2003 Yamaha Fazer 600

Yamaha did something quite clever with the Fazer 600. They took the engine out of the R6, a bike that was tearing up racetracks at the time, softened it off, moved the power lower down where people actually ride, and dropped it into a comfortable frame with a decent seat and real brakes. The result is one of the most genuinely useful motorcycles ever built, and this 2003 example is a nice one. We like these. They come through here fairly regularly and we still enjoy them every time, because there is very little a Fazer cannot do. The important bit is how it rides. That 600 four spins up happily and pulls cleanly from low revs, which means you are not constantly hunting gears in traffic. Open it up on a back road and it still has plenty in reserve. It is quick enough to be entertaining without ever feeling like it is trying to catch you out, and that balance is exactly why people buy them. Up front it has the blue spot calipers and twin discs, which came straight off the R1 and were famously good. Very few bikes in this class stopped as well as a Fazer did. There is a half fairing with a screen that takes the worst of the wind off you on a motorway run, a wide comfortable seat, upright bars and a riding position you can sit in for several hours without regretting it. This one is in the silver, which suits the shape well, and it is presented tidily throughout. It has an aftermarket stainless silencer fitted, which is the usual first change on these and gives it a bit more voice than the standard can. The centre stand is still there too, which is worth having and is often the first thing to go missing on a bike this age. Some of the highlights: 600cc four cylinder engine derived from the R6 Twin front discs with blue spot calipers Half fairing with screen Aftermarket stainless silencer Centre stand fitted Upright riding position with a comfortable seat Silver bodywork presented in tidy condition 19,977 km showing Where the Fazer really earns its keep is that it does not force you into a corner. It commutes, it tours two up with luggage, it does track days if that is your thing, and it is perfectly happy just being taken out on a Sunday. Insurance is sensible, parts are everywhere and cheap, and there is thirty years of accumulated knowledge on how to keep them running. If you want one bike that covers most of what you are likely to do, this is a very hard one to argue against. Come down and have a sit on it and see how it feels.