheap. The gas tank is pretty small and I only get about 110 miles out of it.
 
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I was worried when I first rode the Fazer8. I have ridden both the FZ8 and the Fazer versions and was pleasantly surprised. The motor had more than enough power for single highway touring or day tripping two up. I enjoyed the Shad optional seat as well. Aftermarket support for exhaust and bags and such was decent and the installs have been a non-issue.
 
Soft springs usually aren't much of a problem for me, as I'm the mysterious lightweight rider that most Japanese manufacturers seem to be targeting when they spring their bikes.

To clarify, I'm not worried about sufficient power. I'm wondering if the engine is entertaining, is it buzzy, does it stumble, can it make BLT sandwiches, etc
 
The engine is hella entertaining, once you hit 8k rpm, hold on to your butts. It stumbles at 5k a bit. Its a bit buzzy at higher rpms and quite a noisey bike at idle.
 
my impression of the FZ8..

Waaaaaa...waaaaaaa.....waaaa....vrumm..vrum...vrumm.

Sorry couldn't resist. This bike looks boobs in the 50th anniversary colors.
 
I am loving my 2011 FZ8 Fazer in blue. It is my second motorbike - first new one. My first was a 2005 EX500r.

ENGINE: The engine is plenty fun. It does hit that typical inline-4 rush of power past 8k. It has torque, and it's very usable around town. At slower speeds the throttle can be a bit choppy. TurboJoe and Guhl's both do ECU reprogramming to make the engine just that much better and can reduce that choppiness, as well as reduce the de-acceleration exhaust popping that some don't like.

Is it buzzy? I don't think so, but I know that with my Fazer the plastics make a pretty common buzzing noise around 5K RPM that can be remedied. I also don't feel much vibration through the grips or pegs. Does it stumble? Keep it in the appropriate gear, and I don't think you're ever at a lack of power. Can it make a BLT sandwich? Compared to the Ninja500r, the FZ8 in summer traffic can get hot on my butt and inner thighs. It still is an in-line 4. It's most certainly NOT a supersport that contains all the heat in the fairings. I don't feel the heat off the bike hitting my body anywhere else. Comparatively, with the Ninja500r I never felt the heat anywhere.

SEAT: I really don't have any issue with the stock seat, except after a full day's riding. It's entirely subjective, however. SHAD does make an aftermarket seat which is reviewed to be great. More importantly (from the Ninja500), the FZ8 is a big-boy bike with a bit more upright position, and for me (5'7, 150lbs), less bend in the knees. This makes long rides more comfortable.

SUSPENSION: The common complaint is how bouncey it can be - pogo'ing riders off the seat after hitting bumps. This depends on the rider's weight. If I choose to upgrade suspension it will be the HyperPro Streetbox. Otherwise, it all depends on riding style and choices. Yes, great suspension is awesome, but on the street I would still suggest you have to be pushing the bike to really start needing better suspension... so you get better suspension to go that much faster so when you crash you die that much quicker. I hope you get what I'm saying...
 
Bagman said:
SUSPENSION: The common complaint is how bouncey it can be - pogo'ing riders off the seat after hitting bumps. This depends on the rider's weight. If I choose to upgrade suspension it will be the HyperPro Streetbox. Otherwise, it all depends on riding style and choices. Yes, great suspension is awesome, but on the street I would still suggest you have to be pushing the bike to really start needing better suspension... so you get better suspension to go that much faster so when you crash you die that much quicker. I hope you get what I'm saying...
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Honestly, having the suspension lets you take corners much more confidently and faster, and is the best upgrade you can do to this bike, pushing the bike hard would usually squirm the bike for me in corners and dropped my confidence. Next year the plan is to do full Ohlins front and back, very excited for it.

Also you bought a bike, if you care so much for safety, get a car :rolleyes:
 
minimacdoc said:
Also you bought a bike, if you care so much for safety, get a car :rolleyes:
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You do know that "Safe" and "Motorcycle" are not mutually exclusive words, right? You can be safe on a motorcycle. LOL - So you didn't exactly get my point.

I never said otherwise - an upgraded suspension is great and does improve confidence. So do a pair of good tires, among other things. As I said - "choices." I would think that for Yamaha's intended audience of the bike as well as the majority of riders, the majority of the time, the suspension is good. BUT, if you want to 'push' it just like you describe then a better suspension would be great - if not preferred to ensure you mitigate the added risk, because to 'push' the bike comes at its own risk. .. and that risk .. is your choice. As it is anyone's.

I don't know TwistedKestrel, or his/her riding style. Just trying to offer sound advice. I have two cars, btw.
 
FZ8 is mostly the same as the FZ1, I've posted a few times recently on my FZ1 if you want to search for them.

I assume the seat is the same between the two bikes. The stock seat on my FZ1 isn't terrible, but not good. I've done many long trips on it, but my behind does get sore. Currently my seat is out getting redone with DirtRoad from the FZ1 forums, everyone on that forum raves about him. Price is definitely cheaper than Corbin/Shad/etc.

Suspension, I wouldn't worry about. There are adapters to install R1 suspension which can be had for somewhat cheap.

As mentioned, 50th anniversary colours are awesome.
 
minimacdoc said:
Motor is amazing at 8k+, struggles around 5k (this can be fixed by sending your ECU to Guhls in the states for 300$). Very comfortable sitting position, stock seat is pretty bleh. The colour scheme I find is quite nice with black and gold with red highlights here and there.
Heres my fully loaded 2013 FZ8, shares many parts with its sister bikes so plenty of cheap upgrade options available.
09U5YLD.jpg
Click to expand...
Hey! I recognize that shop! AceMotoTech?
 
After years of not owning a bike, I chose my 2011 Fazer because I wanted a good all around bike and it has not proven to be otherwise. I am a little bit on the heavier side and find no problems with the suspension as is, just cranked the rear up a little. Lots of info can be found here:http://www.779cc.org/forum/forum.php
 
I've been looking on those forums and haven't found a lot of hard information there. Why do people bother swapping the FZ8 shock for an FZ1 shock? They're both emulsion shocks. And the only R1 shock swap I've seen mentioned was something of a hatchet job, as it messed up all the geometry
 
TwistedKestrel said:
I've been looking on those forums and haven't found a lot of hard information there. Why do people bother swapping the FZ8 shock for an FZ1 shock? They're both emulsion shocks. And the only R1 shock swap I've seen mentioned was something of a hatchet job, as it messed up all the geometry
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Don't know if this is what you're referring to, but this is what all the FZ1 guys run. Haven't heard any complaints, but I don't pay too much attention as my bike came with Ohlins rear.

http://www.779cc.org/forum/fz8-mods/593-r1-shock-satan666s-adapter.html
 
DemonPig said:
To anyone that actually owns a Fazer 8, is the fuel range really as horribly as 220km to bone dry?

I am toying with an idea of getting a 2013/14 model or a 2015/16 FJ-09 but I need a better range than that.
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That seems a little low. I might put in ~12L at ~200kms of mostly city/hwy (60%/40%) riding. Burning, say, 16L of fuel (17L tank; want to leave a little for reserve) should net something more like 260-270kms.
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