Yamaha Fazer 600 (1998-2004) review & used buying guide

Version: Silver Foxeye

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £150

Best feature - Brilliant all rounder that can be tweaked to suit my requirements - Swapped the bars for Yamaha 125 type - +60mm height & 60mm closer to me cost £16.50, Lowered footrests 25mm, Stainless exhaust system, vario screen topper, LED bulbs and heated grips Worst feature - could be lighter, about 218kg with a full tank

Buying experience: Private £2500 with 3700 miles

Version: 5RT1

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £60

Best everyday, every weather bike. Plenty of poke, handling is easy and brakes super strong. They are getting old now but an aftermarket can, braided lines and and recover/repad on the seat make the ride even better.I’m on my 2nd! 1st I sold after 140000 foolishly to get a crap diversion 600-terrible decision, terrible bike! That was when I was still despatching.Had my 2nd now for a year and it’s every bit as good as the 1st. My R1 stays indoors as I always prefer the ride on the fazer!

Buying experience: Both bought privately. Most recent just shy of a grand with just over 30k miles in decent condition.

Year: 1998

I find this bike very overated gearbox is awful , it has no power till 9k revs when it kinda comes to life a little but having to drop gears a lot just to over take.Gearbox is bloody awful , though my diversion 600 and fzr of similar ages were bad as seems to be a Yamaha thing, the fazers is by far the worst. Headlights are like a candle, leaving you almost blind in the dark Seat is uncomfertatable after 30 mins and the wind protection is non existent.If you want a cheap 600 to commute on in the same price range go for the diversion.

Buying experience: Bought cheap as a winter back to keep my bandit 1200 free from the worst of the weather Waste of money wish I hadn't bothered

Year: 2001

Annual servicing cost: £50

Cheap to run, very competent, and surprisingly fun. A great all rounder.

Buying experience: Private. Purchased for £450

Year: 1999

Fantastic bike .better then fz6 or so iv been told

Buying experience: Bout for a dealer. For 1500 with 3 months engine and gear Box warranty. Done about 5000 miles on it not really any problems.

Year: 2000

Annual servicing cost: £100

Lights a bit poor but can be sorted

Buying experience: 22k paid 2k with mot as very tidy low mileage bike from dealer

Year: 2001

Annual servicing cost: £200

Twenty years old, yet still the only bike most people will ever need. A genuine classic much more than the sum of its parts.

Buying experience: Privately from a mate. £2k for a near minter with 8k on the clock. He has too many bikes :)

Year: 2002

Annual servicing cost: £80

Understand able why this has always been the go-to first "big bike". It's got it all- controllable at slow speed and fun at higher revs, wind protection, easy maintenance. Love it.

Buying experience: Bought privately from friend. Got a good deal.

Version: Foxeye

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £150

Does everything well. I've owned my 2003 model for 7 months and it's reliable, fast, comfortable, agile and fuel efficient. Had 5,000 miles when I purchased. Just great.

Buying experience: Paid £2,700. Priced higher than most other but worth it due to the exceptionally low mileage and overall condition.

Year: 2003

Ignore the statement in the specs that this bike does 130 to the tank. Add another 100 to that figure. This bike will get an easy 200 however you ride it and cruising will get you to 230 qyite easily.

Year: 2002

Seasoned bikers will appreciate how close to ideal this bike gets. Comfortable enough for touring Europe, sporty enough for track days, tame and friendly enough for everyday use. Rear shock is the only let down.

Version: FZS

Year: 2003

Brilliant bike and I've ridden many. Punches well above its weight and has bigger bikes checking their mirrors. New stainless exhaust, and repaint the engine with hi temp paint and it looks brand new. Swapping the fairing and headlights for a late model XJ6 set up to get over the useless headlights. Looks perfect. This bike is a treasure.

Year: 2003

Good all round bike. Does the twisties and the long cruises

Buying experience: Private purchase. Wanted )1400 and I paid £1250

Version: FZS600S

Year: 2002

Annual servicing cost: £40

Brakes are stunning and the engine is Jekyll and Hyde. Jekyll below 7000 rpm and all Hyde above.

Buying experience: Bought from Harry's Motorcycles in Keighley. A real gent and a pleasant buying experience.

Year: 1998

Annual servicing cost: £100

22 years old and can still keep up with modern stuff. Still plenty of power and handles great. Downpipes rot and paint flakes on top of the engine but overall excellent. I have received the same comment on more than one occasion, 'I used to have one of those, wish I still had it'

Buying experience: Swapped my Thunderace for it, straight swap at dealers

Year: 1998

Annual servicing cost: £150

Only issue has been exhaust pipes underneath rusting ..I replaced. Lights about dim ..and at moment speedo not working...rev clock working so doing ok for now hopefully a easy fix

Buying experience: Private advertised paid €1600

Year: 2001

Annual servicing cost: £100

Still just a great fun bike , after owning around 100 different bikes everything from a Fantic Cabellero to Harley Dyna I would say this is the bike I enjoy the most, quick, sounds good (with a nice can) used all year round never complains, this is my 2nd and now I'm a little older the 600 is perfect, 45K on it now and still going strong, as others say check exhaust manifold bolts, rear shock and smoke from exhaust this is normally the valve stems getting on a bit, (fixed mine with an additive)for a near on 20 year old bike it still is a cracker.

Buying experience: Everything I need is there, easy to view clocks , fuel gauge, temp and oil warning light, storage under seat , put on extra daylights to help with the not so great headlights.

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £200

Value for money for what it is

Buying experience: Bought lightly used, at 4000 pounds back in 2004

Version: Fazer 5DM 600 'S'

Year: 2001

Annual servicing cost: £150

I've read these reviews so many times, I thought it was time to write my own review. Bought in 2018 after coming from a Bandit, wow, the Fazer is better in every single department! Brakes are fantastic, suspension had been uprated on the front to an R1 front end, much improved. Does it all bike, cheap to run, keeps up with the big boys, centre stand, underseat storage, decent mpg, fantastic engine, what more would you want? Every now and then I think about what I would replace the 600 with and I'm stumped 🤔 will probably keep hold of mine even if I get something else as I know I will regret it!

Buying experience: Bought privately

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £60

Brilliant bike. I’ve had mine for 6 years now and unfortunately due to a back injury not used it as much as I’d hoped to. Bought it to return to motorcycling after I got shut of my NC30 in my 20s when we were expecting our first child. Wanted an all round bike that did everything without breaking the bank and my wrists/back, fazer does this very well.

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £150

Perfect First bike, plenty of low end torque and CERTAINLY a step up from my old 125. This bike is amazing, from the take off, to the reliability and build quality. Mine is 15 years old and still mechanically perfect.

Buying experience: I bought it from Chorley Yamaha who even fitted the restrictor for me for free after I bought the part, exceptional customer service.

Year: 2001

Annual servicing cost: £50

Comfy bike to ride, performance is enough for the road. Good under seat storage. Has a centre stand, so good for maintenance. No handling issues though harder riders may disagree. Reliability been perfect over 11 years of ownership. Exhaust headers and forks aren’t best finish, but look after the bike and they’ll last years. I’m only just repainting my headers now, forks done last year. If you can find one in good condition, and aren’t bothered about riding at 160mph with razor sharp handling, get one!

Buying experience: Bought privately.

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £100

Stonking all-rounder. I've toured Europe, England, Wales and Scotland on it. Been round the Nurburgring on it. I've been out in all weathers all times of the year and it's never let me down. Light and easy to manoeuvre. Can keep up with the big boys. I love my Fazer.

Buying experience: Bought from a dealer who delivered it - very happy.

Year: 2001

A great bike for daily use

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £60

This bike will tour, back lane scratcher and commute to work.

Buying experience: Bought from George White, sadly now closed down.

Version: 5DM

Year: 2002

I've had loads of quicker stuff, gixers, big sporty triumphs etc and loads of other bikes that are really grin worthy - tzrs a load of 2 and 4 stroke traily's/supermotos... but my trusty old 5dm faze is without a doubt my favourite! It's not the fastest or the best handling bit it's super comfy and never wants for anything, I'm on my second now but only as I stupidly sold the first one to buy a 955i. Takes a good old thrashing every day on my 50+mile round commute and has never let me down in over 30k of use!!

Year: 2001

Annual servicing cost: £100

They all laughed when I bought my FZS 600 as re-entry after a ten years with no bike. What a bike!! Comfortable, reliable and fast.....Mine hits 150 mph when revved hard!! Bit heavy on the juice but great fun & keeps up with sports 600's easily. If you can live with the 80's disco look you'll love this bike.

Buying experience: Private sale £1100. Money well spent.

Year: 2000

Annual servicing cost: £100

I'd say this bike is a workhorse. A yellow and black, screaming, reliable, suprisingly not-so-slow, easy to maintain workhorse. It's the first bike to never let me down at any point, perfect for my height (5ft 10) and even though I don't want to, it can (at times) put a smile on my face. Don't get me wrong, it's by no means the fastest bike in the world, but we never bought it for it's world record setting abilities did we? On normal roads however, this thing can keep up with your 600cc mates no problem (albeit to their shame!) First bike? I'd certainly recommend, it may even keep you tied into the Yamaha brand, potentially placing your interest in a Thundercat/Thunderace and onto an R1 if that's your thing.

Buying experience: I bought mine privately for £800 from a friends dad - He provided me all the documentation he had and I was able to trace the bike from when it was first bought. He was the 2nd owner, the first only owning it for 2 years. He then sold it to his step son who was in the army, who then proceeded to take it to base and leave it out during a cold harsh winter. He subsequently never paid his stepdad, who then took the bike back in it's sorry state, fixed it up and then fell in love with a ZX6R, so had to get rid of it. That's where I stepped in, and I'm kinda glad I did!

Onto my 3rd one now. Just look at the figures, this is faster and more powerful than a Hornet, a GSR and will even run wheel to wheel with a Z750. Reliability is spot on and I've found a new use for mine - green laning, yes really. I had a BMW G650X for 2 years, it was great off road but I got fed up of being burnt off by Audi and BMW TDi's - well not anymore! The FZS600 will tackle most easy green lanes with no problems at all, I've found the wide tyres to be great in sand. The only thing to watch for is drop offs, still the exhaust makes a good bash plate :o)

Well, this was my first big bike I purchased and I was umming and arrring for ages over which type to go for but I am so happy with what I've ended up with. It has brought me nothing but joy and is a pleasure to ride all day long. I have had no mechanical issues whatsoever. It is 14 years old but feels brand new. If you ride it sensibly you can get 200 miles for £20.

I havent had this bike long but I must say Im very impressed. Its a great little commuter with enough power that you dont get bored. Very easy to service and I hear they are capable of doing big mileages with regular servicing. Foot pegs are a bit too close to controls but other than that no complaints. Would I buy another? yes but the 1000cc would I recommend a friend to buy one? yes

I've owned my Fazer for nearly a year now. I split my riding time between two bikes, both very different. The Fazer has great ergonomics, the screen works suprisingly well, its a true no-fuss workhorse of a bike, happy to plod along in traffic doing the commute to work or be let loose in a frenzy of high revs along country roads, an excellent all-rounder of a bike. Standard suspension is ok, it's capable of hustling along very quickly, its not an R1 in the handling stakes but it can hold its own for sure, and the Blue spot R1 calipers can stop it very quickly too. One critism i do have is the front end feeling vague with little feedback, but there is still a decent amount of grip with the Michelin Pilot Road 2's so nothing to worry about. I get 55-60mpg, reliability in 10 months/4000 miles has been exceptional. I can't fault the Fazer or how its put together, considering its age there's little to no corrosion, and the engine is a peach, using no oil at all despite being 15yrs old now. Shame the gearing(lower gears) is not longer as standard gearing makes it quite a revvy bike, but go changing the front sprocket to +1/+2 teeth and you lose all the sprightly feeling this bike has, so my advice is to stick to standard gearing, Yamaha got it perfectly matched to the engines torque curve from the factory. Tbh, put aside the vague front end complaint and the poor headlights and you have one of the best all round bikes out there for less than £1200 you really can't go wrong. Add heated grips and a Givi top box like i have and its got everything you need from a bike. Sadly the only thing it does lack is charactor, but many IL4's do so its horses-for-courses, my Ducati Monster will always be my favourite because it has charactor and is interesting, but its not a commuter's choice, and its not a distance machine either. Fazer does both of those and more. I guess its just one of those bikes you take for granted, because it does everything day in, day out, without fuss or expense, and you only really truly appreciate it when you've sold it and then look back and realise just how good it really was!

So i've used my FZS600 Fazer for about 4000 miles now and have a few things to say about the bike. I've experimented on various front sprocket sizes, the standard 15tooth, in normal riding you will be holding the clutch in to knock down 2 gears at a time when slowing down(instead of 1 gear and blipping the throttle) as the gearing is just too short and its pointless changing down 1 gear when there's just 400rpm difference. But, this is where its a compromise, because the engines power curve suits this gearing better than any other when you want to make progress. The bike blitzes through the gears when your on the boil down those country roads. So then the 16 tooth front sprocket gives a slightly more relaxed engine feel, but dulls the experience a bit as the bike isn't as frantic, which is nice but then it doesn't pick up as quick in any gear when you open the throttle to gain some speed quick so to make progress you need to drop a gear where the 15 tooth could pull it. And the 17 tooth, yes this does fit! I had 2 turns of the chain adjustment nuts on the swingarm to get the chain freeplay right. NOTE, fitting a larger front sprocket affects the chain freeplay, so don't just set it to 30-45mm and ride, sit on the bike and push down to check that it isn't getting too tight, because it will if you set it using the book measurements!!! When riding, the 6th gear on the standard setup is now equivalent to the 5th gear, so 6th feels like an overdrive. The bike feels much more 'normal' with the longer gears but sadly the engine can't pull the skin off a rice pudding so you lose alot of the bikes original frantic charactor and 'busyness. MPG went up about 3mpg so for motorways and longer journeys this is a good setup but the charactor the bike had will be severely dulled.

Hi guys This is my second review since 2010. Just bought my second Fazer 600 2003 model.... “what a bike"!!! It has had 2 previous owners, 20k on a clock, have done around 3k on it mainly motorways and really cant fault it. If you are after comfy, reliable but also fast bike then you dont need to look any further. Also would like to mention that i managed to hit 144 mph few times which is much higher then the original speed on the paper. It might be because i ALWAYS use VPover Shell petrol and Sport Castrol oil however i found this rather impressive:) Absolutely love it! Ta

I own a '98 fzs600 fazer, totally standard with 30k miles. I've had it a few weeks now so have got used to its pro's and cons. As a commuter its fantastically suited to this role, except for a clunky 1st-2nd gear change(common fazer complaint on forums) the rest of the changes are super smooth up and down the 'box, and always easy to find neutral. It starts and idles smoothly on choke, and once warmed up for 30 seconds is happy to run without choke and revs cleanly off idle in near zero degrees celsius. Brakes are excellent at the front, rear is ok. Headlight is rubbish. Common mod is to run a wire from the spare dipped beam feed(blue connector under the tank) directly to the righthand H4 filament bulb. So both headlights are on in dipped instead of just the left one with its H1 bulb. I run R&G heated grips and the charging system is fine with the slightly extra load. Fuel gauge is good, stays at full for ages then drops quite quickly down to empty, Needle goes just under empty before the reserve light comes on, then you have about 30miles till you run out of fuel. Average(very approx.) 55mpg or 180+ miles between fill-ups. Engine has a decent powerband at 8k which is great but sadly makes lower rpm torque seem lacking/not enough in comparison when in fact it is for most situations. Be careful not to get caught out overtaking tho as you will need to drop 2 or 3 gears quickly to get rapid acceleration burst(gears are spaced about 500rpm different so its quite close ratio gearbox). Its an engine that suits everyone, i tend to stay at lowish rpm, but others will get a thrill staying in the high rpm power. Suspension is very good as standard, fuss free, doesn't dive much under heavy braking, certainly doesn't bottom out like my 2011 Sv650 did! Overall its a bike that you grow to like more and more, and appreciate that it can do everything you want a bike to do without fuss, and the 80's looks it has are in fact half the reason i chose it! Paint is nice and thick on the tank and black powder coated frame is tough and long-lasting.

Does anyone know if the clutch plates for an American FZS600 after 2004 will fit the British FZS600. Yamaha didn't sell them in the US until 2004 (I presume,) but I've got a 2000 model from England (I think.) I live in the Caribbean and can only get parts from the US sent here. Love the Fazer - it wakes me up in the morning and I can't wait for work to end so I can ride it again.

This was my first big bike, and was well loved. I bought a 2000 for £1150 and it seemed fine. It performed well and was very very accommodating to me as a new rider. The power was there in the high revs, but pretty sparse lower down. This makes it a good winter hack cos you are less likely to spin the rear wheel in adverse weather, unless you are totally ham-fisted and deaf. Annoyingly, mine developed a stutter/shudder that had the mechanics scratching their heads. I discovered on a Forum that this is something that some Fazer's develop and no one really knows why. However, before it did that, it was a fantastic bike, perfect for the new rider, confidence inspiring and fun when you thrash it!! I often had remarks that it was a great bike from fellow road users. I would recommend it as a bike although it needs stainless steel downpipes, a louder end can, headlight mods's (riding at night was never fun) and braided hoses. If you can find one like that, with no engine troubles, then snap that bad boy up!!

Long hauls, communitng, track days, did the lot as on this as my first 600 and it nails all of them! Stainless steel downpipes and new end can are a must though.

How can a bike ridden by the crazy 88 in Kill Bill be bad? It's not a pretty bike granted but that's not neccessarily a bad thing in these days of bike theft, you won't turn any heads on one of these. It's comfy, it'll go forever & it can shift some as well. A forgotten gem not touched by its replacement.

I had 3 a 98/01/03 I loved each one. The exhausts are quite poor and if you are keeping it for a while put a stainless system on it. The engine is great grunty for a 600 & tunable and compared with the Hornet like a 750 but the hornet handles better. The earlier models have weak headlights and the rear brakes on all models need goodridge hose or similiar as they have a lot of travel and not as strong/progresive as it should be. Handling is great with good tyres and uprated springs shock but as stock is a touch remote soft. I put yam xjr1300 bars on and made a huge diff. Keep the battery in good nick with an optimate as they are expensive as are plugs. The bike takes to touring quite well I did lands end to john o groats on mine and got a lot more than 130miles out of the tank altough the later one has a bigger tank. My advice BUY ONE. The Hornet is a better handling bike but has no tank range and no torque.

I purchased my fazer after my 750 being written off thanks to someone pulling out on me :(. The one thing that annoyed me when riding the fazer was the small handle bars, it took ages for me to get used to them. I return on average 52mpg and around 45mpg at the very worst on sprinted rides. The handling is sublime, its easy to throw into corners and the r1 brakes upfront stop the fazer in no time. The gearbox i find is very clunky (this is a feature of the fazers i believe) and somewhat annoying. Low down torque isnt very good (then again i came from a 750) however wind it up and its like a pullman. Basic suspension means its not very good for pillioning. The bike is very comfortable on long journeys. The fazer is also very easy to maintain, the tanks held in place by two nuts and its very easy to access. One thing to watch out for is rotting exhaust header bolts and the rear caliper seizing.

I have a 1999 FZS600. I bought it with 25,000 miles, on the advice a friend who is long term fazer fan. I was reluctant mainly due to the fact it's so ugly... however 3 months and 5,000 miles later i can now understand the appeal due the fact the engine is an absolute gem. The handling leaves a little to be desired although i think with a little work on the front forks this could be improved. Other niggles include the head lights which are pathetic and the switch gear which is nackered. MPG isn't the best but tank range is good (up to 140 miles). Being an older bike, a trip counter is about the extent of the gizmos on board although truthfully this is quite nice. All things said for £1500 this bike is an absolute bargain and seems to have stood the test of time better than many of it's rivals (bandits, gsf's). Cheers, ride safe)

This my 1st review, since i purchased the fazer in 03. I have the 2000 model with the square head lights that has the the thundercat engine. Puchased this when it had 1500 miles on it and it has clocked 92,000 miles. Its my 1st proper bike. i cummute 80 miles a day and the bike is used througout the year including the winters. So lets start. Looks: They say the 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. Some people say the new BMW's look beautiful, some say they are plain ugly. The fazer looks weird from certain angles & chunky from certian. So its a matter of perpective. Engine: We all know that the detuned thundercat engine, is on of the best out there, so will not go into much detail. On the M25, i traffic, 1 can do 30 miles in 6th gear & there is no bucking from the engine as its smooth. Once you open the throttle, the power comes on smooth nothing like the sports bike, where u can have ur head taken off. The engine revs nicely taking the bike onto 135 miles without any problem. Between 5500 to 6500 rpm, there seems to be a bit of vibration from the engine but if your out of that zone, the engine is smooth. Full Consumption: i get about 50 mpg but this is steady at 50 to 60 mph. Comfort: Its got that upright right position which is so important when u do long distance and u don't end up with a bad back or hurting knees on the other side of the trip. Its ideal!! Equipment: Its a very nicely laid out dash, with the RPM meter as the main dial, speedo, you have a clock, trip meter and its easy to read. Nothing fancy just nice & basic. Tyres: i have the bridgestone touring, & get 20,000 miles out of it on the rear. i know some of you won't believe this, but thats to my driving, style. no hard take offs, no hard braking [only when required], steady driving at 50 to 60 mph. Realibility: My bike still has everything orginal on the engine, including the clutch plates. Its recommened that servicing is done every 6000 miles, but i get it done once a year ie 20,000 miles. The engine does not seem to mind this. It has never failed me till date. I have changed the rear brake caliper as its seized, but this was at 80,000 miles, i have changed the sproket and chain 3 times, that was partly due to my carelessness. Other changes are front and rear brake pads, spark plugs and oil filters, which are general maintance. it has some rusted bolts and a bit here and there, but thats acceptable consider the age and usage i have done. The thing you should care for is the downpipe as the quality is very poor. the bolts holding them to the manifold rust and one of them has broken so had to order new one at 45 GBP including the gaskets. Verdict: If you want a bike thats very very reliable, cheap [as there are so many] to run, maintain, have fun, commute, have a track day, keep up with the sports bike and have a good back and knees this is the bike you want. But make sure its got the thundercat engine. When i decide to buy another one, it will be the YAMAHA FZS600S, its the best every all rounder. its a shame that Yamaha had to kill it.

This my 1st review, since i purchased the fazer in 03. I have the 2000 model with the square head lights that has the the thundercat engine. Puchased this when it had 1500 miles on it and it has clocked 92,000 miles. Its my 1st proper bike. i cummute 80 miles a day and the bike is used througout the year including the winters. So lets start. Looks: They say the 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. Some people say the new BMW's look beautiful, some say they are plain ugly. The fazer looks weird from certain angles & chunky from certian. So its a matter of perpective. Engine: We all know that the detuned thundercat engine, is on of the best out there, so will not go into much detail. On the M25, i traffic, 1 can do 30 miles in 6th gear & there is no bucking from the engine as its smooth. Once you open the throttle, the power comes on smooth nothing like the sports bike, where u can have ur head taken off. The engine revs nicely taking the bike onto 135 miles without any problem. Between 5500 to 6500 rpm, there seems to be a bit of vibration from the engine but if your out of that zone, the engine is smooth. Full Consumption: i get about 50 mpg but this is steady at 50 to 60 mph. Comfort: Its got that upright right position which is so important when u do long distance and u don't end up with a bad back or hurting knees on the other side of the trip. Its ideal!! Equipment: Its a very nicely laid out dash, with the RPM meter as the main dial, speedo, you have a clock, trip meter and its easy to read. Nothing fancy just nice & basic. Tyres: i have the bridgestone touring, & get 20,000 miles out of it on the rear. i know some of you won't believe this, but thats to my driving, style. no hard take offs, no hard braking [only when required], steady driving at 50 to 60 mph. Realibility: My bike still has everything orginal on the engine, including the clutch plates. Its recommened that servicing is done every 6000 miles, but i get it done once a year ie 20,000 miles. The engine does not seem to mind this. It has never failed me till date. I have changed the rear brake caliper as its seized, but this was at 80,000 miles, i have changed the sproket and chain 3 times, that was partly due to my carelessness. Other changes are front and rear brake pads, spark plugs and oil filters, which are general maintance. it has some rusted bolts and a bit here and there, but thats acceptable consider the age and usage i have done. The thing you should care for is the downpipe as the quality is very poor. the bolts holding them to the manifold rust and one of them has broken so had to order new one at 45 GBP including the gaskets. Verdict: If you want a bike thats very very reliable, cheap [as there are so many] to run, maintain, have fun, commute, have a track day, keep up with the sports bike and have a good back and knees this is the bike you want. But make sure its got the thundercat engine. When i decide to buy another one, it will be the YAMAHA FZS600S, its the best every all rounder. its a shame that Yamaha had to kill it.

This is my second review (first in Aug 2009 whilst new to riding and the bike). After over 2 years all year round riding the bike has been top class. Never let me down and always a joy to ride. The second powerband brought massive grin to face and never ever struggled to keep up with any other bike. Would totally recommend this to and newby or anyone who only ride as a single. Now managed to get Missis onboard and needed a bit more comfort for 2. After looking around and test riding came up with new bike - Fazer 1000.

I've had an 01 Fazer for a month or so and done just over 1000 miles. Returned to biking after a 14 year absence (BMW R45 previously - sloooow!). I'm extremely impressed with the Fazer. It's got a fantastic engine which doesn't have to have the nuts revved off it to make quick progress. Very comfortable over distance. The fairing keeps the wind off the helmet but I can feel a slight buffeting on the shoulders (5' 9''). This is only really noticeable at 90+ mph. I haven't yet found the bike's handling limits - still working on it, but it corners well. Fuel consumption regularly 48+ MPG. I get 200 + miles on a tank. Loads of room under the seat. Not used any oil so far. Back brake is rubbish but it's on the original hoses so may want changing. I spent weeks weighing up options and I have to say this is one great bike. I would certainly recommend it. I picked mine up for £1250 with 17000 miles on clock and in very good condition. For that you can't go wrong.

I have a 2003 FZS 600 Fazer 'Fox Eye' - read the owners reviews! day to day riders are the ones who know, comments bulging with enthusiasm and positive feedback. 1998 originals still run today (2010), a testament to Yamaha build quality and Fazer durability. Forget the Honda's, Kawasaki's or Suzuki's, believe me! the FZS 600 Fazer is a speedy, easy handler, with the most comfortable riding position, extremely competitive low cost insurance cover makes for a tantalizing first-time bike option and a realistic long term all rounder. Spares and accessories are widely available, even on the oldest models, the Fazer legacy continues on, the new 2010 Fazer 800 seems retrospective, in style, with a modern twist, though perhaps a little pricey. Kindest Regards Grendel 1

Hi, got my y2k fazer from a friend as as an instructor it made more sense than a vfr 750. 18 months later the vfr has gone and I use the better fazer for all my riding. Engine wise it is superb for a mere 600. with brakes from an R1 it stops very quickly. Even with me at 6 foot and around 20 stones the bike pulls and handles superbly. The Mrs prefers this to the other bike in the garage (ZZR 1100) and so do I to be honest. only down sides I've had so far is the rear shock going and the poor headlight which i conveted to both on when on low beam. Perfect as an instuctor bike or commuter. Oh and I have had over 200 miles to a tank of petrol on numerous occasions. so no idea how the mcn testers ride but.....

Hi I bought the fazer to get me around while waiting for parts for my aprilia.I purchased it from an elderly chap a few miles up the road from me 3075 miles on the clock 2 owners from new on a 1998 plate.They are about if your lucky it rides like new and the engine is sooo sweet handlings very good but the front end definately needs stiffining up just a couple of cosmetic blemishes but I am over the moon with it.So I really dont give a toss if I gotta wait another 6 weeks for my aprilia parts Im having a great time regards Robbie

This is my second review here for my Yamaha 600 Fazer. I've had the bike a year now. FANTASTIC! Got back from Ireland recently where I did a 1,000 miles on it without a squeek! It's so nice to ride and not at all intimidating. And when you need that power for overtaking - boy does it go! Surprises me every time and puts a big grin on my face! OK so handling's a bit bouncy and you do get back ache if you ride it for long periods (around Ireland!). A few problems I've had are chain adjuster needed looking at as had seized up a bit, front forks started to leak oil and it does feel a bit gravelly low down in the gears. But it's a great fun and I would recommend one to anyone moving up to a bigger bike. Got to be one of the best 600s about. Very cheap to insure too.

the review bellow dated 11th july is mine , dont know why it uploaded as annonymous ?

well ive had it over a year now and 11,000 trouble free miles of riding to work every day and weekend rideouts .I just did the 24,000 mile service myself and the valve clearances are still within tollerance ,excellent!. fuel consumption's still brilliant ( I almost got to the silverstone GP and back to manchester on one tank !but refuelled in Leek when the light came on, it was late and getting dark and I didnt want to run out on the moors,but i reckon i could've pushed my luck and got further.I have had one problem ,the block connector on the starter solenoid corroded and caused a flat battery but a quick scrub with some abrasive paper and wd40 soon cured it followed with a night on the old optimate !its done 25000 miles now and i reckon the shocks past its best but it still handles round the twisties even though a bit bouncey . if the motor starts to feel lumpy it needs nothing more than the carbs balancing and on a fazer this jobs a piece of p**s .as for tyres i'm running on storm ultra 2's they are excellent rain or shine up to now they've done 5,000 miles and still loads of tread left and are wearing evenly.oh and glad to see MCN have finally updated the MPG figure , now you just need to update the tank range ! overall my '02 fazer is still one of, if not THE best all round bike i've owned in 40 years of riding . if your thinking of buying one, DO IT you won't be dissapointed .

Hi there I have just bought my FZS 600 1998 reg. 36k on clock, 7 previous owners and tell you what... its in great condition! This is my second BIG bike so i could compare it only with CBF 500 which i had for 9 months so there we go. Advantages: 1-It has more torque and higher top speed. 2-Much more comfortable and stable on low - high speed. 3-Much better looking (mine has newer face of Yamaha FZS 600 2003 Reg). 4-Quite similar MPG comparing to CBF500. (£20 15.5L managed to do 250 miles in the city). 5-Slightely bigger boot (its handy when you have 2 chains + ). Disadvantages: 1-Hasnt got ABS breaks like CBF500 which i found extremely helpful when its wet (i know many people would prefer the normal brakes but...) 2-No temperature indicator only warning light. As i said overall this is a great bike with plenty of fun. Buy it and you will have a smile on your face Cheers!

I've been riding 20 years and have had over 200 bikes. The FZS600 is one of the best. The engine is a gem, lots of mid range and real kick in the pants when the revs get above 9K. The front brakes are awesomely good, the back is a bit poor but then who uses the back brake anyway? The handling is very good, helped by the low all up weight, if it has a limitation it's the standard rear shock which can lose a bit of damping when it gets hot. A Hagon would sort it but it's not a sufficient problem that I've done anything about it. You need to keep an eye on the oil level, it only holds 3 litres so a little loss can make a big difference to the oil level in the sump. The fuel economy is excellent - I don't know where MCN got its figures from but they are plain wrong. I just got back from France, 900 miles fully loaded up, 80 to 90MPH most of the way and the bike returned nearly 60MPG. The closest comparison I can make is to an old GSXR750 streetfighter, except that the FZS600 handles and stops too... I've given it 4/5 for equipment because I wish they'd fitted a temperature gauge rather than a warning light. Price wise these are similar to Bandit 600s, a bike which by comparison is fat, slow, wobbly and dull. Buy a Fazer and you'll be grinning from ear to ear :o)

Bought my first Fazer recently. Have 1999 FZS600. Am 5'10" 12st. I'm no boy racer so bike has more than enough guts to keep me happy. Overall body ergonomics more that acceptable. Good acceleration and handling. Far more enjoyable to ride than CBF or Bandit. Despite some comments, find fuel consumption very good. I'm up just over 60mpg. Doing 210 miles before refill. That's certainly better than a newer CBF600 I had. Truth is, if you absolutely cane any bike the consumption will increase dramatically. Find the rear preload needs upping from standard 4 to 5 or 6 for more confidence in bends. At normal(ish) riding speeds seems quite stable. The only downside for me is the screen which is the worst for me on any bike I've ridden. Directs air flow straight into lower/mid helmet. It actually seems worse than riding a naked. I personally don't find the seat very comfortable, again the worst I've sat on. Having said that, I have given a new fazer a good long ride out and didnt find the same problems. I may be lucky and bought a well looked after model, but most aspects of the bike seem to have stood up well to the elements. Only very minor signs of corrosion in a few places so considering the age I'm fairly impressed. All in all, the bike is a great ride. I commute all year round + Sunday ride outs, about 8-10k a year and this is really the sort of bike to please you most of the time in most of your riding situations. I must however, change that screen before winter.

New to riding last year and spent 6 months on 125 getting basics. Did big boy test and immediatly started looking or first big bikes. After seeing a few Bandits and Hornets a mate was selling his well looked after Fazer 2001 model. Absolutely love it. Paid decent money but at least know how well it was looked after. Had it now for 5 months and still smiling after every ride. Plenty of power there for a newby and still haven't been near to red line although close when a 911 wanted a bit of fun but he soon backed of defeated!!! As said plenty of power and very easy to control at both high and low speed. As others have mentioned 1st and 2nd gear sound like a tank shooting and some slight vibration @ 6000 revs. Fuel cons for me around 45-50. Definatley recommend and for foreseeable no need to change at all.

I bought a Fazer about 3 weeks ago after having a little 200CC Chinese import bike. Phew - what a difference. It has the most amazing acceralation - it's awsome! Handling's excellent too. And it's looks like a "proper" bike. Those double headlights (later models) look very muscular. Give's it real road presence I think. The clocks look like race bike clocks - still haven't red-lined it yet, not sure I ever will! Only downside is it's very heavy and difficult to push around. Apart from that, it's exceeded my expectations! I love riding it.

just an update on fuel consumption , you guys realy should change those figures, c'mon MCN 35mpg and 130 to a tank , this week I got 276 miles out of 22 liters ,I got 43 of those miles after the fuel light came on !

Geat fuel consumption ,up to 59 mpg !comfotable, quicker than you'd think ,suprisingly good handling ,excellent headlights (it's an 02 model)if your after 600 thats comfortable and quick ,sod the cbr's ect get one of these you won't be dissapointed.

I've had this bike for a year its my first big bike, and yes i have stacked it. but other than having to turn it into a streetfighter becuase i didn't have the money to replace the bits there was no structural damage done and it still handles like a dream. unfortunatly its restricted but, i can get 260 odd miles out of a tank and when on a run closer to 300 miles its great.

This was the first bike I owned after passing my test, a gold Fazer 600S - the one with the belly pan. What a fine bike it was. I'd still have it now if some woman hadn't reversed her husband's BMW into it and wrote it off while I was asleep in bed. I have to say that the Fazer was a great bike to get used to riding on, but a bit of a leap from the CBF500 I'd passed my test with. Okay, good points about the FZS600: lovely engine, good build quality (carbs means easy to service), good equipment levels - fuel gauge and centre stand are luxuries you miss when they are gone. The riding position is very comfortable and confidence inspiring, you can see around you very easily and long journeys are a breeze. Minuses? Not many really. The only thing I'll say is that it's a bit top-heavy. At the time I didn't really realise, but the SV650 and new Fazer feel a bit more stable at low speeds and the new FZ6 is definitely easier to get on the centre stand. However, this is really nit picking. One serious problem, though, is the lights - they are really pants. However, some journalists have said the new FZ6 is not as good as the old Fazer 600. I don't agree at all. I find the new model more stable, better looking, more comfortable and I think an improvement in every way. However, this is a personal thing.

I've had my 1998 Fazer for around 18months now and I have to say its fantastic. Firstly the engine is a belter, never needy or left gasping by anything, even though now I'm used to the power its still not 'slow' plenty of midrange where you need it. I doubt many made it on to track but the suspension does have its limitations, although to be perfectly honest in 9/10 situations its handles with relish. Sofa on wheels my mates call it, and its just that, so comfortable to sit on, wind protection isnt amazing although its better now I have a double bubble on it. All in all a perfect all rounder do anything bike. Buy one.

I have an '02 Fazer as my first 'big' bike after passing my test. I love it, and regularly commute an 80-mile round trip on it with ease. I just wanted to say that if you're thinking of getting a Fazer, ignore the fuel stats given in this review: either they're complete fantasy or the reviewers went everywhere in first gear. In my normal commute (mostly 60 MPH A roads, with a bit of town driving) I get about 210 miles before the reserve light comes on (so I'd guess about 260 miles to the tank?). And that's certainly not taking it easy: third or fourth gear most of the time. I recently did a long trip, which was mostly 6th gear on the motorway, and did 230 miles without even dipping into the reserve. This is a superb bike.

My '98 Fazer is just about to hit 40,000 miles, and still she never complains. I've ridden it all through the winter with no problems what so ever. She starts first time every day and is always keen whatever the weather. Great allrounder, great fun!

My 2001 Fazer is the ultimate commuter. She never complains and never bites - only demanding a regular oil change. 95bhp (85bhp at the wheel) is a lot for a 600. Its a lot of bike for the price. Possibly a future classic (Did you see them on Kill Bill?)

This is my first bike since passing my test a month ago. Looked at a few different bikes but kept returning to this! I've been lucky as the people who have owned it have looked after it. It's got 16500 miles on the clock but is excellent condition. It was a bit more powerful than I expected when I pulled away from the shop!! Ridden to work on it aswell as having a three and a half hour ride non stop to get some miles under my belt. Didn't ache or feel tired. The fuel consumption has been really good and is easy to control at low and higher speeds. Ridden on motorways, A roads and town roads and haven't been disappointed at all. Would highly recommend the bike to anyone considering a versatile, comfortable and easy to ride bike.

I needed to get my commuting time down - 20 miles motorway, 10 miles rush hour filtering on London's North Circular and 5 miles 'town' riding. Brilliant all rounder. Has the power when I need it, comfort for long commute and control for filtering. Haven't managed to master the very low speed cornering yet - the throttle seems a bit snatchy. I reckon I get better mpg than the 'average' figures given.

Believe it or not previous to owning this bike I had owned two (different times) FZS1000's.. they are brilliant bikes. This is my sons Fazer. We toured EU together with other two sons and one of their partners. On Fazers, Andy on my present bike, Matt on an 02 Fazer (virtually identical cept for Yamaha logo on the tank). Martin was on a newer FZ6S, me on the FZS1000 and Anna (Matts partner) GSX600. I think the GSX was worst for comfort overall and also frustration in usable to useable power also hairpins at slow speed (due to dangers). Next the FZS1000 best for comfort again frustrating in power usage, both too powerful however on a good safe bend!!!WOWWW But the two bikes that got there pegs down and whos riders had the biggest permanent grin were the two FZS600's. Yeah.. no match to the others the power is sooooo usable on the 600 fazer. I can really vouch for that as unfortunately had to part with the thou and due to even sadder reasons now have the 600. Strengths: Usable power, handling, overall quality. Weaknesses: Only the seat but with after market seat....100% strength.

Bought this bike despite all the bad press I read about the lack of mid range power, and I don't regret it for a minute. When I am commuting I can be lazy with the revs and its easy to ride. When I'm having a blast at the weekend, I pick up the revs and it feels like a rocket ship. (trained on a CBF500 which I thought was slow after 2 days). Looks wise its a Batmobile from the front (my neighbours 12 yr old says)and sporty from the rear - love the twin exhaust under the seat. I was thinking of buying a Suzuki Bandit 650 or a kawasaki er6-n, don't even want to ride them now. Getting 200 miles from the tank so I am pleased with the range as well. The ride is excellent and the position is comfy. At 80 mph you feel completely stable thanks to the half faring. At night the lights on dipped or main are brilliant they light up the whole road and the dials look very cool and are easy to read. Strengths: Soon as I get used to the performance I can start to take it into the 9000 - 13500 rpm range where apparently it starts to get really serious - Can't wait. I feel as though I have a bike a can really grow into. Weaknesses: First gear to second feels a bit notchy if you don't get the revs right - maybe my clutch control is still not right, but I have heard others say the same.

I commute a 30 mile round trip that goes from motorway to close quarter filtering through traffic. The Fazer is narrow and slips through the gaps like a scooter. The power and fairing come in handy for the long roads and I have done some weekend touring in Ireland with a pillion. She goes like stink too (the bike that is!) and can sit comfortably at 220km/h. Strengths: You get the best of both worlds - a fast paced sportsbike on the motorways with a comfortable riding position, yet nimble enough for the realities of city riding. You can buy a secondhand bike for very little and they are super reliable. Weaknesses: Looks of the 2001 Fazer are dated. She also needs to get about 7000 rpm before the power kicks in. But apparently the new Fazer is even more revvy. The downpipes and general finish on the engine are poor - showing definite signs of cost cutting.