Its been over 4 years now and almost 25k kms since I own Yamaha Fazer and hence I thought I will share my experience with the bike with everyone
I was among st the first few people in Delhi who bought this bike as I bought it almost the same month when it was launched. The decision as it appears now was purely impulsive and least planned. I had almost booked a Pulsar (that time those round headlight ones used to come).
However dropped out of it at the last moment as the dealer wanted to charge 2% extra for buying through credit card which I didn’t like. in a few days while I was still trying to arrange cash for pulsar the Fazer was launched and I somehow dragged myself for the test drive as by that time I was fully sure that I will buy the Pulsar. But my mind was due to change as I know now.
First looks - impressive but not that great. I submitted my id proof copy to the dealer, got the keys and got the bike pulled to the road. Seating position was comfortable. Kick started and really loved the engine sound. Revved up, toggled the gear once and zipped. Wow!
This wow came from three factors - the ease of driving, ease of braking, and good stability. I am not technical expert and can’t tell what goes into the bike to create this wow but all I can tell that it was simply amazing. Ya I accept that this bike was not capable of going at more than 90 kmph at any way except down hill which was the biggest feat of pulsar (good stability at great speeds) but then I decided it will be seldom that I may need to drive at such high speeds, so I just went for the bike.
Cant believe it now and find it rather funny considering how pakka I had made up my mind for pulsar that I could take such an impulse decision but yes there and then I decided and booked the bike. The fact that this bike was coll 10 k cheaper than pulsar was icing on the cake as I was hard pressed for immediate cash because credit cards were not accepted without surcharge.
That was the initial thing. Got the bike in a week. For the first month people used to just walk up to me asking how was the mileage of the bike and how was it overall. That time I was slighly dissapointed as the delar had promised 65kmpl while I could barely get between 50-55. it took some time to accept that this is what it will be in the long run.
The first year with the bike went well. Routinely serviced it. After about a year I got relocated to another city and the bike was locked for 3 months. Finally after 3 months when I started it again I got a Wow once more, reason it started in one kick, same sound as before as if it had been waiting all that long for me on her toes :) Anyways the bike was booked in the train, it traveled almost 2500 kms and reached bangalore. I was sceptical about transit damage but thanks to indian railways no complain there either.
Another 3 years have gone by in a jiffy since then. I got a sales and marketing job, For about 1 year I used the same bike to travel upto 100kms per day 2-3 times in a week and sometimes to rural roads. The bike took all the abuse in good spirits. Still nothing has changed. Same 50 kms per litre. Same sound when I start the bike. No rattle/ squeaks from any part of bike.
Amazingly (touch wood) my total spend on the bike other than servicing and oil change is only on a few tyre punctures and replacement of the chain that transmits power to rear wheel. Also a battery change after about 3.5 years and a brake shoe replacement for the rear wheel. I weigh almost a ton and considering that I had expected a major rehauling of the engine at about 18k (that is what I have seen in my friend’s bikes), but this bike is no nonsense work horse
Now I use it once or twice every week but it still gives me the same response as it gave me the first time I started her. Amazing bike, Kudos Yamaha