Make of break? Yamaha Fazer 600
‘Everyone loves a project.’
We all love the thought of spending hours in the shed faffing about with an old motorcycle. This is where most projects start, sadly though many fall by the wayside and end up earning themselves the unfinished project tag. Taking a bike that a manufacturer invested time, money and development in, and improving it in your shed, on the face of it sounds slightly deranged when you think about it. Thing is, some talented people actually pull it off and end up with bikes that in turn, inspire us all to have a go. This Yamaha Fazer 600 was recently pulled from the warmth of someone’s living room!
‘When I say Fazer 600, there isn’t too much left.’
Upside down forks are always an easy way to update the looks of any old bike. Get it right and it will also help it handle too. Get it wrong and it’ll handle like a fully laden supermarket trolley. The Fazer conventional forks have been slung away in favour of a pair of Kawasaki ZXR400 uppy downers. Only one brake disc remains and sadly no calipers! The rear end of the Fazer frame is long gone, it’s been butchered with just enough meat left to stick a sports bike seat. The rest of the Fazer is mostly painted matt black. The carbs have been removed for cleaning but not replaced properly. So it is anyone’s guess to whether the engine is any good, or not? Chances are it’s probably ok, why would anyone invest time in a bike with a dodgy motor?
‘Surely it’s worth more in bits?’
On the plus side what is present is in decent condition, matt black paint aside. The end for this bike is
probably not too far away. Fazer 600 parts sell well, even now over 20 years on since they came out. I was going to suggest that unlike the Bandit 600, the Fazer six avoids getting streetfightered and customised… The exhaust downpipes are solid, and chassis parts are all very useable. The temptation to put it out of its misery and break it for parts is tempting.
‘Less than £500, that’s a cheap thrills project.’
I have decided to give it a stay of execution for a week or so. I’ve stuck a price tag of £495 on its head. Sure it needs work, sure it is no oil painting, sure it could be a money pit, but with some vision, beers and eBay purchases there is a bike in there somewhere!
Article provided by Scottie Redmond
