Hey guys, thanks to xbhp extensive reviews made by the FZ owners, i have bought my FZ-S Golden Streak color on 10th Feb 2012. I have been seriously loving it, this is my first bike. The bike has just been serviced (1st free service)

The issue i am facing is the front brake makes lot of noise when i push it using hands (without the engine ON). Really don't know why. At my first service, i told the guy to rectify it, but he said "this noise will come, let it run for more time". Till date i have done 650KMS. I know that the disc brakes do make noise, but this noise is weird. Can anybody throw light on this please.

Also, while i am riding the bike, the rear suspension is a bit hard i guess. The jerks directly hit the back. Told the service guy to check it, still the problem remains. Anybody facing the same??

Some more problem, the rear tyre seems to loose its grip suddenly while riding on tarmac roads. The tyre tends to slip. But, since i drive under controlled speed, i have never faced any major mishap. They tyres pressure are kept upto date.

Too many confusions friends. Please help

first of all congratulation for becoming FZ owner, me too proud of owning a one.
1) Noise from brakes is a common problem, it will go after some time, keep your wheels clean, mainly the dust particles cause more noise.
2) abt rear suspension: which is really smooth in case of FZs. u may need to get it sorted with yamaha service ppl. talk to the manager and get it replaced.
3) usually the grip is really good, it is dufficult to make FZ fall on normal roads. i bend my FZ easily till the footrest touches ground, i never faced any problems.

Lets take all ur queries point by point

1> U said the Front Disc Brake makes a lot of noise when u Push it with hands without the engine on. Does it imply that wen u press the brakes when the bike is stationary (without engine being on) it makes noise. Honestly m just not getting what you are trying to say here.

2> If u are riding Above the speed of 60 and u hit a medium size pot hole then any bike will send the shock up ur back. If you are riding below 30 n still getting uncomfortable feedback or jerks from the shock absorber then they need to be checked.

3> MRF Zapper Revz that come with this bike are the best Indian tires i have seen till date put on an made in India Bike. They stick like a leach and give one full confidence to lean into a corner. Plz tell me at wat speed n circumstanced do u feel the rear tire loosing grip. What really happens which makes u feel the tire is loosing grip.

Answer to the questions in Bold.

Not sure about the disc noise, seems to me that the other two are because of more air pressure in your rear tyres. Just a guess.

Gave bike for paid service expecting many parts to be replaced (38k km on clock). Bill was 303 bucks (275+tax) (no oil change). Nothing needed replacement. Still going strong

nice mileage deville..
can you please look back in time and recollect what you've replaced at what time?
This will help guys like me who are not relying on svc services to get an idea what parts get worn out when.

Thanks in advance.

Lot of gyan there on engine oil & clutch plates bro.. Ignore my noobness & please enlighten what would be my proposed course of action in the following situation.

my FZ is 22 k old on ODO & going strong as ever. All is fine but i'm expecting a big ride in coming month & hence want to get my clutch plates replaced (even though i dont feel any loss in torque) + shift to FS motul oil.

Now FS oil directly on a new clutch plate is advisable or i should use mineral oil on new clutch plates & then shiftover to FS oil after wearing out the mineral oil.


38 k kms sounds fantastic.. I just wish to know how long did the stock tyres last for you. Mine are going good but loosing grip under even light panic braking. Did you stick to stock rubber or move to any other ?

@ALL:
I know this must have been asked & answered several times before but just want a poll on the following.

Best tyre for FZ to get Leh'd (i.e best grip expected on off roading, gravels, watery surface)

A) Pirelli SD
2) Dunlop Tuff grip
3) TVS eurogrip

Note: Price no bar & I dont care if the tyre life is much lesser than stock tyres

Thanks for asking these, I was also looking for the exact same information.

Rear brake liner around 15k km.
26k km, front brake pad, tyres, chain, sprocket. Battery after 15-16 months.
Clutch cable and brake liner again at around 35k km.
Some where in between changed spark plug. Air filter every 7-10k km. Oil filter every 2 oil change.

Apart from these, everything else is still factory stock


Around 16-18k km, stock started showing troubles, still lasted 26k km. Changed front around 28k km, it did another 5k+ km on a P220 . Switched to ContiGO 110/70 and PSD 140/70.


Seen FZ doin Leh with PSD, still don't think it's a good choice for the terrain and slush. Ceat Vertigo and Michelin Sirac favorite items with offoraders

long ride for mitz

dear mitz.. Read your query about clutch plates and fs oil.
As per my experience and little knowledge, you cant put fs oils only in fresh engines or engines on which piston work was done, just for the engine to set in. The cylinder are intentionally made rough so that on constant rubbing off the piston sets in perfectly with the cylinder. When you are changing your bike's clutch plates and putting the fs oil in it, there is no reason why you should put in a mineral and then fs.
As you are planning a 'very' long ride and probably putting in fs oil for the first time ( if i am not wrong). You should get the clutch plates changed and put in the fs oil and start experiencing the changes in your bike. The gear changing rpms etc should be experienced, consider it a new bike. You should not get these changes done and jump to high speed riding.
On long rides at high speeds try XXw50 grade oil in place of XXw40 grade. Yamaha recommends both grades and priortise w40 grade.
Why w50?? It will remain longer in the engine than a w40 grade at high rpms and heat, there are guys who lost from full to halfway mark on the dipstick even when they were using w50 grades.
Also, try using jaso ma or ma2 spec oils. If jaso ma/ma2 spec is absent dont go above api sg rated oil in bikes.
Regarding tyres.. I read a post from mr arya where his stock got out at around 22 k mark(if i remember correctly). Yours may also be losing grip. Get that changed as the new tyres need a 200 km run in(200 km is prescribed by ktm duke's manual :-) )
please excuse i dont have knowledge about - which tyre better grip. Hope this will be answered by someone having experience with the choices you enlisted.
Safe and Happy journey!

Update: thanks deville for the information.
Mitz, i dont think you should go for the clutch plates change as deville seems to be on stock even when he is doing 38k (touchwood). The stock's life is quite good it seems, also your's is not giving any trouble.

Wow.. your replacements were at quite an interval. Speaks out clearly about the quality Yamaha provides. No wonder they deserve premium.
Speaking of which, my bike is also bone stock yet. No replacements apart from front disc pads & air filter at around 15 k. I've got some serious riding to do in the months ahead & hence i was wondering if i should replace even what is working well or leave it to be replaced when broken.

Frankly speaking i'm experiencing no noticeable troubles from the clutch plates but still a bit apprehensive if they'll last for another 7-8 k without troubling me.
Tyres are definitely gonna be changed. I dont thin michelin sirac is available for FZ otherwise it would have been my sureshot choice. will look out for CEAT as you notified.

Thanks again for the in depth info bro.. I guess i'll stick to the clutch plates & see if they need replacements post 25 k kms. will shift over to w50 Fs oil soon. The info about jaso ma 2 spec oils need needs some googling into on my part for further clarifications.

Only thing failed on my bike till date was clutch return springs (luckily not clutch internal part ). Broke them 2 times. Once changed under warranty, then paid from pocket, but was under 5 bucks

Sirac was available in 17 inchers, a couple of 220s here including xbhpian's is running on them. Unfortunately, they are no more in production, still old stock available.

Hi Mitz,

My FZ-X is also hitting the 20k figure soon and i am witnessing slight loss of grip from the rear tire on high speed cornering and under hard braking.

Best Off-roading tires has to be Michelin Sirac but i don't think you will get 17' tires in Mumbai anywhere, but worth to check it out once.

Dunlop Tuff Grip looks nice but not sure.

As per my earlier posts, TrustVishwas has used TVS Eurogrip on his ride to Leh/Ladakh and his friend, from whom Vishwas sir borrowed the FZ from, hasn't witnessed any trouble so far. However, it is of 80 profile, so you will have to get rid of the rear tire hugger for the Leh trip.

CLUTCH PLATES:
If you are planning to do Leh, then as a part of preparation, i would advise to replace the clutch plates, will cost you 700 - 1000 bucks. At such a terrain, your bike would be subjected to quite lot of torture and will be constantly on higher gears and shifting from 1st - 3rd would be a routine..You wouldn't want a breakdown in the middle of no where would you? Otherwise, for general ride in city and highways, the stock clutch plates are good to last upto 30k.

Hope this helps,

Cheers

will start looking for michelin sirac in the city then. I think Michelin also has 130-80 pilot series ? any idea about them?

Hey good to know the FZ-x is going strong at 20 k kms. So what do you have in mind for your tyre replacements which shall be due in next 2-3 k kms?

Personally speaking even i'm inclined for Sirac's but i was apprehensive if they'll fit on FZ rims. I dont mind removing the hugger. But now as you say Sirac would be difficult to find in mumbai, I have no other options for offroad apart from TVS eurogrip used by Vishwas sir.
I know the reviews by Vishwas sir were good for TVS but i would still like to keep them as an option of last resort. Viswas sir used it just 4 3k kms & if i get it, i'm sure to use it for atleast 15k kms & I'v heard bad experiences with TVS.

What would be your choice for leh if Sirac's are unavailable?
Dunlop TG, Pireli SD or TVS EG ?

& what you said about clutch plates was exactly my point. I don't mind at all spending that 1 k for a new set of clutch plates. Its just that my stock clutch plates are working like a charm & hence didn't wanted to get rid of them so early. Nevertheless I'll let Kamala guys take a call on this one. If i replace the clutch plates, i can always carry my old clutch plates as a spare, cant I ?

PS: I was thinking on lines of Vishwas sir to get a basic training in Kamala for a few DIY's in case of need. What do you think, will i be allowed to do so if i speak to Imtiyaaz, Rakesh or even Shrenik ji personally? Would you by any chance be able to pull some strings for the same ?