599 vs FZ6

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onlinesmurf · #11 Post by **onlinesmurf** » Tue May 30, 2006 3:27 am

Fz6, by far. For the price difference 599 provides zero over the FZ6. If you like fully naked then take off the fairings. Don't pay more just so you don't have the choice. Hondas make excellent bikes but so do Yamaha. The Fz6 is the better choice IMO in this case.

Sev · #12 Post by **Sev** » Tue May 30, 2006 4:16 am

Skier wrote:I vote for the 599, if only because I don't care for bikini fairings and like naked bikes. My only complaint about the 599 is the riding position might be a touch too aggressive, but 100 to 200 mile days aren't tough. This weekend I'll be trying to fit in a couple of 300 mile days, I'll report back (if I remember).

Damn, I think the positing isn't QUITE agressive enough, I'd like to drop my bars about... 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

onlinesmurf wrote:Fz6, by far. For the price difference 599 provides zero over the FZ6. If you like fully naked then take off the fairings. Don't pay more just so you don't have the choice. Hondas make excellent bikes but so do Yamaha. The Fz6 is the better choice IMO in this case.

I think the 599 has some things to recomend it over the FZ, the primary reason is the FZ's sloped seat and raised gas tank which... sends the boys into the tank on a long trip. I had that problem just sitting on one at the bike show.

Actually rather thengoing through things point by point I'm just going to copy the final analysis from This comparrison review

CHEERS & JEERS

Engine: Honda 8 / Suzuki 9 / Yamaha 6
It's true—we love V-twins, but the Suzuki's is worth the praise; Honda's is fine; Yamaha's undermined by poor FI and a lack of grunt.

Drivetrain: Honda 9 / Suzuki 8 / Yamaha 7
Honda has a great gearbox and clutch, while both the SV and FZ6 have noticeable driveline lash, the Yamaha more so.

Handling: Honda 8 / Suzuki 8 / Yamaha 8
All competent with varied strengths. The Honda is friendly, the Yamaha is quite stable; the Suzuki possesses extra headroom.

Braking: Honda 8 / Suzuki 7 / Yamaha 8
Decent midline brakes all around, with sufficient power and feedback; Suzuki's are more wooden than the others.

Ride: Honda 8 / Suzuki 7 / Yamaha 8
Inexpensive suspension means none is absolutely creamy. Suzuki's wonky fork gets dinged a bit extra.

Ergonomics: Honda 9 / Suzuki 9 / Yamaha 9
Matters of preference. Honda's tight ergos are perfect for small-boned riders, while the FZ6 accommodates the meat mountains.

Features: Honda 6 / Suzuki 7 / Yamaha 9
Yamaha has packed 'em in: underseat exhaust, centerstand, fuel gauge, LCD instruments—you name it. Others seem barren.

Refinement: Honda 9 / Suzuki 8 / Yamaha 7
Honda scores a decisive advantage in development as well as execution. Yamaha needs to go back to Fuel Injection 101.

Value: Honda 6 / Suzuki 10 / Yamaha 8
No contest. The SV wipes the dealership floor with the other two. Honda needs to go back to Econ 101.

Fun Factor: Honda 8 / Suzuki 8 / Yamaha 6
We've said it before: If you can't have fun on the SV, you're not trying hard enough. Honda's close, though.

Overall: Honda 7.9 / Suzuki 8.1 / Yamaha 7.5
Where money is an object, the SV reigns supreme. Honda might have won but for a lofty (though not quite exorbitant) price tag.
Overall rating is independent and not derived from category scores.

You'll note that the 599 only lost in two places, overall price, and "extras" like underseat exhaust and digital displays (where are a matter of personal choice). Plus if you're looking for a used bike a used 599 can be found rather cheap because of the relative anonymity of the bike. They never sold well, so there are not a lot of people looking for them.

My money is on the 599, literally.

*edit* I forgot to mention that FI vs carbs is basically irrelevant for most riding. Personally when I get ready to go in the morning, I choke it, start the bike, back out of the garage, put down the sidestand, run in, hit the button, run out, hop on, turn off the choke and she's good to go. And I'll take good carbs over bad FI anytime.

Ninja Geoff · #13 Post by **Ninja Geoff** » Tue May 30, 2006 11:18 am

Mintbread wrote:Bandit 650?

If only. The US gets "poo poo" for bike selection compared to the rest of the world. And Sev, ty for the review. I found this weird :

MotorCyclist wrote:Matters of preference. Honda's tight ergos are perfect for small-boned riders, while the FZ6 accommodates the meat mountains.

I'm a "meat mountain" and the 599 felt fine to me.

Though after reading that article, part of me REALLY wants the SV650 to be comfortable. Also, the bit about the motor and driveline in the FZ6 turn me off from it quite a bit. But I'll be damned if the rest of the bike makes me want to ignore that.

MotoF150 · #14 Post by **MotoF150** » Tue May 30, 2006 11:31 am

I would pick the FZ6, did you get an insurance quote? Most insurance co's rate both the FZ6 and the 599 the same as a crotch rocket. Insurance may be high, I suggest to check that before you buy it.

Sev · #15 Post by **Sev** » Tue May 30, 2006 11:34 am

I'm paying $600 a year for my 599. Next year it's going to be $580 because of a clean driving record.

My LS650 cost me $500 a year for exactly the same coverage. Reason for the difference? The 599 cost me $4000 more to buy.

jmillheiser · #16 Post by **jmillheiser** » Tue May 30, 2006 1:28 pm

virtually every review of these 3 bikes are for '04 models. The 599 was updated a bit for '06. Im also pretty sure that yamaha has worked the bugs out of the FZ6s FI system by now. Im also at a tossup between these 2. I lean towards the FZ6 because of the price, the 599 is overpriced.

Seetrout · #17 Post by **Seetrout** » Tue May 30, 2006 3:41 pm

I LOVE my 599!
I work with a guy with an FZ6. He had it 6 months and traded it on an st1300.
Overpriced? Maybe.
Course it does say Ducati under the seat.

jmillheiser · #18 Post by **jmillheiser** » Tue May 30, 2006 4:27 pm

the excuse I have heard for the 599s high price is the dollar/euro exchange rate.

I frankly dont buy it. Hondas are just plain expensive when compared to Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki

MotoF150 · #19 Post by **MotoF150** » Wed May 31, 2006 11:36 am

Insurance, I only pay $177 per year on 2 bikes and one ATV, Suzuki M50 and Suzuki Eiger ATV full coverage with $500 deductable, the Honda 450 dirt bike just liability. I did an insurance quote on a new Suzuki DL1000 and a Yamaha FZ1, dropping the M50 and the rate jumps up to $810. Same coverage. Progressive Insurance.

jmillheiser · #20 Post by **jmillheiser** » Wed May 31, 2006 1:00 pm

MotoF150 wrote:Insurance, I only pay $177 per year on 2 bikes and one ATV, Suzuki M50 and Suzuki Eiger ATV full coverage with $500 deductable, the Honda 450 dirt bike just liability. I did an insurance quote on a new Suzuki DL1000 and a Yamaha FZ1, dropping the M50 and the rate jumps up to $810. Same coverage. Progressive Insurance.

Hence why I dont use Progressive. You carry insurance coverage on your ATV and dirtbike? Is it required for an ORV permit or something?

you are still getting great insurance rates. I pay $84 a year for liability only on my CX500 and thats through dairyland