2003 Yamaha FZ1

I had a Suzuki DRZ400SM and it was quite a hoot. However, it wasn't much of a daily driver and commuter vehicle when most of your commute is on highways. I'd been eying the Yamaha FZ1's for a while and decided that I'd like that to be my next bike. I managed to find someone willing to make a trade for my DRZ and I had my first FZ1. It was a gorgeous custom painted bike with a jet kit and a bunch of add ons that made for a really nice bike.

Note the custom airbrushed Yamaha tuning fork logo on the tank and the FZ1 logo on the upper fairing. The paint job had metal flake in it and absolutely sparkled in the sunlight.

However, all good things must come to an end. After putting about 10k miles on it to bring it over 50k, I was on my way home from work and a lady pulled out in front of me at a stop sign. I did my best with the brakes and steering behind her but it wasn't good enough and I clipped her back drivers side panel, totaling the bike.

Note the angle of the handlebars and the front wheel. Twisted forks, bent wheel, bent steering head, bent frame, damaged exhaust, damaged tank, broken upper fender, broken headlights, and the list goes on a little further. Ended up being a total loss with the insurance company.

So the dilemma came up with what to replace it with. Ultimately after looking at a bunch of bikes I realized that at this time, the first generation FZ1 is the perfect bike for me and I stumbled upon a good deal. I've always been a fan of yellow and black motorcycles, even painted a few with that color scheme. Well, it turns out that Yamaha released the FZ1 in Yellow and Black for only one year, the same year as the bike I just lost. A guy in Kansas City had one for sale that was in mint condition with only 8900 miles on it, and with a super sweet carbon and titanium exhaust pipe on it and a custom Sergent seat with matching yellow piping. I had to have it. Settled quickly with the insurance company and before I knew it I was on a plane headed to KC. Bought the bike that day and rode it 580 miles back home to Dallas.

I installed my Givi top box back on for commuting since it was undamaged in the accident, put on my old windshield and added a tank protector and this is how she currently sits.

I'll try to update more as I go along. Not much I want to do with her but there is always the wish list.