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I checked out a 1991 yamaha fzr600. The bike runs great and everything is o.k BUT. Its not a comfy bike. i ride mostly in heavy traffic and i want to go on long rides in the summer time. So i want something more upright sitting. I looked around some more and found a 1994 yamaha seca 600. they are at 60hp compare to the fzr 98hp. But it looks more like what i like in the sitting position and comfort. I guess i could still ride it some what fast.
What do you guys think of this model bike. do they have them normal problems then other bikes. I do want a bike that would be relible to ride every day. I also want to go for long rides and put lots of miles on it.

thanks for you help



space_man

There are a few other guys on this board that have that very bike - only heard good reports so far. It' s also a much better choice as a first bike than the FZR!!!

If you are concerned with comfort (as am I) I would definitely look at position on the bike. I've ridden sports bikes and my hands go to sleep intsantly. I used to own a standard bike (suzuki GS650) and found that the seat would get uncomfortable after an hour or so but I could move around so it was bearable.

Consider seat and hand position for your purchase. (heck, there's always next year and a different model!)

good luck
jj

Another point about riding position is take a look at how your handlebars are set up. back when I started riding i always thought the handle bars were suppose to be parrallel with the forks. When I bought the rebel the bars were almost 30 degrees off that position and I felt a bit cramped. I had them moved forward and it made all the difference in the world. What is the rule of thumb on handle bar position these days?

Scott58 wrote: What is the rule of thumb on handle bar position these days?

whatever is most comfortable for you and won't interfere with control of the bike. I changed the bars on my bike from medium rise pullbacks to dirt bars. This gave me a more upright seating position and makes the occasional foray off pavement more comfortable. I also find it easier to control the bike than the stock bars.

YMMV though.

I have to agree with changing the bars. I tend to change the bars on all of my bikes to something that works better for me. Other then that Xj 650 are great bikes too and they have enough power for highway driving. I rode one from Canada to Costa Rica.

space_man wrote:I checked out a 1991 yamaha fzr600. The bike runs great and everything is o.k BUT. Its not a comfy bike. i ride mostly in heavy traffic and i want to go on long rides in the summer time. So i want something more upright sitting. I looked around some more and found a 1994 yamaha seca 600. they are at 60hp compare to the fzr 98hp. But it looks more like what i like in the sitting position and comfort. I guess i could still ride it some what fast.
What do you guys think of this model bike. do they have them normal problems then other bikes. I do want a bike that would be relible to ride every day. I also want to go for long rides and put lots of miles on it.

thanks for you help

space_man

If you like the Seca II (Seca 600), go for it. Comfy, reliable, etc. The motor is based upon the earlier 550 Seca, with a few updates. Horsepower wise, no worries, it's nice for a fairly standard, sport touring bike. Really quite a decent option. Maybe a Suzook SV650 would work well for you too. Similar horsepower in a nice torquey V-twin package.

I used to own a '90 FZR600, which is essentially identical except for cosmetic changes to the fairing (dual round headlights, whereas the '91 has the parallelogram shapped single lens). I myself found it quite upright, but I was also racing an '88 FZR400 at the time,so the FZR6 was my streetbike.

The FZR6 has a nice torquey engine. Great midrange and zing upto 11000 RPM. A nice long-stroke engine (it's derived from the FZR4.. stroked for extra displacement)... very easy to overrev, so keep the revs below redline for best reliabilty as it is a tempting bike to overrev. There may be aftermarket handlebar riser kits, to take some weight of your wrists, but you can only raise the bars a wee bit before you would have to alter the cables and brake lines... maybe an inch or two tops. There used to be, and may still be riser kits, which attach just as the stock clip-on bars and then you "stack" the standard bars onto these risers. Check you dealers.

Most current sportbikes are less comfy than the FZR6. Although Yam has the YZF600R (Thundercat in Europe) which is a little more upright and has a MUCH more comfy seat.. although it is heavier.

So... back to the original question: I'd say, if you like the Seca II, go for it. It's a good bike, but likely a little harder to get parts for than the FZR which was in production for more years.

//monkey

Space_man,

I've done extensive research on the Seca, as it was one bike I was considering to get back into riding. I wound up with a very similar bike - an 84 FJ 600. The engine is almost identical, except the FJ's engine is tuned a bit different with hotter cams, and a few other changes. The FJ puts out 72 HP stock. I love the bike. I think it has a slightly more sport oriented seating position than the Seca. I have spent a few full days on it, with no major complaints. I think you'll like the Seca, unless you're looking for brute power and blinding acceleration.

Don't get me wrong - the Seca will hold it's own, and should have no trouble keeping pace with traffic, it's just not a supersport.