[skyliner34]

Weirdly my rear brake pads gave up at ~4000kms, not sure why or how. When enquired at SVC they said it's normal wear and tear and also depends on brake usage, didn't buy that, I'm not new to biking and I use front-back brakes at 80-20% ratio. Got the wheel alignment checked and made sure pads are not jammed or anything. Anyways replaced with new pads now hope these lasts longer. Will keep you posted.

[R-Six]

Originally Posted by skyliner34

Weirdly my rear brake pads gave up at ~4000kms, not sure why or how.

Brake pads worn out at 4K? That is way too early dude.

You might want to look at your riding style and see if your shoes foul with the break lever when riding. Even if it is slightly pushed down, I think it might end up eating your breakpads gradually.

I have seen a lot of bikers having their feet on the break (can easily make that out when we see their breaklight illuminated even while riding).

Anyway, good that you figured that out soon and had it replaced before it was too late.

Ride Safe!
R-Six

[skyliner34]

Originally Posted by R-Six

Brake pads worn out at 4K? That is way too early dude.
your shoes foul with the break lever when riding. Even if it is slightly pushed down, I think it might end up eating your breakpads gradually.
R-Six

Yes thought about that and making sure there is no real pressure on brake lever while riding. Didn't face this issue with my 15 year old RX (I know it's brake shoe....still) or Gixxer previously.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by Swapnil4585

Then remains the FZ25. I am not much of a sprinter and fast rider, so the power figures of this bike do not bother me much. The max speed I can do on any bike is 85-90. 75 would be my cruising range, but with a pillion. Would you suggest this?

A tourer, with good low and mid range, good riding posture and pillion comfort is my basic need.

That actually sums up the FZ-25. It will satisfy all your needs but please check the pillion comfort yourself. Am not the correct person to judge that.

You can cruise on this at 110 kmph all day just like the CBR 250R or the R15, but you won't have much in reserve. I mean max 25 kmph to be realistic. Please have a test-ride and do update.

Thank you

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by Sheel

Had another small ride today. I believe pictures would do all the talking.

One very good positive about the fz25 is the handling. With better tyres, you can make all chicken strips go.

Here is a pic from today- fz25's big big brother's 190mm section rear tyre totally grilled around Kolli hills. In my opinion, FZ25 is more flickable(fz1 is 200 kg heavy)

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by PrasannaDhana

One very good positive about the fz25 is the handling. With better tyres, you can make all chicken strips go.
In my opinion, FZ25 is more flickable(fz1 is 200 kg heavy)

You are one of the better person/s to answer a question of mine. How is the FZ-25 in comparison to the D-390? As nimble, as flickable as sure-footed, as agile?

to the FZ-1 rider. Takes a lot to get those stripped chicken.

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by Sheel

You are one of the better person/s to answer a question of mine. How is the FZ-25 in comparison to the D-390? As nimble, as flickable as sure-footed, as agile?

to the FZ-1 rider. Takes a lot to get those stripped chicken.

Thank you Sheel, I was the guy who rode the FZ1.

Big thanks to good friend and bhpian VW2010 for trusting me with his 150 bhp beast on the ghats! I will PM you the links of some footages from the ride.

Regarding handling, I feel the FZ25 is 90% as capable of old Duke 390. Sincerely feel that fz25 can easily cope up with an extra 20 BHP. Just replace the stock MRFs, that bike will be enjoyable on the track.

One stuff where FZ25 is better than old 390 is that comfy wide seat. Has a good space to move around while cornering.

2017 Duke 390 though, is a complete evolution of the old duke 390. We swapped between 2017 Duke 390 & FZ1, everytime the duke 390 was ahead on the ghats! It is super agile and extremely confident inspiring, more so than the fz1/old Duke 390.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by PrasannaDhana

Thank you Sheel, I was the guy who rode the FZ1.


2017 Duke 390 though, is a complete evolution of the old duke 390. We swapped between 2017 Duke 390 & FZ1, everytime the duke 390 was ahead on the ghats! It is super agile and extremely confident inspiring, more so than the fz1/old Duke 390.

to you & VW2010.

How would you rate [the '17 D-390] it against the FZ-25 or the FZ [150cc]? Only as far as handling in the hills and braking go. I mean I could just do anything with these Yamahas.

Even I was quite ahead than my friend's Street triple.

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by Sheel

How would you rate [the '17 D-390] it against the FZ-25 or the FZ [150cc]? Only as far as handling in the hills and braking go.

Between the three, 2017 Duke 390 tops the list, followed by FZ25 & FZ16.

New Duke 390 has phenomenal braking! FZ25 also had good brakes. My old Duke 390 had pathetic brakes. To anyone contemplating buying 2017 duke 390 after selling old 390, there are four solid reasons they should go for 2017 duke 390:
1. 200% better brakes
2. Refinement
3. Handling(way improved over already impressive handling of the older dukes)
4. Very linear and strong power delivery in the mid range which wil be extremely useful in all terrains. I think ride by wire plays its part well, throttle response is superb.

If the fz25 had more power(say like R3), and delivered it through a meaty mid range(like 2017 d390) with slipper clutch(aids greatly at faster corner entry/exit), i guess fz25 will be as agile/fast as the 2017 duke 390.

If i had to rate between my CBR250R and FZ25, I would clearly lean towards FZ25. It is as fast(may be a little faster) to 80kmph, and extremely flickable, it would leave the cbr250r for dead on the ghats.

[VW2010]

How would you rate [the '17 D-390] it against the FZ-25 or the FZ [150cc]? Only as far as handling in the hills and braking go. I mean I could just do anything with these Yamahas.

Let me add few points on top of/with Prassy. The 390 is built for hills. PERIOD. It is very forgiving for rider errors. You miss an Apex, brakes will rescue you from, on coming traffic. The Yamaha is good, but lacks a lot that is needed to have that edge to edge fun which you can get out of the 390(the new 390).

390 rocks in hills for the following reason

- Light weight
- Exceptional balance
- Easy to throw your body around
- Unimaginable low and mid range. Mind blowing. Will beat every 600s and litre class out there when it comes to riding short distance hair pins.
- Above coupled with exceptional throttle response(may be ride by wire),
- Exceptional braking. Braking is just too, too, too good.
- Even with new Metz the bike will let you learn to scrape your knees. Even for novice.


FZ lacks the low and mid range to be honest. If FZ25 is in mind and funds not an issue, skip the yamaha and get the 390. Niggles are there, problems will be there. But if you ride hills and will be ready to throw the bike around knowing there is an equal chance to slip and slide, 390 should be on top of your list.

FZ25 is comparable with a D200 and RC200 and i feel the RC200 will do way better on the hills. Flats you just have to pick the fastest bike available for the money you are ready to pay.

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by VW2010

.

FZ25 is comparable with a D200 and RC200 and i feel the RC200 will do way better on the hills. Flats you just have to pick the fastest bike available for the money you are ready to pay.

Yeah, D200 is a more suitable comparison.

Having ridden all the three- FZ25, Duke 200 and RC200, I can safely say that the FZ25 is better than Duke 200 on the ghats!

RC is in a different league altogether. So the ranking would stand like
1. RC200
2. FZ25
3. Duke 200

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by PrasannaDhana

If i had to rate between my CBR250R and FZ25, I would clearly lean towards FZ25. It is as fast(may be a little faster) to 80kmph, and extremely flickable, it would leave the cbr250r for dead on the ghats.

I actually always wanted the MT-03 but it never materialized thanks to Yamaha. I wasn't serious about riding [for the past 3/4 years] but one ride to the hills and I got hooked again. I wouldn't have got the FZ-25 if this hill riding happened, I got this as a stop-gap arrangement and as a commuter, but as VW2010 correctly points out, the smaller bikes can hold their own in tight twisty sections which I too found out. A gifted rider on the P-220 and me were far away from other two bikes. And D-390 isn't slow by any stretch of imagination, at least on our Indian roads. I was/am just skeptical of niggles etc, but I just may overlook it and may get the D-390.

Originally Posted by VW2010

Let me add few points on top of/with Prassy. The 390 is built for hills. PERIOD. It is very forgiving for rider errors. You miss an Apex, brakes will rescue you from, on coming traffic. The Yamaha is good, but lacks a lot that is needed to have that edge to edge fun which you can get out of the 390(the new 390).

390 rocks in hills for the following reason

- Light weight
- Exceptional balance
- Easy to throw your body around
- Unimaginable low and mid range. Mind blowing. Will beat every 600s and litre class out there when it comes to riding short distance hair pins.
- Above coupled with exceptional throttle response(may be ride by wire),
- Exceptional braking. Braking is just too, too, too good.
- Even with new Metz the bike will let you learn to scrape your knees. Even for novice.

A very good friend who has a Z-800 has parked it and uses the new D-390 for all his touring. Has completed 16,000 kms and is happy with it. Same sentiments echoed as I was interested in getting the Z-650 but after weighing all options, am deciding against it.
I am least interested in the straight boring roads as I don't cruise over 110, I do anything between 90 to 110 depending on road conditions.

Thanks guys

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by Sheel

I was/am just skeptical of niggles etc, but I just may overlook it and may get the D-390.

Pardon us Mods, for going OT.

Seriously, you should go for it!

I mean old 390s were too brash for some people, the 2017 390 will be loved by all. It is a better bike in every spectrum you think of.

And at 2.5 lakhs, it makes 600/650s obsolete and pointless if you are not for 140+ kmph cruising.

Niggles are not a deal breaker, i lived with the first gen 390, and it was reliable even when the odo was close to 50k km.

I am getting one(mostly new D390 or RC390), VW2010 is getting one. We were mighty impressed with the new 390!! Totally worth it. You might find yourselves scraping knees without even knowing it.

[VW2010]

By the way. Do not ride like the above picture. Its not worth taking risks without even proper gears. Use the picture for understanding capability/skill of the rider and not as an example to ride without gears.

Same sentiments echoed as I was interested in getting the Z-650 but after weighing all options, am deciding against it.

If you want absolutely fun any version of the RC390 will provide you the maximum fun. The bike is designed to stay low and as long as you maintain that riding position you will be happy after every twisties..

FZ25 is a practical package. A family rider IMHO. The KTM series are meant for just fun and absolutely no practicality for a family man.

[bharath14]

Took the FZ25 on the highway for the first time with the ODO at 750 km. Beyond 95 km/hr, I noticed considerable vibrations on the handlebar, and felt extensive vibrations on the left foot/gear pedal. Is this normal?
I intend to get it checked the next time it goes to the shop.