[doublethreat]

As many of you know, I've been working on getting Peggy's new FZ07 broke in and finally am to a point where we could take them out for a fun ride.....but also some break in throttle stuff....done by her today.

First order of business was getting the bikes lined up together for a photo op. So here are the "twins" out in front of the garage before we left the house.....




So off we go from our house down to Tellico Plains, TN and low and behold, we stop at the Cherohala Market and there is a Graphite FZ09 parked there....a guy named John from the same area as I live. He just bought the bike a month ago and already has a little over 2K miles on it. He was going across the skyway and we were headed south on S.R. 68 down to Ducktown. So I prodded him a bit to join our little interweb site and he told me he was a lurker here, but hadn't joined in the fun yet......hopefully soon John! Sorry, no pics of the Graphite one and John, but maybe he'll be along shortly to join and post up.

So after riding close to 125 miles, we are coming up U.S. 129, south of Deals Gap and we stopped at Cheoah Dam/Bridge. It is also called "Fugitive Dam", and it is the place where Harrison Ford jumps in the movie "The Fugitive". We stopped on the bridge that is in front of the Dam and shot these pics....


.

Then, it's only seven miles or so on up to Deals Gap from the south, so we stopped in there and pulled the bikes up on the loading ramp and next to the Deals Gap sign for another photo op.

My lovely wife Peggy with her new FZ and my FZ09


Next one is yours truly with the bikes....


And the last one is just the bikes showing off for the gathering crowd.....


All in all a very good day with a total of around 200 miles. Peggy is just absolutely in love with the new FZ07 and said that she just can't believe how nimble and quickly the bike turns in the corners. I ask her if she was ready to sell the 600RR and make the FZ07 her full time street bike..........she just smiled from ear to ear.

 

[Jason]

Like!

 

[nick]

poor peggy don't get a wind screen on your bike?

 

[doublethreat]

She's short.......she can duck out of the wind blast!

 

[Kahold Cheung]

but a wind screenwould still look cool

 

[pgeldz]

You Sir, are blessed with some of the best roads in the country. I did "the Dragon" in a highly modified track car, and then again in a plain jane little Miata. I can only imagine what it would be like to pilot a bike there. I'm envious

- Paulie

 

[doublethreat]

The great roads around this area of the country is the primary reason I moved here in 2006. Great roads, friendly folks everywhere, beautiful mountains..........and did I mention the great roads!

 

[Kahold Cheung]

And u have a motorcycle resort that's cool

 

[doublethreat]

LOL.....yea, I wished I owned that motorcycle resort! I can't imagine how much money that place makes on an annual basis.

 

[Arider]

Doublethreat, I know I have missed something in all the posts, so please don't flame me!! I am just curious as to why your wife prefers the FZ-07 to a CBR600RR. Is it a better low end, or just that it fits her better? Your wife is obviously a better rider than me. I have owned faster bikes in the past (like a new 96 900RR that I did tours on), but getting older seems to be getting to me. I really prefer a bike with very smooth throttle, not low end glitches & such; the FZ-07 seems to be the one. Actually, the CBR500R seems a little more comfy in the legs, but I think the extra power & lower weight would make the FZ nicer. I am thinking of a Slipstreamer windscreen for the rare tours I might make. I've also seem someone sell a Striple & get the FZ; I hope he sees this post & responds also, without me searching more. I am just thinking I will wait a little for price to go down, either someone sells one, it is winter or wait 'till spring. But, looking at the FZ-09, I don't see too many people selling them! Thanks, 59 y.o. woman
5'11" 34" inseam 138 lbs.

 

[doublethreat]

Arider..............No problems.....and no flames from me. My wife Peggy, who will be 62 years old in a couple of months has ridden sportbikes for a while now. A couple of years ago she started having some issues with her right elbow, her right wrist, and of all things....trigger thumb on her right hand.....yea, she's right handed too. She had some surgery on the affected areas and it helped for a while, but the riding position of a sportbike like the 600RR puts her too far forward and too much weight on her wrists and elbows. Yes, she does grip the tank with her knees to help out a bit, but the "cramped" riding position is just getting to her on some of our longer rides....sometime 250 to 300 mile days in the mountains. Those days take a lot longer in the saddle than say getting on the bike and riding 300 miles on an interstate....so 8 to 9 hours of that riding position is doing her in. She still has her 600RR track bike for doing our track days on, but those are 20 minute sessions then off the bike for 40 minutes.....7 times in a day, which equates to a much easier time on her elbow, wrists, and hands. She is 100% happy with the FZ07 and now has her 2007 Street CBR 600RR up for sale. The FZ07 has a surprising amount of low end and mid range grunt for a bike of that displacement and even pulls pretty hard up to the redline. Hope this answer helps and welcome to the forum.

 

[Arider]

Doublethreat, wow you & your wife are some serious riders, both on the street and track! I am impressed. I don't expect to be anywhere near you guys' skill level, just want a bike to have a little fun & short trips. I definitely want the FZ-07, just not in a super rush for any bike that would prevent me to looking for a good price. Don't expect to get a deal locally, so must determine if going through Cycletrader (plus shipping) will be better. Or maybe wait until winter hits? And I wonder how long until any lightly used ones available. I didn't used to be like this, but retirement with an itty bitty pension check can do that to one. I am thrilled with this forum & how nice and helpful everyone seems. Thanks!

 

[doublethreat]

Not trying to pry into your personal info or anything, but what area of the country to you live? There is a dealer in Indiana that is selling the FZ09's and the FZ07 really cheap, compared to many of the other dealers. One of the guys over on the FZ09 forum that I moderate has posted about them and I can get the name of the dealership if you are interested.

 

[Arider]

No problem, thank you for all your help. Home now is Virginia Beach, VA--totally flat & unexciting to any motorcyclists. I remember years ago I thought I could ride well, then went to the Blue Ridge for a weekend and learned otherwise! You are so lucky where you live. I looked at cycletrader.com & the lowest price, the place said they cannot ship without me coming in. Seems really strange, as other places said they ship all the time... I also did a quick Google on reviews on the lowest priced dealerships & many had really negative reviews, which makes me worried if I must ship something. A place with good reviews was Romney Cycles in West Virginia. They already said they would ship, but the price is $6550 out the door. That is 6 hours from us. I suppose we could go to p/u, but hate to make hubbie use all his time for that...

Beyond that, I was also considering a CBR500R. There is a local one with 2K miles for 4500 on craigslist. And one on eBay with ABS for 5K or best offer. I am hearing that people get tired of that bike. But I am not that fast anymore. My husband wants me to get a bike I am really happy with. Light is important to me & a little fast feeling. Hearing you say how far you ride the FZs makes me feel better for that. I would hate to get something & be disappointed. That said, I wonder if anyone on the forum also tested a CBR500?

When the CBR500R first came out, it was hard to find a good price on one. Now, it is sometimes possible. That is why I am hoping to wait
for an FZ-07 to get a lightly used one. Of course, everybody selling a CBR500R had bought an FZ-07

 

[april]

I am looking forward to seeing Peggy at Barber in October and hearing all about the 07! Any chance she will be attending the Women's Sportbike Rally next week? I'd love to see it and chat with her I am so over the 09, now I want an 07!

 

[doublethreat]

Hi April......Most likely we will be coaching at Barber for the October event.....either Novice or Intermediate, or a combination of both. Not 100% sure of being around for the Women's sportbike rally. Peg's brother and his wife are maybe going to be in town for a visit that weekend.

 

[EmileNailk]

I think we just might do that one next year, 39 euros, no wonder it is a sell out. Pleasant part of the world for enjoying two wheels. Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

Question, is the r1100s now feeling dated ?

Chris