08-09-2013, 05:18 AM
Wow Ferret, you opened a can of worms on this one! But, here goes:
2006 Yamaha FZ-1:
This was the first year of the newly-styled, fuel-injected version. It was touted as a comfortable FZR-1 rocket ship. Uh, no. The fueling on the bike was absolutely horrendous, with many magazine testers saying they couldn't believe the bike was brought to market in such a condition. The throttle was like a light switch--either gas on, or gas off. And the powerband was non-existent until 7,000 rpm. The bike was absolutely gutless in the bottom end, and you had to slip the clutch a bunch just to leave a stop light. The suspension was a mess--abrupt everywhere, and the bike would absolutely stand-up while trying to turn and brake at the same time.
2005 Yamaha Vmax:
I was in high school when the original Vmax debuted. The Vmax, along with the Honda CBX many years prior, is the bike that set the hook in this kid as being crazy for motorcycles. I'd always wanted a Vmax, but couldn't afford one. When I finally found a nice 2005 20th Anniversary Model in beautiful Shift Red paint, I bought it up. I just knew it was going to be the most wonderful bike in the world. After all, I'd had twenty years of fantasies building up! Well, again, no. For a big bike, the seating position was very tight. The brakes felt like they were being grabbed by wooden brake pads. The gearbox had a long, heavy throw like a tractor. And, don't expect to find Neutral at a stop light after the engine warmed--wasn't going to happen. And even though I never could find it, I swear there was a hinge somewhere in the middle of the frame, 'cause that bike would wallow and wiggle like nothing I'd ever experienced. The bike was beautiful to look at, but that's about where its good qualities ended.
2006 Yamaha FZ-1:
This was the first year of the newly-styled, fuel-injected version. It was touted as a comfortable FZR-1 rocket ship. Uh, no. The fueling on the bike was absolutely horrendous, with many magazine testers saying they couldn't believe the bike was brought to market in such a condition. The throttle was like a light switch--either gas on, or gas off. And the powerband was non-existent until 7,000 rpm. The bike was absolutely gutless in the bottom end, and you had to slip the clutch a bunch just to leave a stop light. The suspension was a mess--abrupt everywhere, and the bike would absolutely stand-up while trying to turn and brake at the same time.
2005 Yamaha Vmax:
I was in high school when the original Vmax debuted. The Vmax, along with the Honda CBX many years prior, is the bike that set the hook in this kid as being crazy for motorcycles. I'd always wanted a Vmax, but couldn't afford one. When I finally found a nice 2005 20th Anniversary Model in beautiful Shift Red paint, I bought it up. I just knew it was going to be the most wonderful bike in the world. After all, I'd had twenty years of fantasies building up! Well, again, no. For a big bike, the seating position was very tight. The brakes felt like they were being grabbed by wooden brake pads. The gearbox had a long, heavy throw like a tractor. And, don't expect to find Neutral at a stop light after the engine warmed--wasn't going to happen. And even though I never could find it, I swear there was a hinge somewhere in the middle of the frame, 'cause that bike would wallow and wiggle like nothing I'd ever experienced. The bike was beautiful to look at, but that's about where its good qualities ended.