Original Source: Problems Due to a Wide Rear Tyre – Esp. For Yamaha Fazer Owners from BikeAdvice.in

I am completing two years with my flaming orange beauty “Fazer” on coming 30th November. Let’s have some flashback before starting the main topic of this article. I wrote my first official ownership article which was posted by Deepak on 14th December, 2009. This article is having 47 valuable comments till date. The title was - Aerodynamics, Ergonomics & Steering Geometry of Yamaha Fazer + Ownership Review. I also won a 1:12 Scale model of Suzuki GSX-R 750 as a token of appreciation from Deepak and Bikeadvice.

In that article, I had mentioned some merits and demerits of wide rear tyre of Fazer. Few of the key lines were “The main disadvantage with this wide tyre is chicken strips. As shown in photograph, the two side portions of the tyre are remaining almost unused because we are not habitual to tilt our bike too much while taking turn.

These strips are known as chicken strips. The middle portion which is used mostly gets wear after long run while the side strips remain unused. This condition leads to splitting of tyre and also up to burst.”

So now, I want to enlighten a practical example of chicken strips to you guys. Guess what: It is my Fazzy’s rear 140/65 R 17 tyre. It has recently pretentious because of spreading chicken strips.

How it took place?

There are many factors which boost up the chicken strips. Continuation of chicken strips takes place according to road surface, driving habits and tyre properties. Let us discuss the factors which intended and contributed to generate these chicken strips on my bike tyre.

• I used to drive 35-40 kms per day during the first 1.5 years (Home-Office-Home). During this entire ride, approx 2.6 kms road was entirely rough terrain. It was full of sharp pebbles, mud, cavities, cow dung etc. I got 4 punctures during my first 9 months just because of sharp small pebbles. The tyre had lost its surface toughness very early because of that rough terrain.
• As said earlier, I am not habitual to tilt my bike too much while taking turns. It is not at all required as the speed of my bike always remains in limit at the time of turning. We can divide the total width of the tyre (140 mm) in to three groups: First is the middle portion used for upright driving conditions. Second are the two side portions used at the time of turning. Lastly, the two extreme side portions which almost remain unused (shown in yellow).

Above diagram shows the comparison of new and used wide tyres. Grey portion shows the wall thickness of tyre. After considerable use, the thickness of middle portion decreases bit as it is used mostly. The extreme side portions shown yellow retain its original wall thickness. So as a result a wall thickness gradient stimulated throughout the total tyre width (140 mm).

• Each and every tyre works under cyclic loading conditions. The tyre portion at the contact patch always remains in loaded condition even with stationary vehicle. The rest of the tyre portion remains unloaded. As we drive the vehicle, the contact patch and so as tyre portion constantly got changed because of forward motion of the vehicle.

Above diagram illustrates the same. There are always three types of tyre portions exist at the time of driving. Portion under loading, Portion that will be under loading and Portion that was under loading. This happens at each time fraction of moving condition and so each and every tyre portion has to follow this process of cyclic loading. We’ll relate this cyclic loading in next affecting factor.

• Now let us imagine a used tyre with decreased wall thickness at middle. Below diagram shows the comparison of used unloaded and used loaded tyre.

Let us define two points “A” and “B” from where the thickness gradient starts. Now suppose the tyre is loaded vertically. As a result, the curvature of the tyre becomes bit flat. Same condition happens when any reaction from the road takes place. Again recalling the cyclic loading, this tyre portion is also undergoing the same cyclic load.

As a result, a constant tearing process occurs at two points A and B shown as red arrows. This tends to generate cleave at points A and B. Below photo shows cleave generated in my tyre with enlarged view.

We can easily observe the reinforcement fibre cables in cleave which gives us the idea about the depth of cleave.

• As I said earlier, I got 4 punctures during my first 9 months just because of sharp small pebbles. Plugs are used as a repairing activity for this wide tubeless tyre. These plugs are also cause tyre cracking due to cyclic loadings. Below photo illustrates the same.

We can observe the crack distribution and propagation in nearer area of inserted plug. A hole generated from pebble can also be seen in the photo.

• Sharp pebbles are also very hazardous to used tyre. Below photo shows a pebble penetrated hard in my bike tyre.

A large area has been covered by this pebble and created so many cracks on the surface. If I continue to use this tyre, the crack will propagate and will meet the cracks generated at nearer groove. If I will remove this pebble, it will generate very large hole on the tyre surface.

• Below photo shows the crack distribution in the tyre groove.

We can observe more cracks in the corners. We can consider these corners as points “A” and “B”. These cracks propagate and become cleave after extensive usage with improper handling.

Above photo gives us the idea about crystal cracks generated in few tyre grooves. Crystal crack differs from normal crack in appearance and depth. These cracks are generated because of thermal stresses on the tyre surface. Results are same as before said normal cracks.

Above photo shows all the defects together. We can observe huge cracks already generated as a result of said factors. This cleavage will result as chicken strips for this wide tyre.

Unfortunately, the chicken stripes always tend burst the tyre during riding. I advise you all to check your bike tyres regularly to reduce fatal accidents. You can also judge this defects if your bike is lacking its original power and mileage. Another way to predict this is the time period for air/nitrogen filling.

Regards,
Dhruv Panchal

Original Source: Yamaha FZ (28,500 KMs) Ownership Review by Ashwin from BikeAdvice.in

Sudden brake lights flash red in front of me. I brake hard too 90-80-70-60-50-40-30… five seconds… the bike is completely stable and composed, my heart is beating at an insane rate, and my mouth is saying unkind words. For the hundredth time I am thankful I chose the Yamaha over the rest of the competition.

I get back home and give the FZ a well deserved pat on its sculpted composite fiber tank. The bike and I have been through a good 28,500 kilometers in one and a half years. My daily commute is about 70 kms and includes small city streets and a very busy highway (thankfully through beautiful green stretches) with its share of amazing twists and corners, the perfect playing ground for the little Yamaha.

The Decision

My experience with motorbikes prior to the FZ was limited to a Hero Honda CD Dawn. Before that it was a delightful Vespa which still is going strong. The CD Dawn was a great workhorse. No maintenance and just hours of grueling work. And it never complained. The only reason it got replaced was because the allure of the FZ was a bit too much to resist.

A sudden (and much appreciated) perk in my stipend meant I could dare to look at the 150cc segment which I had dreamt of owning one day. And of course, the bike that blotted out everything was the Yamaha FZ 16. It was the choice of the heart and like every sensible individual I thought that the brain had to be given a break.

At this point I knew close to nothing about the 150-200cc bike segment. I had never tried riding one, and all my information was limited to internet reviews and spec sheets. I started off with a comparisYamaha FZ Ownership Review by Ashwintankon of the 150cc bikes available. Automags made my work simple.

I rejected the Suzuki GS 150 as it was a little too bland (what would not be when compared to the glorious FZ) I rejected the Pulsar range because of some of the quality issues and the characteristic clatter they produce after some use. I never was a pulsar fan. The Hero Honda bikes were not exceptional in any way.

Since I wasn’t fond of the faired design, the bikes in that segment were out. That left me with the apache RTR 180, the FZ 16 and the Avenger. I tried the avenger and was not impressed by the weight, turning radius and the riding position. After a test ride I discovered I would never be a fan of the relaxed cruiser design.

The RTR was a strong contender, but its notorious vibrations at mid to high revs and quality issues took it out of the competition. Then it was the turn of the FZ. The demo rider at Yamaha sold the bike with just one maneuver- he took it to 105 on a smooth lonely stretch, told me to hold on tight and hit both the brakes violently.

The bike came to a smooth, straight, amazingly short distance stop. Then I test rode the FZ and that was it. Booked and bought as soon as it was possible. I guess everybody who books a vehicle always feels the showroom takes longer than usual to deliver. So after the customary wait, I got the bike.

The points that finally made me decide in favor of the bike were- the light weight (was high on my list, the bike had to be light), the quality, the mid range grunt, amazingly good brakes, grippy tyres, a design that takes my breath away every time I look at it, especially the monoshock, and a name that sounded like a jet fighter. The price was just right too and that, as the case is often, sealed the deal. The concerns at his point were about the spares, the after sales and the amount of fuel it would consume.

The Compromises

I am getting this done with so that the rest of the ownership experience can proceed with a love story-ish flow. The mileage is well, frankly, pathetic. It averages about 35 only, but I am not complaining at all since the bike also saves my life once in a while. It is my safeguard against the maniacal driving of other road users and sometimes my spirited trysts with the throttle.

A rather tidy compensation for the lack of good mileage I would say. The fuel indicator is useless. Has never worked. ‘Peep in the tank’ procedure is a routine every morning. The tail lamp keeps dying once in a while in an almost ritualistic way and replacing it is a biannual tradition. As a matter of fact, the day the bike was delivered, the tail lamp was not working (you could say it is our little anniversary).

The engine, past 95 kph sounds like its end is near, but It does not transmit the vibrations to the bike at all. All one has to do is turn a deaf ear to it and go faster hoping the wind noise will drown the wail. The top speed is not great and pushing the bike from 80-115kph takes quite some time.

Though grippy as hell in every imaginable situation, gravel thoroughly upsets the bike. Even minute quantities, especially when met in the middle of a fast corner, turn your brain into flashback mode in preparation for an imminent not to mention, violent end.

Another not so important fact is that, in the engine area, the FZ is not as compact and packed as the photographs would indicate. The see through portions around the engine dulls a little bit of the ‘wow’ factor. But… All these shortcomings are wiped out by the chariots of fire theme which plays in my mind every time I approach the bike in the morning.

The Good Things

To start off, I live in Goa. Greenery all around, hills everywhere and narrow winding rural roads which almost always lead to a beach. The FZ is at home in such an environment. The best thing is the sound it makes between 4500 and 5500 RPM. It is guttural and throaty, without being loud.

It turns heads and commands respect. It is extremely addictive and one can never get enough of it. The aural effect just permeates through the helmet and makes every ride a delight. The FZ picks up speed like none other and excels in the low to mid range speeds.

Overtaking is effortless and a joy because there is always some extra torque to get me out of hairy situations. The FZ is meant to be a street bike and it makes sure it is the best in business. Highway riding is relaxed and peppy as long as you are within 85 kph. Higher speeds take a while to arrive. Handling is stellar as expected.

The monoshock, combined with the wide tyres and handlebars make sure the FZ remains planted through corners. The bike will iron out and compensate for the mistakes of a regular ‘ride to work’ commuter in almost any situation, making it an easy, non threatening bike to ride.

The confidence in cornering keeps going up with every passing day and scrapping a shoe clad toe on corners becomes quite commonplace. This agility with the light weight thrown in makes for amazingly nimble direction changes. Abrupt changes in direction (especially to avoid vehicles coming to a sudden halt) even at speeds over 90 kph are smooth and the bike remains composed as ever.

The front end of the bike feels like you have your nerves going through it. That’s how good the feedback is. Every undulation, every small bump, and every little change in direction is communicated effectively by the front wheels. The back wheel does the same but with a little bit of naughtiness.

Overenthusiastic cornering is responded to by a gentle slip at the rear, as if to say- relax buddy there is no hurry. The overall ride is a little stiff and jarring over large potholes. But that’s a compromise you have to make if handling has to be good. The front brakes are awesome and as I have said before- life saving.

The rear drums are not the most efficient though and need some stick to work well. But as a team they do a brilliant job of slowing the bike down. Stability of the bike is rocklike and solid. Crosswinds are no problem. But what amazed me most is the way the FZ dealt with the monsoons.

Slick roads were dealt with in style. Braking on rain soaked roads was as precise as ever and drenched corners were navigated with aplomb. It is eerie how much the FZ enjoys the rains, as if it is a reincarnated amphibian. Finally, the de. The sheer beauty and detailing is beyond competition.

No other bike in the class comes even close. The flair and dedication with which the bike has been designed is commendable. It stands out in every parking lot with its taut, ready to pounce stance. From the behind, its beautifully shaped tail is as attractive as the rest of the body.

Don’t Know Where This Fits

Well, now this point is a tricky one. Its about the pillion comfort. I have very rarely sat as pillion on my bike. Most people who have ridden pillion with me have done so over distances ranging between 30-80 kms. Till date nobody has complained about the comfort or the ride (after thoroughly cursing me for the not warning them about the scary cornering and crazy acceleration).

But everybody has praised the grab rails immensely (almost as if that was what kept them on the seat). So I am guessing it is bearable. But that brings me to the most important point. I enjoy my bike most when I ride alone. Its just the FZ and me. It’s a very personal experience and in my belief every rider feels so.

When pillions are a regular feature, every bike rider worth his or her salt would crave for that one late night ride alone with the two wheeled machine that makes every journey a special one. Having said that, I do enjoy good company when riding. And if they are appreciative of my darling little FZ, I make it show them a few tricks.

Though it sounds like I ride in a manner that may not be entirely acceptable, there is some exaggeration in that department and 90% of the times I ride responsibly and never without a helmet. When trying something crazy, I make sure the road is empty… just like the pillion seat.

The Modifications

I made a few cosmetic modifications by changing all the grey plasticky bits to black. A modification that Yamaha itself has later made available in its later variants. In my opinion it makes the FZ look much better and weapon like when clad completely in black. I also tried stripping away all the plastic panels on the bike. Lets just say, that was a bad idea. I took the panels off, stood away and watched my handiwork, then hastily put everything back in place.

Overall

In a place like Goa, there are a lot of places to go. Here the straight stretches of road do not last long enough to hit top speeds. The twists and turns rule here. The fun bit is always going round corners, fast. Knowing that you are protected by great technology and panic situations can be dealt with efficiently, gives a kind of confidence and peace of mind that let one enjoy the bike and the road.

Is that not the ultimate intention of a good bike? To make the rider sit at a beautiful, picturesque location at sunset, and scratch his head wondering what he loved more- the ride the destination or the destination itself? My bike has made me realize this- the destination is almost as good as the ride, to sit listening to the slow, cooling tick of the engine in a still landscape is beautiful.

To sum up- My bike takes me places. But wherever I go, I cannot walk away from my parked steed without a long, admiring glance over my shoulder. That one line is actually a very very condensed ownership review in itself.

Regards,
Ashwin

Original Source: Yamaha Fazer Review by Sumit from BikeAdvice.in

Hello all. I am really thankfull to BikeAdvice and Deepak for helping me in choosing bike of my dreams, I am a proud owner of Yamaha Fazer 2011 Midnight Black and I call it as Midnight Beast as per name. It really a beast for the mid section bike. Itz fast and furious and best thing in this bike is its handling.

Let me tell you about my self. I am working in Hotel HR so for official meets I had to go for long drives sometimes and because I am a traveling lover I usually prefer my own conveyance to travel. Before owning my dream bike I use to drive sometimes Royal Enfield Bullet and some times Hero Honda Glomour Fi. Both different bikes. Bullet as we all know kind of the road. And glamour a very good Bike with good average.

But there was something lacking in both of the bikes. I mean bullet lack in pick up and glamour lacks in speed. So I decided to have a change and look for a bike with good speed good pickup and good styling and yes little bit good average.

I looked around and asked from my friends some said go for Pulsar which has good looks and some said go for Apache which has good pickup and all. I was totally confused. Then I started searching on sites about bikes and after seeing reviews of Yamaha Fazer. I decided that yes this is one which I want to buy. What I got from reviews of this bike is that its has really nice looks with better handling and average is normal. That’s all I wanted as in delhi traffic is so much. So I made up my mind and went on Yamaha showroom to ask the onroad price of this bike.

This was the moment which shocked me for a moment because when I come to know the onroad price of this bike is 83500 I was lil shocked. I means y would any1 spend arnd 84000 rupee for buying a 150 cc bike when one can get bikes like Karizma in paying 1000 or 2000 bugs extra. But because this bike has already made a place in my mind so I decided to buy it. I asked for midnight black from the dealer and he said its on one day waiting. I booked that bike and the day on which I booked my bike. I couldn’t even sleep well. Cause I was waiting passionately for my dream bike to come. I was thinking when I could ride my new bike.

So finally the day came. When I have to go for taking delivery of my new bike. I got up early dressed well and at 10 in the morning I reached at the showroom. And I saw my bike standing in side with cool and dashi looks. So I met with the sales person and made all the clearance and then was jst waiting to get my hand on it. Finally bike got ready and the person gave me the keys of the bike and I was like now m the boss. I took the bike reached home and after all the rituals things I went to have a ride of the bike and it was a awesome experience. But had to manage to run it under 45 Kmph till 1st service not done.

After covering 1st 1000 KM, I went for 1st service Waited whole day to finish it. At evening. I got my bike back. So now it was the time when I can check the power and speed of my bike. Next day I went on the highway NH-8 which has some rush and a good track for checking spped from dhaula kaun to gurgaon I was ready to race now. I checked its pick up and I am pretty impressed with it and I have reached at a speed of 120 Kmph which is pretty much impressive for a 150 cc bike.

If any 1 ask me to rate its performance then I will rate as speed 4 as it’s a 150cc Bike bt still impressive speed. For handling I will rate it 5 its superb specially at rush. For seat comfort ability I will rate it 3. As its known as tourer bike bt its seat is not as comfort as it should b for mileage I will rate it 3 its giving 40 to 45 kmpl. Which is compatibly low by other 150 CC bikes for looks I will rate is 4 out of 5. For pick up I will rate it 4 out of 5. For handling I will rate it 4 out of 5 its smooth specially at traffic.

Regards,
Sumit Kumar Tomara

Original Source: Yamaha FZ16 Ownership Review by Rakesh from BikeAdvice.in

Hey Guys! I really don’t know how to write on this. I am actually not a good writer. So I would do it in a bit management style (point wise). To introduce my self. I am Rakesh Bhatia. I work with pantaloons at Mumbai and I live at Ghansoli Navi Mumbai. I own FZ16 Red. I ride to office and back home daily and its 20km one way.

How did I Choose My Bike?

In good old college days I used to ride a scooter and then my Dad bought me Hero Honda Passion Plus (year 2003). I rode this bike for 3 and half year. After MBA, I got selected for my first job and that is when I decided that I will buy my new bike myself. I was posted in Mumbai.

Mumbai roads are of mixed condition. Some roads give you joy like heaven to ride on and some give you pain in your ass. I used to travel by bus from my home to office and the crowd and traffic is horrible. I always used to be late no matter how early I start. Also, I had to stand for like an hour which was very exhaustive. So I chose to buy a bike and not to depend on public transport.

Here begins my research. First thing I decided was that I would go with not less than 150CC. The other factor was cost. The third factor was safety and comfort for long ride. The forth and now the most important was mileage. I came across range of bikes from 149CC to 220CC to 350CC (Enfield). Trust me I tested almost all.

At first many suggested Honda Unicorn as it was trusted on mileage by many. But I ruled it out. Reason – One day I took my friend’s Unicorn to drop my girl friend home. On my way back, I slipped in the muddy road and broke my shoulder. Unicorn was not safe in my experience because of its thin tyres.

Then I tested Honda Unicorn Dazzler. Same engine as CB Unicorn with great looks, good mileage review and broader tyres. I somehow did not feel that rear Disc brakes were safe enough. The disc plate was small and I had no experience with Disc brakes. Also, the rider’s seat was found thin, so I was not comfortable with riding it. So ruled out.

Bajaj Pulsar 150CC and Pulsar 180CC were both great options. But ruled out. Reason – Bajaj Pulsar 180CC made me fall in love so I ruled out 150CC. But then during test ride (I rode my friend’s bike for 40km) I did not find it comfortable. Few of my friends mentioned that Bajaj Pulsar needs too much of maintenance and engine failure is often. So ruled out both.

• TVS Apache: I was impressed with one of the review given on BikeAdvice. But during test ride – I had nothing great but the power. Apache 180CC is much better than 160CC but the cost is too high. So ruled out.
•  Suzuki GS150R: No comfort, No power, No interest. Hence ruled out.
•  Hero Honda Hunk: I was impressed in one test ride. But when I came to know it has same engine as CBZ, it was clear that it will not give me the mileage desired. So ruled out.

Now I moved to Yamaha bikes. I first tested Yamaha SZ as it was a good looking 153CC bike at very affordable price. I found it comfortable, powerful and mileage review was pretty decent. So I decided to finally pick my bike as soon as I get back to Mumbai from a short trip to my native place. To my surprise, my brother had bought FZ16 (Black) by buttering and convincing my Dad. I shared my reviews with him saying that FZ16 has the same engine as SZ and price is too high. All he did was, gave the keys of his bike to me to take a quick ride.

Wow! It was so comfortable and handling was so perfect that I quickly shifted my gears to FZ16 from Yamaha SZ. Also, I like the Manly look of the bike. I guess it kind of suited me. So when I returned back to Mumbai, I made my choice that I will not sacrifice the experience for money and I placed my order. Red was my choice of colour as I did not want to offend my brother who had Black already.

Note: Fazer, R15, Karizma, Bajaj Pulsar 220, Bajaj Avenger (my favourite) and Enfield (my dream) were ruled out as here the cost of experience was putting a hole in my pockets.

My Experience so Far

The day I brought FZ16 at my home, my girl friend was more excited than me. I was happy that I got 1 finally from my own pocket. Like a good Indian guy, I praised God and tied a good luck thread to by bike. I gave it a name Liza. Yes I call my FZ16 Liza.

For 1st 1000Km I rode the bike at not more than 40Km. For next 1000Km I took it to not more than 60Km and finally after that, FZ16 was ready for the toughest test of its time.

I rode at top speed of 110Kmph and often applied brakes too hard (not at 110kmph but below 80Kmph) to test if wires and brake plate support or not. Trust me, bike does shake for a meter or two and then you gain the control soon. (Risky, do not try until the road are empty).

After the accident I had lost the confidence to ride a bike in a cosy manner but FZ16’s tyres and braking mechanism got my confidence back and now I can comfortably ride at 90Kmph with full control over my bike.

Performance

The Engine: The engine of FZ16 which I must say is a world class engineering. After so many rough riding journeys and 4 months of rains at Mumbai, my Liza starts at just one push of a button. Ignition is never a problem and engine never stops no matter in which gear or speed you are riding. (If you know how to use the clutch and accelator).

So far engine has not asked for any major maintenance. I just follow the user manual and recommendations by Yamaha Service Manager strictly.

The Power: It goes from 0 to 50km in not more than 6 seconds and it can touch 110kmph easily. Bike does shake at 88kmph to 90kmph but once you cross 90kmph, it goes smoothly and I repeat in control. Engine makes no vague sounds even at 105kmph. But I felt some chiming sounds after 106kmph. Also, I feel that at 4th gear the pick up is less. Sudden raise of speed is not possible. But due to the mid level management of bike’s engine (that is what I will call it) you can ride even at 20kmph in 4th gear. This is true.

The Mileage: What do you expect from a power bike? Liza (FZ16) gives a consistent mileage of 40kmpl in city. I travel for 40km daily (From home to office and back). There is a stretch of road where for just 1km I have to ride at not more than 10kmph due to heavy traffic. Inspite of this, I get 38-40kmpl of mileage. This mean if I travel on highways Liza would run for almost 55kmpl. This is good but not great. I guess I can expect a mileage of 65kmpl on highways and 50kmpl in city.

The Control: I have already spoken about this but I would like to highlight it. Tyres are really trust worthy and front disc brake is really good one to rely on. Wet roads are not at all safe for any tyre. Need to know the bike’s behaviour thoroughly before riding in rains. Once you know it, you can take FZ16 at a speed of 70kmph even if its raining heavily. I love MRF tyres.

The Comfort: Broad tyres bring good comfort for rider and you can go good distance without stopping. However, Only If You Are Alone. Why? The seat is pathetic for pilon rider. I wrote above that my girlfried was more excited when I brought this bike but now she hates it like anything. Rider does not realize how bad it can be for pilon rider. One of my friend whom I gave lift to his home couldn’t bear the pain in his back and he got down half the way. So if you are planning to buy this bike to have a good time with your wife or girlfriend then I recommend to check if your loved one is thin enough to fit the thin pilon seat.

The Lights: The head looks great and it gives a strong street bike look to FZ16. But whats the use if it is not powerful enough to lit the road. Passion Plus has better head lights. Guys, this is seriously recommended to change your head light to higher intensity before you take it on highways in night time.

The tail light has good intensity and though I dont like the look of the tiny tail light, I guess it is designed in a manner to focus on huge rear tyres. So ok.

Complete digital meter marking speed, fuel indicator and acceleration is awesome. No other bike in this segment has total digital meter.

The Looks: Looks a big thing. Male oriented. I like it. Please see below comments as well.

The Value: The cost I believe is still high for FZ16. But I also think that the engine is worth it. Now here is a catch. FZ16 costs you 73K and FZ-S costs 75K with no good changes. Only a Visor and better color and graphic treatment. Fazer with same engine costs you 83K. Fazer has got fairing with twin head lights. Yamaha has here played with Indian market. It has segregated the consumers in three segments – Performance, Performance with good looks and Performance with great looks. I mean it could still have FZ-S at 73K and knock of FZ16 and have only two segments FZ-S and Fazer. I believe Indian audience would have appriciated that. I trust Yamaha engines and their performance but I will stand amongst the critics in this situation. This is totally personal and I mean no offense. But people here reading this would definetly be on my side.

Summary

• Overall Performance: 4 Stars
• Looks: 3.5 Stars
• Comfort: 2.5 Stars (Considering pilon rider); 4 Stars (excluding pilon rider)
• Fuel Efficiency: 3 Stars
• Control: 5 Stars

Recommendations: Buy for your own riding luxury as it is the best in 150CC segment but not if you are couple or a family.

Regards,
Rakesh S Bhatia

Original Source: Yamaha R15 Ownership Review by Sumanth from BikeAdvice.in

I bought my R15 just more than 2 years ago. Both my bike and I have been through a lot since. Lot experience gained and lessons learnt. I hope this review will help many to make the right choices. In order to make it easier for you find what’s relevant for you in this post, I have divided my write up into sections with appropriate headings so that you can just skip ahead to things of your interest.

About me

When this bike was launched, I was in the final year of my engineering and it had been only 2 years since I learned to ride a bike! Before then, I was under the impression that my Kinetic Honda Y2K edition (2-stroke) could beat anything on the world . I learnt on a splendor and did most of my riding after that on a Pulsar 150 DTSI and Yamaha Gladiator 125. I still have good memories of all the bikes I rode in my college.

• Hero Honda Splendor: Smooth, easy to ride. Its place in the Indian market is absolutely justified.
• Bajaj Boxer: The smoothest boxer I have ridden.
• TVS Victor GLX: The handlebar and seating make for a very comfortable ride.
• Yamaha Gladiator: The bike I frequently used. I revved it hard and took tight corners with high speeds.
• Pulsar 150 DTSI: Torque abundant, easily hits 70-80 ish speeds in normal rides. Required the most maintenance compared to the above bikes.

All the bikes mentioned here were used in and out by the people in my hostel.

Initial Impression

Being a tech savvy, by nature I am attracted to high tech stuff. Almost 3 years ago, the R15 came in boasting about a lot of the technology in it. Just after its launch I got to ride an acquaintance’s bike. I was still not a matured enough biker then to gauge the potential of this bike. I changed gears at low revs when riding hence the bike seemed under powered. The brakes felt exceptional. It felt lighter than it looked. I was too scared to push the bike and see how it handled etc. It would be around a year later that I actually bought the bike. Until then I just drooled over the amazing AD.

Which bike?

June 2009- I have secure job. I want to buy a bike! Back then I did very little internet research and did things at my whims! The bikes I considered back then:

• Pulsar 180: New model launched with clip-ons, wider rear tires, better power, looked just like the beautiful 200 in every way.
• Pulsar 220: The beast may be way more than what I need.
• Yamaha R15: The bike of dreams, expensive- can I justify the cost?

I had a test ride of all the above bikes and decided to go with the R15. The throttle response had a marked difference over the carbureted competitors. The bike felt serious, handled well and wanted to be revved! The final on road cost came up to be around Rs.1,14,000. The run-in period of the bike was hard. The bike wanted to be revved but I had the Rpm in check for the stipulated miles. Just when was done with the run in, there was a Yamaha R15 championship taking place!

Yamaha R15 Championship

Yamaha organizes an event for R15 owners to take their bikes to the track (where the R15 belongs).

For Rs.500/- You Get

Bike transportation to and from the racetrack to your showroom +. Your commute in a Volvo A/C bus to and from the racetrack +. Lodge accommodation for few hours to freshen up on the morning of the event +. Track fee.

This is an awesome VFM package! The showroom person told me that the Rs500 they charged was only for the customer to take it seriously. Apparently lot of people enrolled and only a few turned up when it free, causing error in company’s estimate for resources.

Track Day

The morning starts with the unloading of bikes from the trucks. Then you stand in a long queue to enroll. Some lucky ones get the number of their choice. All stickers have the state and a number written on it. A Lot of people keep their stickers even after they are back.

There are 3 categories for race: Novice, intermediate and experts. In each you will get a practice lap and 3 race laps. Bikes are divided in heats. They provide knee guards. Then there is the state championship. This is state wise. All the bikes from a state will compete together at once. No knee guard and elbow guard were provided as too many were on track at once. This made it little dangerous.

I had made friends with people who were taking part from my showroom. They were experienced people and advised me to ride safely as this was my first time and I did so. I entered the novice class and let the crowd go ahead in the start and pushing after some time. But my bike would not rev beyond 10k rpm! It just gets stuck! I thought something was seriously wrong with my bike. May be I didn’t do the run-in properly! That apart, my shoe was scraping the road when I was turning! It felt a little scary. After the race I told my friends about the rev issue and that’s when I got to know about the rev limiter. The stock ECU cuts off power after 9800Rpm.

Then it was time for the state championship. Too many people participating at once, no knee guard provided. Since a lot of people take part in this event, there are people in all levels of competency. I.e. You will surely find someone who is at your level to compete. There was one person, closely following me. At one of the turns, he was catching up and suddenly I heard a thud sound and when I looked back, he had crashed! By now I had realized that I need to keep my toe on the foot pegs when cornering and slight body displacement and knee out would keep me from scraping the road.

Now, there was another competitor on my tail. We were neck to neck but at one corner he managed to get ahead of me but only to go out of track. So I regained my position WRT him. After the race I met up with him to hear his side of the story and had a good laugh. All in all, it was a good track day.

The prizes of the events could be called decent. They gave out coolants, engine oils, brake pads, Yamaha T-shirts, etc. I really recommend this event for anyone who has an R15. People have a lot of things to take back from this experience. I learnt some lessons on handling. One of my friend said riding on the tracks make him calm when riding on city roads. Looking back, it was too early for me take the bike on track. I didn’t know the potential and limits of the bike back then. I went without expectations and came back with lot of experience.

I must say that the bike has gotten me out some situations which seemed impossible escape! With time I started to l understand the bike better. This bike teaches the aspects of cornering. In time, I got to know the limits of this bike and started craving for more.

Daytona Engine Kit Review

I am sure there are a lot of people out there who start looking for something more from the bike after some time no matter what bike and how good it is. When the Daytona kits arrived, I was already craving for more power! I was one of the first few to experiment with this kit as soon as it was launched. I flushed all my savings to buy thing. I only purchased the engine kit. 37k INR for Dagrex exhaust, racing camshaft, racing ECU and fitting charges! It cleaned up my savings x-). I took an off that day and got it fixed at BangaloreWheels. I stayed there morning to evening, even though I was the first to come in the morning they made me wait while servicing the bikes that came after mine.

The bike was ready! I hopped into it and went for a spin and came back disappointed. I thought they didn’t fix it properly, but the mechanic said he was sure everything was done properly. They had even perforated the air-filter box cover for more flow of air. The bike had no power until 6-7k rpm. It wouldn’t move until you rev that high! I made a lot of noise (irritating, fart like). It was a petrol glutton! Vibrated like hell after 10k rpm. Reached 136kmph (speedo) upright with pillion, didn’t push more as the pillion was scared. A few days later went back to the service center and told them my issues and asked them to remove everything but the ECU.

They removed only the exhaust and returned the bike to me. The bike was much better now. The vibes were reduced, initial pickup improved making city ride tolerable again. I rode the bike in this configuration for a few months. I started to understand how the individual parts of the engine kit impacts the performance.

• Camshaft: Alters the torque/rpm curve by playing with valve open/close timings.
• Exhaust: Improves engine breathing by letting exhaust gasses flow freely without obstruction.
• ECU: Controls of fueling and ignition timing etc, as per throttle position, MAP sensor values.

The Daytona cam reduced the initial torque and gave a maddening torque after 7k rpm pulling insanely towards redline. It requires getting used to shifting gears to remain in sweet spot. The Daytona ECU performed same as stock but extended the rev limit to 12.5k, but for some reason lost to the stock ECU in mid range power. The Daytona exhaust caused vibration with full engine kit combo, but was comfortable when I removed the Db killer. Db killer is used to keep the noise down on free flows, but it makes the noise more shrill and intolerable. Finally I had the set-up which gave me the most satisfaction. Daytona exhaust + Daytona cam + stock ECU.

Here is a video link to my top speed run with the above setup:

Amazing isn’t it? Touching the rev limiter in 6th gear @ ~ 9800 rpm doing a 148kmph (speedo). My camera could only record video for a minute, I did hold that speed for a long time, even on an uphill incline!

Talking about top speed runs, this what I have realized from my runs:

Bikes also have moods swings. Bangalore is not the best place to test the performance of bikes. Same bikes do better in Mangalore, Chennai etc. Bike runs the best in first run when the engine has just warmed up. Bike rolls better with more air in tires. Speedo error varies with your tire pressure.

Never check tire pressure just after a top-speed run as the air inside will be very hot hence showing a very high value. Remember that all recommended tire pressures are cold air pressures. I also tried a k&n rc1060 sometime, It improved the initial pickup little bit, made no difference to my top end whack.

Race Concepts Tuning

With time, I got tired of this setup. I started to look on the internet for further options. That’s when I found Joel, who tuned bikes for the ten10 racing which took part in FMSCI championships. Got the following modifications done to the bike.

Big bore-piston 165cc, done 10k+ to date. A street camshaft. Exhaust with a wider pipe than the Daytona. I sold the Daytona exhaust to some lucky guy for 8k!

The bike was now a street scorcher! The cam I was running was not aggressive. I missed the short temper of the daytona cam. This cam gave me enormous initial and midrange pick up, requrired less frequent gear shifts. You could twist the throttle at any gear any rpm and the bike would move. Many a times I would be 6th gear when doing 30 odd kmph. The engine braking was almost gone! The best part was that I was getting an efficiency of 50 kmpl! no joke! This setup is the most satisfying setup till date. City rides were never this comfortable.

My Bike’s Current Configuration

For want of more top end power I got the things changed again on the above setup. Aggressive cam, makes the bike more peaky. Simota air filter. Head work. A stiffer clutch spring that makes gear shifts more notchy (less slip) and reduces clutch wear. Stiffer valve springs to avoid valve floating at high revs. A Programmable ECU for appropriate fueling for the engine.

It is a performance you can only understand when you ride and hard to put into words. I am yet to take a good video on this setup. Here is a video of a casual run when I was testing my new action camera:

The camera I used with suction cup mount.

Stock Bike Performance Review…

Pros

It’s the cheapest SBKish bike. Just take it for a spin and you will realize that all the Indian bikes lack something important that this bike has. The way it engages the rider is awesome. It has got Exceptional handing, brakes, road grip (dry conditions), high speed stability. No matter what speed, the bike is very stable and inspires confidence while taking corners. This is mainly due to the delta box frame and the stiff suspension setup. It has a rev friendly motor, is fun on open roads and curves like no other Indian bike.

Good throttle response and No cold start issues thanks to EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection). The good handling and light weight helps you to assume control even when the tires slip. Good top end whack for the segment. I had managed a 145 kmph (speedo). Solid fairing and body, makes absolutely no noise even if a few nuts and bolts are missing. 2 years of abuse and the bike still doesn’t make any noise when I jump potholes. Good head lamps (If properly setup. Each reflector has 3 screws to set up orientation).

Cons

Tire grip performance is somewhat like slicks. i.e exceptional in dry conditions, but poor in wet and gravel. The rear tires don’t have groves in the center. In wet conditions, you are more like to slip when upright than when leaning! low-mid range torque is lacking, so you need to rev hard to extract the 17bhp power. Its not the ideal bike for prolonged ride in city traffic.

The design of the bike is such that you must lean forward to reach the handle bar. It is a very aggressive seating, good for proper roads but sure pain on bad roads. Pain in upper back, neck, and palm can be felt when riding for a long duration in non-ideal conditions. Power is not the best in segment, i.e. Pulsar 220 has more power. Suspension is not great when riding with a pillion, especially if the pillion is heavier than the rider. Spares are little expensive compared to other bikes in the segment.

If you observe the cons, you will realize that they are not due to design negligence from the company. These cons are also responsible for the pros above and together make up the character of the bike.

Fuel Efficiency

35~40 kmpl, don’t know if this is a pro or con.

Tuning and Performance Options

This bike has inspired a lot of outfits to come up with aftermarket tuning option for the bike.

Race Concepts

• Exhaust: Improves the torque especially in low-mid revs.
• Camshaft: Alters the torque-rpm curve. Making more torque at high revs will yield more power.
• Bigger bore-piston: Improves torque and more tractable power band.
• ECU: Can further enhance and take advantage of above mods.
• Stiffer valve springs: Safer revving.
• Stiffer clutch springs: Better locking of clutch when changing gears.
• Simota stock replacement air filter: Improve intake without risk of erratic behavior of MAP sensor.

Hel

Steel braided brake lines: Better braking feedback. Website

Daytona

Chain sprocket options if you want to trade between speed and power. Engine kit that I mentioned above. Bigger front disks with fancy reservoir. Quick throttle: (60 degree operation I think..) etc.

Daytona Website

Cosmetic changes

I am very obsessed with performance upgrades. In fact, when I see a figure Rs.****, my mind immediately converts it into the performance options for my bike. Example: 5k ~ Daytona chain sprockets, 4k ~ steel braided brake lines, 600 ~ AGIP full synthetic engine oil, etc. Cosmetic changes don’t normally captivate me, but still I have tried a few.

Projectors + HID

Long back, through internet I had found someone who puts projector assembly inside the stock headlamp assembly. I had to send the stock assembly to Chennai and few days later he sent them back. He had put in Skoda laura projectors and his own unique “Angel Eyes” which I didn’t care about. My only concern was the road visibility. The projectors have a shield inside that cause a clear cut-off in the light patter so that you don’t harm the visibility of the oncoming traffic. So the orientation of the projects is crucial if you want the maximum benefits. When I received the headlamp, the cut-offs were at an angle and the visibility was poor. Even though the projectors were fit into the stock reflector, no amount of adjustment could compensate for the error in projector placement. You can see in the pictures the cut-off is not horizontal. In the picture the error is less exaggerated. On road, it was at a much steeper angle.

I made my issues clear and he offered to change them for free. This time he put sonata projectors. They were huge and better too. The cut-off was horizontal alright, but they were pointing upwards this time and the road was not much visible. Then I put HIDs 4300k. I preferred 4k color temperature HID as they produce a good visible pattern on road. Higher color temperatures like white, blue etc, do not light up the road well and also trouble the oncoming traffic. Now, there was light everywhere! Literally everywhere. I assume it must have affected oncoming traffic a lot. So I removed them. If you ever plan to get projectors for your bike do make sure they have correct orientation.

LED Twin Lights

This is available in many places and many varieties. No risk here.

LED Tail Lamp

I had tried a DIY for this but I always ended up burning the LEDs. So, I tried a solution that I found on the internet. I found stock replacement LED tail lamp bulbs. They fit into the same socket and have two brightness levels, easy enough. I bought red ones so that I can remove the red plastic inside the tail lamp assembly. See the pictures. It is not great, but more unique. It had a side effect on my service lights though. Every time I hold the brakes the twin lights turns on. Now I call this a feature. I have put up a picture of the LED bulb with the stock bulb.

Tank Pad

A friend gifted me this.

What’s a review without comparison?

I have only compared against bikes than I have driven enough to compare.

R15 vs R15 v2

I test rode the V2 recently. During the test ride, I was ripping the bike and the showroom guy managed to hold on without laying a finger on me! But seriously, no grab rails? It’s a problem unless your GF is the only one who sits behind. The seating is better for the rider in v2, somehow feels more settled and comfortable. Better stoppies in v2 because of broader front tires. The obvious good looks. But I don’t need the extra weight and the fat rear tire thank you! I still prefer previous version. But I want the rear section with cool LED tail lamp and number plate holder! hmm… v2 is not bad after all.

R15 vs P220

• The 220, has more power and a good standstill torque which is missing in the R15.
• R15 handles better.
• Yes, R15 costs a lot more and so do its mods.
• The 220’s fairings are not as rigid as the R15’s.
• The 220 gives the most bang/bucks.
• The 220 is more comfortable in bumper to bumper traffic.

R15 vs CBR250R

The CBR has plenty of torque and power, not too much, not too less, just about right for Indian roads. While taking corners at high speeds, CBR’s suspension felt a little spongy. The R15 is better here. But the CBR’s suspension and tires make it way better in taking on bad Indian roads than the R15. The CBR comes closer to R15 than any other bike in terms of handling! More tech than the R15: DOHC, closed loop FI with O2 sensor, C-ABS too. It is significantly heavier than the R15.

Over all, I feel the CBR is better suited for Indian conditions (excluding economic conditions). I hope you found some useful lines. Please comment.

Discuss about this review in the BikeAdvice Forum - Exclusive Thread.

Regards,
Sumanth

Original Source: Yamaha R15 Ownership Review by Rahul from BikeAdvice.in

About one and a half years ago, I was sitting in my room alone and thinking of getting a new bike. I was still in college then and drove around in an old Bajaj Calibre which used to belong to my father. As I searched the internet for second hand performance models and cheaper new bikes, I found a very interesting deal.

A Yamaha R15 was up for sale. It was only a year old and the owner needed immediate cash, so he was selling it for forty five thousand only! I was delighted to say the least and immediately called home. I asked my parents for the money and they simply refused. They even made it a point to make a joke about it by offering me five thousand to buy the bike.

I checked my account balance and it was only rupees six hundred and ninety seven. I couldn’t sleep that night. I had to come up with a way to get her. I always liked the Yamaha R15 but at over a lakh I always thought she was out of my league. But I was determined to get her.

Over the next few days I laid an entire plan which would help me earn the money over the next 4 months. I sold some of my old stuff and put the money into a small business. I also started teaching 3d Max software and worked freelance on architectural visualization projects. (I was studying to be an architect back then). I worked for it morning to evening ran, my own business and taught students.

4 months had passed. I was considerably thinner and richer by fifty thousand. I went home and eventually made my way to the Yamaha Factory Shop (YFS) in Kolkata. My parents didn’t know anything about my plans and they were shocked after learning that I had amassed so much money in such a short time.

Now the Yamaha factory shop is a super showroom. They have hundreds of each model in stock and if you are lucky you may catch an R1 or MT-01 in the servicing area. On the first floor on the display pedestal she stood in all her sleek black glory, my Yamaha R15. I named her right then, sweetheart.

Adjusting to My New Bike

If you are moving from a commuter bike to a R15 the first thing you notice is the different riding posture. The legs go back and the hands move a little forward, giving you the racer feel. The six gears are also there. The gear ratios are very different as well. In the initial stages I tried to get attuned to the engine sound as that sound tells you when to shift.

Being an NFS fan, I am very fussy about the ‘perfect shift’ as it gives you that high adrenaline pick up. I rode my bike for a few hours every day, tuning myself to the machine and it was very smooth at all times. As the bike was doing its first 500 kilometres I never took it over 70.

That is what the manual recommends; 4000 rpm at 6th gear gives you the speed of 60 km/h. I am one of the rear people who actually believe in reading the manual. After the driving it for over the first 500, I took it over for it’s first servicing and coming out of it I hit 100 km/h for the first time. No vibration, absolute stability and that continuous drone of the engine. Absolute bliss.

Advantages

Yamaha has probably said everything about this bikes features. You can all go over to the manufacturer’s website to take a look. But what does it mean to the end user? First of all, the six gears make it suitable for power and mileage modes. Just take it to 50-60 in 6th gear and it should give you over 45 km/l.

Or go to the over hundred mark on 6th gear and blow the wind and gas at the same time at only 30 km/l. I have done both and they both have their own advantages. The bike is very stable at high speeds and even in corners. Probably the best in cornering barring the Ninja. Don’t let the thin tyres fool you; they hug the track like glue.

All round pick up is very good, provided you shift well. The dual headlights are very useful in the dark highways at night. In the looks department, I have nothing to say. Always pulls eyes, always people ask about the price and mileage as well! (It’s India, after all). Whatever shortcomings the first one had the version 2.0 makes up for it.

Disadvantages

Firstly the rear tyre is great on track but unstable off roads or roads with pebbles. In India, depending on where you live this may be a problem. Shouldn’t be much of big deal if you live in a big city. Secondly, the power band from 4000 rpm. Some people say that the bike feels sluggish on 2000 rpm mark. I say if you shift right you can overcome most of it. But, yes there is a problem of power lower down. Go above 4000 for unleashing the little monster.

Spares can be a problem Specially the fairing. Many people the fairing of R15 and put it on their bikes. The most common one is Fazer with R15 cowls. But I have seen Pulsar 220, Pulsar 180, CBZ and even a TVS Victor with R15 fairing. So parts can be a problem if you manage to damage them in a minor accident.

Accidents

I have had one accident with my bike where a trashed the right side of the bike and the entire right cowls, footrest, and headlight plastic had to be replaced. It cost 3750, including everything. So repairs aren’t really very costly. The only problem is the parts. I found everything apart from the right main panel.

It actually took me 6 months to get them. (In the mean time I used the cracked one). The battery is really small and if you want to go for extra electrical accessories then you better watch it. You may fry the battery with Xenon headlamps.

Accessories

Yamaha provided original accessories for the R15. Apart from that you get a lot of aftermarket stuff. If you have the taste and the budget you can seriously make your bike look unique.

Note: The Yamaha accessories are really hard to get in showrooms.

Upgrades

I wasn’t too happy about the lower power band and I decided to do something about it. The Daytona performance kit was a dream as it is very hard to get in a Yamaha showroom. I had the money from the business which was started for the bike itself. I decided to go the whole way and buy myself a Two brother’s vale exhaust system. You can see that in the first picture or the video posted below.

After Effects

The boom is really loud. But that is not everything. Gear it up and it’s a different machine you are riding. The sound turns heads and your new found speed and pick up delight you. It’s almost like getting a new bike. Now the money I had to spend is considerable. You can get this from plannetdsg.com based in Pune. It’s worth it!

There was a time when I had to go to college every morning driving for over 40 kilometres. I always started from my home at 7:35 and reached before 8:00 am. I was never late, thanks to my beauty. In these early winter morning rides, I wore black leather jacket, black leather gloves, a balaclava and my red graphics helmet. I used studds then, now I have switched to an AGV. (Endorsed by Valentino Rossi).

In those trips I got to speeds at 134 km/h. Due to the loud boom of the exhaust cars would clear the right lane and let me pass when they saw me approaching. For one month I continued in this fashion and only once I was overtaken by BMW 5 series which was doing over 160!

Recently my bike turned 1 year old. Her birthday is 7th July. The relationship has been glitch free for the entire period she has been with me. Next year I might go for the big guns in an R6 when it’s launched. But I will not sell my true first bike, the one I bought with such difficulty. She is my sweetheart an icon of my youth and of my achievements.

PS: If you want to reach the high speeds with your R15, get an iridiam spark plug, a V.A.L.E. exhaust system, a K&N air filter. The Daytona sproket as well. Lean on your bike and shift at 7500 rpm. You will go over 150! Always ride safe, wear a full face imported helmet, and armoured jacket with gloves and boots. Happy riding!

Two brother’s exhaust R15 Video. I am there! With my loud bike!…

Regards,
Rahul Mazumder

Original Source: Yamaha YZF R15 Review By Arvind from BikeAdvice.in

Hi its Arvind here. It’s my pleasure to write a review for BikeAdvice. Friends I belong to Himachal. I am working in a company after completing my MBA. Before this I was in the business of second hand bikes. All these things just made me a maniac and now I think, learn and earn for bikes. I wish to join Raid De Himalyan Rally.

I have gone through every bike starting from Kawasaki Boxer to Pulsars and Hondas to Ninja 250 also (driven my friends one). Really all this experience through these bikes just made me to write a review to my latest Legendry machine the Yamaha YZF R15 (Blue).

Why R15?

As I was always in search of a bike who can fulfill my need of racing instinct, with a great handling and of course an Indian quote of “ Kitna Deti Hai” means a decent mileage. In the back history of bike there were some machines which I always rode Legendry CBZ 2002 Model. This made revolution at that time and of course was a 5 speed machine.

After that the Legendry Karizma 2006 model and rode it for a lot of time but if truly saying As my perfection level increased I was in search of a track machine and very soon got my hands on Bajaj pulsar 220cc for two months what it could not outshine the handling level of Karizma and left it soon with Apache RTR 160.

Definitely a good bike for initially racing throttles as to its name “RTR”(Racing Throttle Response) but as I rode it to the upper red lines of RPM, Oh my God it’s horrible! vibrations and lose confidence level as you push it harder and harder feeling somewhere as it will rollover me, shorter in dimensions it feels so, as a very powerful engine on a small chassis (my 80% experience on ghat roads and 20% on straight highways) I would like to say.

It’s not the matter of Bhp of the machines or a top end of bikes but it’s the matter of how this power is distributed over the machine to make a Sports Bike. Dear friends before leaving the business of second hand bikes I finally decided to go for one more Legend a Purely Street Fighter the Legendry Yamaha FZ16.

A bike as short to its name inversely a lot to describe. A machine, which broke all the records of lean and mean machines in its segment and of course changed the definition of machines who are the track king and of course carrying the heritage of Legendary Yamahas. Done over 26000 Km before I just concluded this bike as I was lacking somewhere with the brakes at the rear end and of course low mileage if you are continuously topping the red lines.

A worst average of 28 km/L. The huge mid torque with a fast and aggressive first 80 km/h but after that it lacks and so on. It is a legend who just confirmed me the message of its next legends like R15. Truly made me to think over the next bike update as this was the time when I was searching a bike with a great top end.

And a perfect track machine. And of course a decent mileage which was lacking in Yamaha FZ 16. After searching, studying and begging friends for short spin of 1km ride I finally shifted to this Lean and Mean machine The Legendry R15. My all time favourite machine.

Let us talk about the Machine. I purchased the machine in Jan 2011 and till now the ODO is going for 12000 km covering every part of north of course my dream Highway where Raid De Himalayan moves through (Starts from PeterHoff shimla (Himachal Pradesh).

First Appearance

I had gone through the bike so many times but being owner makes you a life time feelings. Was looking the bike and thinking of all the roads I have to test the bike. Bike looks super from front side and makes you happy enough, good enough from every side as I accept this model the best one for racing as it has passed the all wind tunnels in the test. (The test taken for checking the behavior of machine at very high speed by keeping the bike in a tunnel like cell). A very fresh model with twin lamps. All in all good one.

First Ride

My first ride was good one as it was a least ride of 60km. A very smooth ride the conclusion was. I planned my first long drive from my home to Shimla a 160 km aside up n down 320 km. Totally roads like test tracks. With least of 30 km straight highway a good test ride I thought so.

As I was ready to check the bike from all aspect of my previous bikes from Pulsars to Honda to Yamaha FZ16. Got my Yamaha jacket on, with gloves and put the studds helmet, got a puncture kit under the seat and lets go. Here is the first feeling and overall review upto 12000 km.

As I was riding the FZ16 previously and of course have sensed the power of 21 bhp (Pulsar 220cc) also. I got the bike to my best experience level. In the form of power the initial thrust is not that good as its lowmid torque takes some sec to reach to the respected level of 60s and 80s.

As I check every bike to ghat roads. Every time you brake you need to get the machine to its power band by shifting 1 down or 2 also. Took some time to understand the exact importance of shifting down and keeping the bike in Powerband. Once you understand the gear shift ratio of this machine I bet to every rival about the handling of this machine.

More you throttle more you feel confident (the aerodynamics of machine, the side flaps, the front head passes the air in such a way as more you speed more the air pressure is there on the machine so it sticks to the road making you a feel of confidence and one body ride, much like racing spoilers in sports cars).

Even having a curve at 60 to 70 km/h at very deep curve and tight roads. (Quick Attack At Corners) A very good power to weight ratio for this machine makes it quiet fast and aggressive. Really you feel the beauty of machine when you are swallowing the curves like 5 to 10 in every minute.

You need to steer at the seat. A freedom level we see in motoGP (The movement of riders leaning right and left on racing tracks). A very good Humachine Technology (Behavior of machine when the actual rider on it) I appreciate. Of course very good brakes, feel somewhere spongy when you brake frequently but enough to stop this machine.

Thanks to “NISIN” for doing their duty efficiently. One thing that I would say a bike which makes you full of confidence at every curve deep, wide, open, short every time. One thing keep in mind, be in Powerband and see the magic it’s a sports bike not a baba gaadi.

Definitely this machine has guts to beat anyone upto 220cc segment any time every time on ghat roads (the meaning of sports machines have come from test tracks not from highways where every machine can go for its top end. Mind it, you can see how Valentino Rossi is facing worst performance with his Ducati’s, everybody knows Ducati has a name for its very powerful machines.

But it’s the world of sports bikes, I mentioned it to support the fact, so don’t mind my Ducati friends). As Indian roads you can’t guarantee the smooth always, so if sometimes you are facing the sudden pot holes at speeds don’t worry this machine swallow them very confidently (Works very well which is rare in sports bikes because of their very low ground clearance).

Thanks to its rear mono suspension (non adjustable) which does its duty with great firmness and smoothness “Gabriel India” has done a great job. Thanks. The gearbox of the machine is so smooth and of course made for sports bike where the gear up and down are made thousand times in motoGP. I never saw any slickness of gears which I have seen in Pulsars family (Don’t mind). Never missed even a single shift to my till ride.

Most of the guys weep for the poor performance from the skinny tyres which is totally fake. These zappers are really good to their duty assigned and one thing this bike being high performance don’t swallow tires as I have seen in FZ16 in ghat roads. So making the best economy to the tire side.

The fuel injection works very well having the different punches of high to low throttles and of course giving very strange and noticeable mileage of 39-40 km/lt. At highways with full throttle on, it makes a top end punch of 139 km/h which is 134 appx. At these speeds you can feel the confidence level and of course aerodynamics of bike are superb.

You will feel a one body ride as you are also the part of machine. Totally compact and aggressive. A good R&D ever done by any company to Indian bike history, even I have made the custom paint to this bike to make it to my taste. At almost every speed the bike feels vibration free toally. Thanks to Yamaha for making such lightweight and vibration free machine.

I have got some very long journeys from Delhi to Manali and Shimla to Manali, Wrist pain are often initially but once you are habitual it don’t feels. Keep one thing in mind it’s a pure sports bike not a semi sports bike like Karizma and CBR250 (Where seating posture is open chested).

One thing I have felt at night as the twin lamps somewhere lack in their duty. Might it be due to the poor reflecter or something else but it needs little improvement. (Don’t blame directly might be I could not adjust the setting of lamps till date). The rear view mirrors do their duty perfectly and give the bike a mature look as well.

The chain set is quite good and the chain needs lubrication after every 500 km. I recommend to purchase chain lube by Motul (550rs). If you are on bikes day and night you can go for seat cover by Yamaha (850 rs). It works very well in summer (as your jeans don’t wet in summer making you itch free) and of course makes a very good look.

Maintenance wise the bike is quite good. Till now I have changed the front and rear diskpads costing (1100rs appx.). Be regular at service after 3000 km and I think this is the best practical bike till this date with every aspect that any young chap thinks about. Because it’s easy to purchase a bike and tough to maintain it. So keeping everything in mind I suggest this bike.

Overall Conclusion

The Positive Side

Looks, handling, performance, controls, maintenance, practicality of the bike with a very decent mileage that keeps this bike above any rank of No 1. Totally an out of box machine comparative to any machine till 200cc or can say upto 220 cc. It’s a perfect as an overall package.

Impressed and it made me a Superfan of Yamaha. Now I check every sports machine by making ‘Yamaha R15’ the benchmark (Upto 220cc only not with Ninja and other Big Monsters). If you have instinct of racing and have courage to the tag ‘See you at Finish Line”, then this machine is for you. Must have a test ride friends.

The Negative Side

Mid torque should be little high because it’s not possible to be at red line (over 5000 Rpm) always in some very tricky situation of short over takings. Little bit to toil with lamps. Nothing more than this, It’s a sports bike so little bit suffering at wrist I will not mention this as negative. Thanks and enjoy.

“Be Safe, at least Spend 10 percent of Bike’s Cost to Your Safety like Helmet and Jackets and Others. You Have To Drive so many Lean And Mean Machines in Your Life”. “Take Care and Happy Riding”.

Regards,
Arvind kumar

Original Source: Yamaha FZ16 4000 KMs Ownership Review by Sunjay from BikeAdvice.in

Hi, I am Sunjay ‘A biker’ doing 2nd year Engineering crazy about bikes and love riding. “People ride because they want to go from one place to another but, I go from one place to another because I want to Ride”.

How it all Started?

The idea of buying a bike started due to a auto-rickshaw strike because of which my father and sister had to walk a long distance as there was no other medium of transport through that route, that was the day when my father decided that we needed a bike.

He knew that I would get over-excited if I know about it and my mother will never allow him to buy a two-wheeler because she was scared, so without telling us he booked a Hero Honda Passion Pro, all my father wanted was a low powered bike with good mileage.

Three days after booking he told me that the bike will come in ten days. I was shocked! I asked which bike? He told me that he had book a Hero Honda Passion Pro. I told that I wanted something more than a Passion Pro according to my age. I told this to my mother she was like go cancel the booking now.

But my father was determined, so after ten days the dealer called to tell that the bike has not yet arrived. I then somehow managed to convince him to move on to another bike which will also suit me, as I am doing 2nd year engineering. I told him that I wanted something more stylish and it should also have decent amount of power.

The Search Started! (Jan 2011)

I am a big fan of the Royal Enfield and my first choice was the great “Royal Enfield Bullet Classic 350” but my parents doubted that if I could manage a RE350 and the price was way beyond our budget.

Search Started

All the 100c’s were ruled out of the list, then I finalized on the Honda Stunner and the Pulsar 135LS. After lot of research in bike advice reading ownership reviews, I decided that the Pulsar 135 was not very reliable. I selected the Honda Stunner and showed the picture of the bike to my parents, both of them didn’t like the Stunner due to its front cowl.

Search Continued…

Later, I realised what I really wanted was a 150cc so the list was prepared.

The Competition!

• Honda Unicorn Dazzler
• CBZ Extreme
• GS150R
• Pulsar 150
• Yamaha FZ16

The Pulsars were ruled out because of their low reliability, and then came the CBZ Extreme, I learned proper biking on an extreme so it was my favourite in the list. I liked the bike so much that I didn’t want to compare it with the other bikes. First I called all the Hero Honda dealers in my district but no one had the bike. All the dealerships had a waiting period of 3 to 4 months. I even searched other district dealerships but all in vain. But my excitement was not ready to wait.

Then went for the GS150R. It is a good bike, I really loved the digital console and even the pricing was good. My father reminded me that the price was increasing but I had a hope that if I zeroed on a good bike he will buy it. I called the Suzuki dealership they told the delivery will take 3 months after booking. We were not ready to wait! There were only two good models left The Honda Unicorn Dazzler and the Yamaha fz16 both were similarly priced. The Unicorn was full of features like, the rear disk brakes and the FZ had the stunning looks and wide rear tyres.

The Real Competition Starts

After a lot of research and reading ownership reviews in BikeAdvice and xBhp I got a decent amount of knowledge about the bikes. I decided that I will write a review in bike advice after getting the bike. When I used to read reviews, I used to wonder why people write the review after riding it for long time and not after 500 or 1000kms.

My cousin brother had taken a Dazzler. I called him and asked for a test-drive and he came, I drove it. I noticed that the low end torque of the bike was low and it needed lots of gear shifting during city driving but I thought you won’t get everything nice in a single package. At the same time my friend Nikhil had taken a FZ. I called him and he came with the bike, it was sexy and muscular. I sat on the bike, it was the first time I was riding an FZ.

The moment I drove it I noticed that the bike was full of torque and the looks was mind-blowing. I was in love with it. I decided to go for the FZ16. My mother liked the bike and my father asked how much mileage does it give, everyone knows FZ does not give the same mileage as it competitors. My mother liked the bike very much. So she and me together convinced my father that, since our daily use was small, and hence mileage was not a big factor. Finally he agreed! I was so happy.

Went Straight to the Dealership: Shinrai Yamaha

There were many FZ, FZ-S and Fazer’s and other Yamaha’s. The scene was awesome. My father wanted a black FZ but it was not available and I wanted a Red. We booked the red and after the registration, the bike was ready the next day evening.

I was so excited about the bike. 18-April-2011, It was a long day for me, time was going very slow but somehow evening came and we went to the dealership and there it was my lava red FZ16 saying Hi to me. We finished the formalities and they keys were handed over. “A Journey of Infinite Miles Starts With the Ignition”. It was superb, cutting through the traffic was so easy for the bike.

We went home. We did the pooja the next day. Since it was a Sunday, the number plate was not ready. I had to go to hostel that day night. I really didn’t want to go. Somehow, me and my cousin made number of excuses and managed to convince our parents and took leave for a day. Got the number plate on the next day morning and we were ready to roll!

The Real Review…

It stands out in a crowd. I was so happy watching the heads turn, when I pass by. It was the first FZ in my locality. Everybody describes the bike calling “She” but for me it is “He”, the muscular looks and the power, stopped me from calling it “She”. The stunning muscular looks the wide rear tyre which was the widest in India, the full digital console the muscular tank, I was in love with everything.

It was the lion of the Jungle. But the lion need not be the fastest, there are cheetah’s for that. The FZ was not as fast as its competitors, but it was ok till 100 or 105kmph. The low end torque made it perfect for cutting through the city traffic. The tagline says it all “Lord of the Streets” and not highways. I am not going to tell about the technical specifications of the bike as you all know about it. I will describe it from the owner’s point of view.

The Engine and Performance

The 153cc mill is a master in producing torque. I agree that the high end power of the bike is not very good but the low end and the midrange is mind-blowing. The FZ has multiple personality, if we keep the rpm between 3 – 3.5k then it acts as a commuter bike. Fun starts after 4k and all the way to 7.5K! The exhaust note just changes, adrenaline rushes that’s the way an FZ has to be ridden but under safe limits.

It does not perform badly when compared to its competitors in the 150cc segment. The name says the character of the bike “Lord of the streets”. It is made for the city. I love zipping through the traffic in the city, it is so ease. The bike performs the best in the city. When taken to the highway it lacks power at the top end but since I am not a speed freak I don’t have any problem with the bike and my main riding is inside the city.

As everyone say that it has low mileage, but I tell them that, its only due to improper run-in of the bike. People can’t resist ripping it from the time they took it out of the showroom, but I was patient to complete the run-in properly. The engine of the bike is very reliable and performs well in call conditions. Have a look at the Knowledge Base of bikeadvice on how to have a proper run-in.

The Looks

Do I really need to write this? If you have seen the FZ, you will know how gorgeous it looks. The best looking bike in the segment, the first of its kind. The huge muscular tank adds to its looks but it’s just a piece of fibre covering, the tank is under it and is small, a 12L tank with 1.4L reserve. The Wide rear tyre just shoots its looks to the sky, it also adds to the handling of the bike but we have to sacrifice the mileage for the awesome tyre and its looks.

The wide forks add to the macho looks of the bike. The headlight is one of a kind it’s so different from other. The only thing that I feel that lacks in the looks of the bike is the rear view mirrors. It is not as stylish compared to the mirrors of the other bikes, but it gives good visibility. The pillion foot rests of the bike looks very sporty. No doubt that the bike looks superb, till now it doesn’t have anything to match with its looks. It wins here without any competition.

Features

The list of features starts with the fully digital console which has the digital tachometer. In the beginning, I felt that it’s a bit “toyish” but soon I started liking it. There is a common complaint that the fuel gauge of the FZ is wrongly calibrated, but I suggest you to keep the tank half filled always, so that the fuel meter shows the correct reading without blinking.

But that is not a worry since there is a trip meter so that we can have a rough idea about the fuel left in the tank. The console also has a engine check light which informs us in case of a problem in the engine of the bike. Even now I love to see the digital console lighting up and checking when the key is turned ON. The specially designed midship exhaust, the term midship means that the exhaust is actually under the bike.

If you look carefully you will see a big box at the lower back of the engine that is the main exhaust of the bike. The design of the exhaust is cool and eye-catching. I was so tired of seeing the tube like long exhausts. Again a one of a kind part! The exhaust note is also amazing as the engine revs higher.

Seating

The seat of the rider is very comfortable and it can also be used for long journeys but the pillion seat is very small and not so comfortable. It is really felt when going through bad roads but for the rider there is no problem. The seating position of the bike is so indulging and does not produce any stress on the writs or cause any back ache. Yamaha also offer a cool mesh seat cover, which looks good and makes the seat very cool under all conditions, it’s a bit overpriced at Rs1200.

Suspension

The rear is having a mono suspension which is very comfortable and also can be adjusted with three settings soft, medium and stiff. All three have their functions but the medium is best for daily use, for track based use the suspension can be turned to stiff, it improves the handling of the bike, for more comfort the suspension can also be turned the soft.

The front suspension is also good. The wide front forks also add to the looks of the bike. But the wide forks is not very strong as the looks, a medium fall can result in a alignment change of the forks and will need a bent correction. The things I wanted to have in the features list are backlit switchgear and, a clock in the digital console would have been of great benefit. Again you can’t have everything.

Now Handling the Beast

The first ride of the bike itself shows the handling. It is the best handler. The front and rear wide tyres the 17inch wheels improve the handling of the bike. The chassis is made to challenge corners that come in front of the bike. To see the capability of the bike we should be taken to real twists then the bike really shows its cornering capability.

The FZ is the real master of handling the wide tyres provide excellent grip but I am not very satisfied with the wet grip of the tyres. The tubeless tyres also help in continuing riding even in case of a puncture. My bike has been ridden for a week with two punctures all we need to do is fill air every day but still I noticed that air pressure only decreased by 3psi every day. It is very convenient that we won’t have to stop our journey even in case of a puncture. The tyres used in FZ are both MRF zappers.

Brakes

The front disk brake is the biggest in India, it’s one of the best brakes and stopping distance is very less. I have seen few FZ fitted with aftermarket rear disks I wonder why they do that when they have such good rear drum brakes at the rear. There is no lack in braking even with the rear drum. I use 70% front and only 30% rear. There is a misconception among bikers that front brakes should be used least I suggest them to go through the knowledge base of bikeadvice.

Reliability and maintenance

The reliability of the bike is great, there is no doubt about it. Yamaha has done a fantastic job with the engine and other aspects of the bike. Regarding the reliability of the bike there are many who have completed saddle-sore on the FZ16, for those who all don’t know what a saddle-sore is, It is riding the bike for 1660km under 24hours.

It’s a real test of the bike and even the rider. Coming to maintenance of the bike, it requires lubricating the chain every 500km since it is a open chain. I do it myself all you need is some diesel and a can of Motul chain lube. I also suggest all FZ owners to check the air pressure every time they go to fill fuel or at least once in a week low pressure is also a main cause of low mileage.

Special Care

One thing that you will notice after riding it is that, it gets dirty easily, I don’t like dirty bikes so I make sure that my bike is in clean condition always. I give my lion a wash at least once in a week. It’s so nice to see the bike shining. I always want my ride to be in prime condition. My lover sometimes tells me that I care and spend time with my bike more than with her. “The way you treat your ride is the way it treats you”.

Fuel Efficiency

One main thing that everyone asks me how much do you get from it? If you do a proper run-in and maintain the bike well, check air pressure at least once in a week, then you won’t have to complaint about the fuel efficiency of the bike. But one thing I noticed is that the fuel efficiency of the bike is always in fluctuation.

I have even got 45+ in the run in period and also got 29kmpl just once after constant ripping. Yamaha’s are not made for mileage, its made for the power, the pleasure it gives while riding is the best part about the bike. I love it when heads turn. Usually I get between 40 to 45kmpl. My riding is 65% City and rest Highways.

Tip

To get maximum fuel efficiency a proper run-in is required. To learn how to do a proper run-in refer the knowledge base in bikeadvice. Maintain correct pressure in the tyres.

Tours on the bike

I have gone for small strips on my bike with friends with different roads, twists, in all conditions the bike performed really well. I never got a chance to take it for a long trip but now I got it, I and my ride will be going for the Xbhp.com All Kerala G2G at Vagamon this October 2011.

There are few things that I like the most about the bike:

• The looks of the bike
• The low and mid range torque and power
• The handling of the bike
• Fully digital console
• The braking ability
• The wide tyres
• Its road presence

A few this I don’t like or what I wanted it to have:

• Backlight switchgear
• A clock in the digital console
• Bigger and more comfortable seats for the pillion
• Stronger forks and handlebar
• It gets dirty very fast

Conclusion

The bike is one of the best bikes available. It is fun to ride and easy to handle. Give proper care and maintained well it will also return you with good fuel efficiency and reliability. But if you are more of a highway rider I suggest you to go for something more powerful and which can cruise easily at high speeds. The FZ is made for the city.

The new models of the FZ have arrived they have better mileage but you will have to sacrifice the torque a bit, Yamaha has decreased the torque to a better fuel efficiency. If you are looking for a good bike with decent fuel efficiency stunning looks and which can cut through city traffic and corners with its awesome handling then, it’s time to stop thinking and to go for a Yamaha FZ.

One thing I want to mention here, as I have mentioned earlier, when I used to read ownership reviews here I used to wonder why is the review after 3000 or 10000km why not just after the run-in period of the bike, Now I understood why it is so, because there is no time writing a review I had time only to ride the bike. I thank bikeadvice.in and xbhp.com for helping me in selecting my dream bike and I have no regrets in selecting an FZ.

To all my fellow riders, always ride with the proper riding gear at least wear a helmet when you ride. Prevention is always better than cure. Ride Safe. Enjoy Riding!

Regards,
Sunjay Kumar

Original Source: Yamaha R15 Ownership Review By Dhruvaraj from BikeAdvice.in

Hi this is Dhruvaraj here with the review of my Yamaha R15 which I bought on 14th of August. The bike owned by me previously was the Bajaj Pulsar 180cc UG3 model. Hmmm whenever I look back on the dilemma I went through while choosing my bike, I smile thinking about all the decisions which were made then. I had thought of buying the Pulsar 220F as my next bike, but I decided not to buy it as there were rumours that the Honda CBR250R was going to be released in India.

I decided to buy my bike in November 2010. Around that time it was announced that the CBR bookings were going to start during the first week of January. In March, I booked the CBR after an amazing test-ride. But the problem which all bikers face whenever companies release new bikes is the availability of the spares.

So I refrained from buying the CBR also. I had driven my friend’s Honda CB Unicorn Dazzler, and fell in love with the smoothness of the bike.

I wanted to choose the bike according to two criteria

• The company I buy from should be something other than Bajaj or TVS. (Just personal preference)
• It should have discs at both the front and rear.

So my options were bikes made by Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki. Dazzler from Honda and R15 from Yamaha were chosen as the bikes I should go for as they had fit my criteria aptly. And finally being the race-buff I am, I chose the Yamaha over Honda; and thus the decision for buying the R15 was made.

The regrets I have are…

• Why didn’t I buy the R15 sooner?
• No frame slider options.
• Bangalore traffic being too messed up. It gets too crowded that I am always at the peak of my senses to prevent people from banging carelessly into my bike.

I am not able to utilize the vehicle to its maximum potential, since I am huge in size compared to the bike so I am already on my way to reduce weight. My previous bike the Bajaj Pulsar 180cc UG3 model {I have no complaints against my Pulsar as it has served me faithfully} was the perfect beginner’s bike. It was just raw semi-refined power put into a bike which was then sold for nominal price.

The transition from Pulsar to R15 was a bit difficult at first. The differences were the full front faring, the split handle bars, the rear disc brake, reserve meter, and the 6 speed gearbox. Compared to having no fairing, the fairing present in R15 was like a huge leap for me.

My driving skill had to be improved to a great extent after buying this bike; following lane rules became mandatory for me so that I didn’t mess up my bike, as compared to squeezing the Pulsar in every nook and cranny amidst heavy Bangalore traffic.

The 6 speed gearbox was difficult to get used to since the Pulsar by default comes with a 5 speed gearbox; I used to forget about the existence of 6th gear or would forget to come down a gear extra while gearing down. The positioning of the handle bar provides comfortable maneuverability even in traffic but the only difference was that I had to lean a bit more.

This is just my opinion but every bike out there should be provided with a rear disc brake, the cost of the rear brake kit should be reduced and should be made a standard in each and every bike. Rear disc brake makes all the difference while braking in bikes, when compared against the standard drum brakes, the braking feels so much better than pulsar.

There is a reserve meter provided in the bike which shows the distance travelled after the fuel goes into reserve mode which is very convenient. I fill super unleaded petrol from Shell stations and get a mileage of 42-44 kmpl. The price was a bit heavy on my pocket but the bike is definitely worth the buy. I have gone a good 2000+ kms on the bike and the handling you feel in this bike is amazing.

I reached a good 132 kmph on my bike on Néce road; couldn’t try to go higher due to a bit of traffic being present there. The corners present in and around Bangalore are too tempting to be tried out. But the only problem there would be the pot-holes or speed-breakers present after you finish up your cornering waiting to catch you off-guard and throw you out of balance.

The bike, at the end of the day, does really make you say “Yes Yamaha” as their slogan goes. So, drive safely so that you can live longer to drive many other amazing bikes. Touring in my bike has yet to start as I am waiting for my third service to get over. I am also waiting for one of my friends who got his Royal Enfield 500cc black to finish up his bike’s services.

If bikeadvice.in allows then I will definitely be posting the pictures taken when we start our touring. Concluding this piece of my mind would be a question. This bike was meant for my younger bro, and I have taken a liking for it. Since he won’t be having his adventures on this bike, It’s only fair that I get him another bike. So the question is Should I get him the KTM duke or the Yamaha R15 v2.0? Enjoy ur rides.

Regards,
Dhruvaraj

Original Source: Yamaha FZ16 Ownership Experience by Ashwin from BikeAdvice.in

“Sync with me…” Yup, those were the very first words to come out of my mouth, with my right hand on the dome and looking deep at what was right there in front of me, minutes from becoming a huge part of me. Standing right in the middle of the room, posing like a superstar, in staggering and ferocious red with a pitch black stripe running along in the middle.

It was a moment that cannot really be described in mere words, it was an experience. The enormous gush of joy, excitement and sheer happiness was just out of this world. It was there; right there, under my palm… the end to my waiting.

My very own FZ. This is write up is not another review or an ownership take on the bike, nope, this is an experience. The one that I have been waiting to put it down in words for quite some time. So, here we go.

“But before I start off, I really do want to thank my parents so much for putting up with me and my quest for getting my bike. I honestly do thank them so much for this.” Now where was I, oh yes! Please read along now. It is this sense of nostalgia that crept into me from the past couple of weeks every single time I was riding the bike, a sense that completely fazed me out of the dreary traffic along my side.

Not that I wasn’t in my senses while riding or anything, but come on, any biker would understand what I’m trying to say here. With every rise in the throttle, and the super-slick gear shift, it is a feeling of amazement and the need to just zoom ahead of everyone and leaving them behind. What a feeling that is!

But it’s not all about speed and giving it the beans or anything, there is more to me and my bike than most cases. I really do owe a lot to my bike, ever since I got it home, things started looking up for me. It was like the end for a long phase of struggle slowly fading away to the past. But as I said, there are quite a lot of things I can relate to but that’s just for me to know.

I really do credit my bike for these to great extent. So in return like the English, I knighted him as with a name (Oh come on! like none of you have ever done this before!). I called him the “Dragon” [Eerie isn’t it!]. Don’t ask why, because I just did.

But as times flew by, and when things weren’t exactly normal, and with some of my close ones moving out to different cities and time felt passing by at snail’s pace or even slower than that. But the bike was there. It was there for me, on days when I was completely down and out. It knew the ways to cheer me and keep my spirits up. [Woah! Nearly started reminiscing the moments that I don’t want to reminisce. Move On! Move On! Move On!]

Well to divert a little from the usual, I see my bike as an entity with various personas. It is like the dog that I never had, it is the companion who connects on a whole other level, it is like a friend who knows how to lighten you up when needed, it is like your side-kick who would stand by you in the given situations, I can go on and on about the ways I relate to my bike. It really is quite an epic part of my life. I simply respect the machine immensely.

Now coming to a recent topic of discussion, I wouldn’t say that I have been one of the safest riders over the year, hell no. I guess that conception took a beating when I met with my first slightly serious accident. This incident literally split me up into something. Surprisingly, I ended up with just a few bruises here and there on my hands and knee.

But unfortunately, I couldn’t say the same for my bike, I wish I could but that wasn’t the case. After I got up from the fall, I turned to him, looked at him lying there in the middle of the road. That broke me. It hit me so hard that I genuinely wished it was me there instead of him. I couldn’t stop hating and beating myself up for what I made him go through. It really did ripped me apart within.

But as I took him to the side and dusted him off, corrected the mirrors, glimpsed at the damaged headlight, turned the key to ON and pressed the little start button and the champ roared back to life. It was a mix of sensation and respect then; I just couldn’t stop gaping at the bike and couldn’t get enough of the impeccable sound being produced by him.

“What a machine really!” Couple of weeks later, I got him fixed, although it didn’t sound like that much of a damage, like the headlight and one of the indicators had come out from its position and a slightly bent crash guard. But sure as hell, did leave a significant hole in my pocket. But I guess it was worth it. And given the situation, I thought I could give it a new nick name: say, Phoenix! signifying the rise of him, post a facelift. [Chuckles] Well, I really did want to, but due to excessive popular demand, I stuck with Dragon itself.

I don’t really want to get into the technical details or the performance of the bike because, I believe one’s bike is what one makes of it or how one uses it (plus there are quite a lot of reviews by experts posted already). For me, the bike is something as I said earlier, an elemental piece of engineering with which I get to connect on various levels.

For me, it rides perfectly, even long distances. It knows how to make the most when I show it some corners. It knows when to get thirsty and knows when not to and thus doesn’t burn a hole in my pocket. Overall, as a bike it works more than perfect for me. I have nearly come to the end of this write-up on my monumental experience with the little fellow, and just in time when he turned 1, few days ago.

As I said in the beginning, the bike, the magnificently crafted showcasing of masterful engineering. The yardstick of marvel and amazement. It is succinct, sublime and superb. It really is a consortium of prowess, panache and perfection. It really is a Masterpiece.

Ashwin