Your Rider Resume

[stumbles06]

That's a lot of red. Looks great. like the painted hugger, neat.

[tmilheiser]

i bought my first bike, FZ6, maybe 2 ago and have put 2000 miles on it. Love to ride and leaning the machanics

[michael2008]

The Yamaha FZ6 is a 600 cc motorcycle that was introduced in 2004 as a sport cruiser middleweight sport bike built around the 2003 YZF R6 engine. The engine is retuned for more usable midrange power. It comes with a somewhat soft suspension that makes it easy on beginners and very well suited for sport-touring, commuting, or just having fun on curvy mountain roads.
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Carhartt Work Gloves investment real estate

[Ghost Weim]

I grew up riding mopeds and horses - not necessarily an intro to motorcycles.

Three years ago my husband and I looked at cycles at a local shop and I poo-pooed him. Said that it wasn't the right time...

In August he said it was time. Not wanting to be left out of the fun (because I like to have fun), I decided if he was going to buy, so was I. He picked up an XT250 and I picked up a TW200. It was a great bike to learn all my basics on and also a great one to get some miles on (and we always ride with safety gear - feel naked without it). Two weeks after we purchased the bikes, we both took the cycle safety course - and passed with flying colors. In less than 2 month's time, we put over 2,000 miles on those bikes exploring all the back country roads. I didn't like off road riding nearly as much as he, so I decided it was time to move up a bit in the bike world - hence the FZ6.

I have no years of cycle history to draw on and no mechanical knowledge (since I will take my bike to the local shop for fixes) - so you will not hear anything from me on that front other than questions. But - I am an avid traveler and shopper, so you may hear my trip story or product opinion from time to time.

So far all of you guys have been a wonderful wealth of information!

[Shinn]

I am a young rider, tender age of 20. Been riding bikes since I was 16, and have owned 4 different bikes. First one was a 1987 Honda CBX250. Year after was a 2004 Kawasaki ZZR250, then my 2005 Suzuki SV650s and now my baby my 07 FZ600! The FZ was my first brand new bike, and my favourite.

I have grown up around bikes since the day I was born, and my first ride was at the age of 3. Was a passenger on my dad's bikes until 16. My dad has owned at least one bike at a time since then, so I have grown up helping him with maintenance and general issues. I have ridden his Triumph Thunderbird Sport and his lastest FZ1 I steal all the time I can. Have ridden other bikes, but nothing extensively except my own and dad's FZ1.

My honda taught me repairs, and the ZZR I rode that poor bike too the max keeping up with my dad on his FZ. Then I got seriously ill and never rode the ZZR for a few months while I was bed ridden, and upon getting better I bought the SV650. Loved the bike, and even named her Tweety for she and I were all yellow. Christmas last year I injured my knee at work, and the SV had a poor riding position knee wise. I always loved full faired sport bikes, but I couldn't ride them anymore for more then 30 mins. So I walked into my dealer, dad told me the FZ was always the best, and it was a toss up between a R6 and the FZ, and I bought the FZ that same day back in June. My dad was right, and I miss nothing of my previous bikes. The FZ will do anything.

I've ridden about 15000km for my total riding experience, and the FZ has almost 6000 to date. I worked for a bike shop, though quit because the shop was pathetic. I know quite a bit about bikes, but there is so much more I want to learn. I will always try to answer a question if I can, and will check the answer if I do not know it. I try to never give false information, and if I do I apologize! I love learning new techniques and information, and many of the bikes on here make me drool.

I ride rain or shine, from 45 celsius to -10 as my bike is my only transportation. I one day plan on owning a complete winter set of gear (done), summer set and a set of leathers. As well I want to upgrade the suspension and brakes as well as other things on my FZ. Well, if anyone has any questions, feel free to pm me. See you guys on the forums!

[Hellgate]

Shinn you are hardcorps ridding year round! Very cool, no pun intended.

[smist]

Been playing about with bikes since about 14 yrs of age. During the early years I lived in an area out in the 'sticks' - miles and miles of open hills, trails etc.

First bike came in a cardboard box - 100cc Buffallo trail bike (in pieces). Apparently was a one-off venture between the Bridgestone tyre company and someone else I have been told (but will stand corrected if I'm wrong). Spent my pocket money rebuilding this with my step dad. Had great fun on it and a few injuries.

Next (and this was a long time ago), a Yamaha AT1 125 trail bike - slightly better condition. Brilliant bike, and quite powerful (especially when exhaust baffles were removed).

After making my mistakes and having quite a few scrapes, I was allowed to ride my step-dads Yamaha DT360 trail bike. Awsome power and torque from what I can remember.

Much, much later, I bought myself my first roadbike - Kawasaki GPZ500. Loved this bike until a cager pulled out from the right in front of me (I'm in the UK) and totalled the bike.

Next, GPZ900R Ninja. Fantastic bike, loads of grunt and very stable with a great riding position. Sold this one for more than I paid for it just before the birth of my son (who is now 17).

Now I'm back (some may call it mid-life crisis) and I've got me the FZ6 Fazer. 300 cc less than the 900, but I honestly don't see much difference in performance (but my memory of 18 years ago may be clouded). I don't feel the need to move up to anything bigger for the moment.

[J.Daniels]

Started on a cushman Eagle in 1960.Then several Rice burners,then Harleys about 26 years,then back on the metrics.Never took any rider course but my son did,so I'll leard from him maybe.I've always done my own maintenance,tire changes,valve adjustments,oil,farkle installs etc.Currently ride st1300 and FZ1.Never have been on a track and have never stunted.Most of my riding is for transportation or touring.I'm probably not qualified to advise anyone on how to enjoy their motor sickle.I've never had a crash but that's not because I'm an expert rider.I have just been very lucky.I never did grow up I reckon cause I still like to go fast every tined I get the chance but I keep the bike in good shap with good rubber etc.

[mlevins77]

I've been riding motorcycles now for about 23 years, finally made the transition form dirt to street 4 years ago when my father handed down his big fatty cruiser. Big change for a guy that loved spitting dirt and throwing the weight around quickly.

My only road experience thus far has been on my 96 Kaw Vulcan Classic 1500 (tricked to the gills...and the loudest drag pipes around). The mileage went from 8,250 to 18,550 in four years. I loved her and got a lot of experience learning how to take the big momma apart, but in doing so I found out my dad didn't do the best job taking care of the old girl so I sold her for more than she was worth. Now I'm stepping into a nearly brand new 08 FZ6 Raven, so I guess you can call me a newbie of sorts; I can't wait to get back home (in Germany now) to do some riding!!!

No Track Days, don't plan on that any time soon.

Never been down on the road...wishing I had on the old cruiser because now I'm staring at a bike with 103 miles on it wanting to rub it down with a diaper each day.

Never broke any bones on the dirt, but I've landed on my head enough times to know the value of a great helmet, and not fighting the fall. The bike weighs more than you...it will win...don't get in the way.

My brother is a cop, and has taken his bike (04 R6) to speeds that I'm not even going to mention...that won't be for me thanks. I'm looking for a fun bike that looks great and rides comfortable to work and for weekends in the mounains. I'll let my friends do all the crazy driving. If I want to get crazy I'll go jump off a cliff or out of an airplane.

Hope this helped...a little. Is it time for beer yet?

[BioBear1]

Haven't thought about this stuff in years..lol.

Grew up in Minn and started riding Honda mini bikes at 8yrs old....50's & then 80's I believe. A friend two houses down had bigger bikes and I started riding his Kz 125 when I was 11.

First time I went down was not long after that. I was riding a 175(I think) at my cousins in Tucson when I was 12 and went down hard on a gravel road. Being from Minn and not used to the heat, I was wearing shorts, t-shirt, tennis shoes and a helmet. Road rash from heels to neck all along my left side. Took my mom 3 hours or so to pick the gravel out with tweesers..not fun. Even worse, my parents made me jump in the motel pool to "clean" the wounds. Chlorine hurts. Needless to say I learned a tough lesson. Have always worn the right gear since and I always dress for a crash.

Rode assorted dirt bikes through the 70's and into the mid eighties. In '87 I picked up a used AMF Harley Sportster and proceeded to drive it into the ground in about 4 years. Now that was a dog..lol. Bought a Suzuki GS 1100 in late '92 and drove that until 2001. Sold it because I got divorced.

Drove a friends '01 Fat Boy since he has 4 Harleys until I bought my '08 FZ6 a few months back. I was also fortunate enough to have another friend that has alllowed me to borrow his '04 Monster about once a month for the last 3-4 years to ride in the mountains around Asheville when I got the urge. Gotta love those friends. They help you stay sane when things are rough.

The first drivers course I took was in '82. Have taken two more since then because of work requirements for jobs I had/have. Read 3 bike rags regularly and have read several books on motorcycling. I also have made my son take an MSF course and have him reading stuff as I teach him a few things about riding and take him out to drills on saturday morning at the nearby theater parking lot..lol. Safety always.

Second time I went down was because a 24 year old girl in a station wagon dove across two lanes from my rear left and hit me because I got trapped in traffic with no escape route after 20+ years of riding. I got lucky and only separated my shoulder (most painfull injury I have ever had..you do not want it) even though I went down on the interstae at speed and got thrown way off the road. The price of getting too relaxed and also of being me, hahaha.

Have driven motorcycles, snowmobiles and atv's pretty much all my life. I am 45 so I guess about 37 years with a few years off. I also have my pilots license and even owned a helicopter for a few years..lol. If it has a motor I can drive it; some things better then others. With a Haynes manual I can fix about anything with a motor too. Without one,,it is a toss up.

Enjoy the day and be well,
Mike