PERKY1

"peaky, perky, twitchy, all the things a bike built to keep reactions sharp"

If ever a bike needed to be made then the FZR600 was it. Honda (CBR600) and Kawasaki (GPZ) had been fighting for the middle weight sales, unchallanged for years. The CBR was also taking honors at the racetrack. In 1989 the world waited no more.

It had the looks of the FZR1000: twin headlights and race rep fairing and seating position. To keep the cost down the Deltabox frame, like all FZR600's (inc' the latest 600R) is steel. All FZR600 models have motors that act more two stroke than four--need clutch slip to get away and are gutless below 6,000rpm. After that, it revs cleanly and quickly all the way to red-line. It didn't take long for the FZR to make its mark on the track, where many ended their life.

In 1990, the much criticised two piston calipers were replaced with effective four-piston units, the exhaust silencer got an aluminum shroud. Apart from that, the 600 was still the lightweight, rev happy, best for road scratching machine of all the 600s. Comfort has never been the FZR's strong point, nor has the suspension--the rear shock is a nasty, underdamped thing thing that needs chucking after 3,000 miles. Stories of engines blowing themselves to bits on the racetrack did nothing to slow the sales figures.

Unfortunately for Yamaha Honda tilted the scales against FZR in '91 with a seriously modified CBR6000. Yamaha's answer was to fit a wider back wheel, change the headlight to a single unit and alter the graphics. Not the best tactics in a sales war. By '93 the FZR sales had fallen enough to demand a new model.

If, like me, your a nutter that hates two-strokes, but loves their qualities of low insurance, speed, light-weight and knife-edged handling, the FZR is the ideal four-stroke to get your fix.

What to Look For:

Obvious signs of race or road crash damage: buckled wheels, twisted subframe, pattern bodywork. Out of favor on the race track means FZR's are finding thier way into classified ads They're OK if cheap but expect the worst. Check the service history and MOT mileages against the speedo redoing. Cheap oil and harsh riding when cold wears piston rings and cylinder bores. Look for smoke when starting. The clutch is fragile from new so check for clutch slip. Engine and frame numbers should match. Rear suspension linkages need greasing regubly to avoid seized or worn bearings. Check if there'sany damping left standard rear shock. Junk the standard brake hoses in favor of braided steel (2 lines from master cylinder are best).

Other 600s may be more comfortable, better looking, and have decent suspension, but the FZR600 is the definitive four-stroke nutter bike. Free-breathing pipe and sorted carbs OD a ht of good for the perionnante, sticky tires and decent rear shock don't do any favors for footpegs and knee sliders.