Yamaha have ( finally) rolled out the new FZ version 2.0 with a not-so-subtle FI suffix. At first glance, it looks like an FZ, but subtly different – which is the way product updates have to be. You cannot make a dramatically different product without significant risk.
The smaller displacement does mean that power has come down by roughly 1PS to 13.1PS at 8, 000rpm while torque is down by roughly 0.8Nm to 12.8Nm at 6, 000rpm. Overall, the FZ V2 update is limited in scope, because the motorcycle has to enter a very well-defined playing field and in that sense the pricing and options latitude is limited.
That said, I think the FZ V2 is better in every respect (road test pending) than the outgoing bike and that’s how updates are supposed to work. It retains all the high points of the old bike – easy to ride, easy to live with, good city manners, light clutch operation etc and improves in almost every critical area.