Yamaha FZ1 Fazer 1000 Review

Take a sneak peek into this machine and let me know your thoughts please! Yamaha bikes, if you compare with any other bike brands, are born to cruise on roads. Yamaha FZ1 is yet another model that Yamaha took all interest so it can race on tracks so much so it can perform as street cruiser, I can’t how good it will be at stunting. Unarguably, looks wise it’s a killer and its no big deal when you consider that it comes from Yamaha, one of the world’s leading bike makers. The muscular-looking monster (don’t get me wrong I am not misleading you with Yamaha’s competitor) is made to challenge any biking task as well as any bike on the road and on the track.

Yamaha FZ1 Fazer

The engine of Yamaha FZ1 is an R1 based engine and with 1000cc engine the bike is made to perform as a sports bike as much a daily office commuting one and a machine that gets abused by a weekend hitchhiker. Just the all rounder bike and please tell me one that comes close to FZ1? Well nothing crosses our minds! The fazer 1000 seems to be the best bet as of today for performance on tracks and roads if you feel that I am sounding over excited at the start of this preview, I beg your excuse. But, take a look at these pictures and if you are not charmed by this bike I will have to believe that you must be either be an Yamaha hater or one who has no interest in bike engineering. In any case just let me know).

Yamaha should be admired for the bold moves it takes every time it rolls in a new bike into the market, whatever segment it be. It surely doesn’t follow other bike makers, it, in fact, leads. The FZ1 1000cc standards are something that triggers other bike makers to retrospect their standards with respect to the suspension or chassis or brakes and handling design. As I told, taken from the R1, the 998cc motor of FZ1 is quite compact by size yet very powerful and ultra modern. With 4 valves for cylinder (a single cylinder of course) and four strokes, the liquid-cooled engine delivers great power, amazingly 148 bhp at 11,000 rpm and a torque of 78 lbs ft at about 8000 rpm. Yamaha claims that it has used its MotoGP technology engine in the FZ1 998cc bike.

The new thing in Yamaha YZ1 is the YCC-I or the Yamaha chip-controlled intake system that makes the intake tract different, it uses the variable velocity stacks. While at 140-mm velocity stack it gives an increased torque at low rpms and then at high rpms say beyond 10,000 and 65-mm velocity it gives maximum top-end power as well, that’s where it can beat the competitors and it is also designed to suit the everyday road performance as well. The braking is not appreciated by test riders as well as the suspension which many echo isnt great, and also the low-revolution torque deficiency makes the bike’s front tyre stutter and can be a thorn in the flesh. But what’s the maximum speed one can go on FZ1 you might wonder. An estimate says its about 155 mph consuming fuel of 1 liter of gasoline for every 38 miles.

But how is the braking? It’s the 6-piston brakes that give the charging 1000cc motor the right halt. There is an added slipper clutch that can give the biker easy downshifting (meaning keeping the bike stable while decelerating the velocity). While engine department gives all new beast-like charging qualities to FZ1 the braking system that is new also gives the bike advantage while street commuting.

FZ1 is fitted with 298mm discs and has a combo of radial-mount six-pistons with the Sumitomo calipers. In fact, one piston with caliper that is pin-slid is sufficient to keep the front tire on balance under acceleration.

The 6-speed gearbox will keep all your guts firing on the track as well as highway and pumps adrenaline full of your body. Throttle is designed to awe any speed lover and a slight twist of the throttle will accelerate the machine with authority. The combustion chamber with 4-valves uses high compression ration of 12.7:1 and the intake valves are light weight with titanium make that helps reduce overall dry weight of the FZ1 machine.

Yamaha FZ1 with the arresting looks is aimed and designed aimed to take the good name of the company forward with performance. The headlight is shield shaped and tail unit is quite attractive stubby one with a fairly extended pillion unit, and not to mention about the decals of the bike that have been hunched up to give it all macho look.

What is different with the chassis? It is made of cast aluminium with dual-sparred frame wrapping the 998cc engine and motor. The long swing arm renders more stability as well as cornering architecture to the bike. However, it looks narrow as compared to previous fazer editions and the bike also appears shorter; maybe suitable for up to 5-feet 10-inches height.

Finally, if you ask me to consolidate its pros and cons, well I present them here:

Pros:

  • Practical yet comfortable road-ride position without you having to over stretch your neck yet giving good visibility; with a decent track-ride position
  • Short seat height making even short people enjoy Yamaha biking experience
  • Amazing power at top end
  • Make quality as well as finish great
  • The fairing and screen also offer great wind resistance off riding
  • Fast up on top

Cons:

  • As many complain the gearbox is clunky and the sidestand doesn’t look great for a machine like Yamaha FZ1.
  • Suspension that can lift you off your saddle.
  • 208 kg dry weight is in no sense light weight (it probably looks lightweight hiding it)

Lastly, I believe people who appreciate performance and technology and love sports biking will be ones that buy this bike and it will also be a great machine in the hands of a cruiser who loves to hit the 500 miles mark every weekend. It’s a bike that has attitude, but do we have it? If so how long it needs to wait to see it in India

Yamaha FZ1 Fazer Specifications:

Displacement: 998.00cc
Compression: 11.5:1
Fuel system: Injection
Fuel control: DOHC
Ignition: Digital TCI
Cooling system: Liquid
Gearbox: 6-speed
Dry weight: 198.7 kg (438.0 pounds)
Seat height: 815 mm (32.1 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
Overall height: 1,204 mm (47.4 inches)
Overall length: 2,141 mm (84.3 inches)
Overall width: 770 mm (30.3 inches)
Wheelbase: 1,461 mm (57.5 inches)
Front suspension: 43mm telescopic fork w/adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping
Front suspension travel: 130 mm (5.1 inches)
Rear suspension: Single shock w/ piggyback reservoir
Rear suspension travel: 130 mm (5.1 inches)
Front tyre dimensions: 120/70-ZR17
Rear tyre dimensions: 190/50-ZR17
Front brakes: Double disc
Front brakes diameter: 320 mm (12.6 inches)
Rear brakes: Single disc
Rear brakes diameter: 245 mm (9.6 inches)
Fuel capacity: 17.97 litres
Color options: Raven, Cobalt blue