After having to deal with some rather huge personal issues over the past two years, I decided I wasn't going to wait any longer, and that it was time to buy another bike. What I wanted this time around, well that's been a series of continual mind games and struggles. The process went like this...

1 - I'm not a Harley guy.
2 - I'm too old for a real sport bike like I used to own and love.
3 - I'm not a fan of chrome.
4 - I love old style round analog gauges.
5 - If it doesn't cause my heart rate and blood pressure to spike, its not for me.
5 - I found myself longing for bikes I've lusted after in the past rather than something new.

And low and behold I ran across this locally, a model I've loved forever, but thought I'd likely never get to own. This is a 2002 Yamaha FZ1, two Florida owner bike, with 3,670 miles on the odometer. Basically it moved from owner one's garage, who put 3k miles on it in 19 years, to owner two's garage where he put ~600 miles on it in two years, and where it ended up taking up space again. I managed to score it for a really good price, and ran it through a local shop for new tires (the tires on it were the original Bridgestones ) and a once over to insure everything was in order.

Haven't had much of a chance to ride it yet, but the couple chances I have ridden it, its been incredible. IMO there's nothing like the sound of an inline four screaming through a performance pipe. A friend asked me why on earth I'd opt for a liter bike at this point in my life. My simple answer...."It scared the hell out of me, and I liked it."

Can't wait to start scrubbing in those new tires and racking up some weekend miles soon. I can't begin to impart how excited I am to finally be back on two wheels.

Cool! Be safe.

I know absolutely nothing about bikes, but for being 20 years old that bike looks great. I like the style and man does it look clean. Good score, enjoy and as said be safe.

Awesome bike, but are those mirrors or places to hang your dry cleaning? Keep it rubber side down.

Great to see you making a life-affirming decision. Watch out for the left turn motorists. There may be mirror blocker plates you could still find and ditch the original mirrors for bar ends.

I want one too but my wife said if the bike didn't kill me she would.

Beautiful FZ1, I love the 2000-2010 generation bikes.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
There may be mirror blocker plates you could still find and ditch the original mirrors for bar ends.

Already have a pair of bar end mirrors on order. They should be here next week. The billet filler plates for the stock mirrors are currently out of stock, so I'll have to wait to do the mirror swap until I can get a pair.

And because I forgot to mention it in my initial post, my thanks to our own stickman for being an informational resource and sounding board for me over the past year or so as I've made my way through acquiring another bike.

Welcome back.

Nice find. Enjoy it and stay safe.

Enjoy. Like Smschulz, I want a motorcycle but my wife won't allow me to. She said she had a best friend killed on a motorcycle when she was a teenager.

She likes to point out that on a motorcycle there isn't much between you, the road, and cars.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
I can't begin to impart how excited I am to finally be back on two wheels.

Just make sure you stay on them. The alternative ain't a whole lot of fun.

It is in great shape for its age! I would have to get a taller windscreen. The stock one would put the blast right at my Adams apple.

Nice! Very happy to see you put new shoes on it. There just isn't a whole lot better than cracking open the throttle on a new bike.

Gotta be hot where you are, but please gear up. Some great options these days for kevlar fabric and vented jackets that make riding tolerable.

May it bring you endless miles of big smiles.

Oooooooooooooooh, PRETTY!

And I like the way you think. My bike isn't quite at the same level of Holy Shit! as that one, but it's the most bike I've owned in 50+ years of riding.

GREAT score! That naked beauty may not be a true sport bike but will give them a real run for their money without the cramped riding position. The real win here is comfort. My last bike was a ZX-7R and it was hell on my knees and elbows after a long ride. Now I’m on a 2008 FJR1300 with @3000 miles on the meter and I love the comfort paired with performance even if it is a shaft drive with hard saddle bags.

Excellent choice. Long ride comfort, understated good looks, and a rock solid motor with deep pools of torque.

That's the kind of bike I'd be looking to re-enter on. I rode a friends years ago and really liked it. Quick and great handling.
Be safe and enjoy.

Excellent bike bigdeal. Sold my blue 05 FZ1 a couple of years ago and kind of regretted that decision ever since. Yamaha made one of the coolest "old man" bikes and this my friend is it!! Add some luggage, a Sargent seat and whatever else you desire to have a great tourer.

I was just talking about it with my cousin the other day. 100 MPH in first gear. Power wheelies in 1st-3rd It has all of the power one could ever want and I still managed a cool 45-50 MPG.

Be sure to sync all 4 carbs (perhaps after getting them rebuilt) and look for an Ivans carb Performance kit. Ivan's kit
Maybe remove the AIS from the bike too. Tidy's up things a bit and helps with performance if you think the bike needs more.

Congratulations on your new bike. Have fun and keep the rubber side down

Nice looking bike, have fun and be safe!

Mike