My friends always ask me to test ride any new vehicle, especially bikes, they buy because I’m supposedly a veteran in handling bikes. So, when my flatmate bought FZ he asked me to ride and review it. I won’t talk about its specifications which you can find on any site but my experience on riding it.
Yamaha has tried to give the bike a tough and macho look with a big, expanded fuel tank. The naked styling and triangular headlight adds to its tough street-bike image. However, it overall looks as a prototype with its angular and crude looks, and not rounded edges.
It has only self-start and does not have a kick start. It’s good for turning the bike off on redlights, saving fuel, and less pollution. As I found out, starting is not smooth when you take the bike out in morning. It may take 3-4 pushings of start button. And, if the battery is low, pushing the bike for some distance is the only option to start it. Problem if there’s no one to push it. I think Yamaha should add a kick start in future versions.
Once it starts, exhaust gives out a low’purr’ sound more silent than othe 4-stroke 150 cc bikes. Pick up is good and needs a slow release of clutch or you may end up doing wheelie or fall down like an unbridled horse throws off the rider. Acceleration is good to speed away on a green light. However, shifting of gears may not be smooth from 3rd-4th or 4th-5th gear which is annoying.
Handlebar is straight giving the rider a slight forward and comfortable stance like racing motorcyles. Manuverability is excellent for a street-bike and immediately answers the rider’s ask. Quick acceleration makes it easy to overtake and move through the crowded roads in a city. Brakes are good to complement the acceleration. The electronic display with odometer speaks for technology used in the bike.
This is another motorbike in India with a monocross suspension and no dual rear shock absorbers. Ride is smooth on bumpy roads and allows better handling and balance of the bike.
I’d emphasize that it is an urban motorcycle designed for urban needs. It can go long distances but it’s not meant to be. Acceleration after 60 km/hr is painfully slow and would take long stretch to reach higher speeds. However, you don’t usually find long open stretches on city roads and higher speeds may not be necessary. One disappointing thing is the power which does not match with looks of the bike.
It generates power of 14 Bhp @ 7500 rpm but not good enough to track heights. I found that climbing flyovers necessarily requires shifting to lower gears even if you arrived at the flyover with a good speed. the engine has to make quite an effort to climb heights which can be nagging.
FZ16 is a good buy as your first motorcycle. If you go by the looks with an ok mileage of 40-50 km/litre, and need a bike to go to college, FZ 16 is a good option.