Yamaha-motorcycle India seems to be making all the right moves in shifting focus from being a commuter bike manufacturer (in India) to building sporty motorcycles targeted at biking aficionados.
The company first-revealed its bold new product game plan when it simultaneously launched-the hyper YZF-R1 and macho MT-01 around end-2007 and then rolled out-the YZF-R15 early this year. In November 2008, bang in the middle of-the festive season, it launched the muscular FZ-16. Is the latest Yam areal-world firecracker with fizz? AutoCar (Dec.’08) took a gruellingroad test to find out…
The rugged and naked153cc FZ-16 is an eyeball turner and borrows handsome lines from itslitre-class sibling, the FZ-1. As common on Indian bikes today, thereis a liberal dose of black on the slimspoke alloys rims, engine, frameand silencer, all of it to good effect. The FZ-16 lends body to itssingle downtube frame with a clever pseudo radiator cowl, complete with-vents that scoop air to the hot engine and spark plug region. Abovethis lies a conical halogen headlight with a dazzling, well-spread beamand a city light set in the chin. However, the front number-plate seemslike an afterthought and is a definite scar on such a handsome machinefeels AutoCar (Dec. ’08).
This bike which does not have a kickstarter, thumbs to life with just ashort stab of its button starter. The rider benefits from anengine-kill switch as well as a set of smart handlebar ends. The flat, wide handlebar comes directly clamped to a steering brace and housesall-inclusive switches, dogleg levers, conventional mirrors and palmgrips that offer good feel. The FZ-16 has a huge resin-fabricated tank.Placed above the actual fuel bay, this bi-colour unit houses a brushedfinish round filler and offers knee recesses that easily accommodateeven a tall rider’s thighs. The bike comes with alloy footrests, drilled foot protectors for the rider and a spilt grab bar. Much of itsmuscular demeanor stems from its massive tyres, the rear sitting undera neat hugger flanked by an exposed O’ring sealed drive-chain. And thelatest Yamaha sports a stubby silencer. So, the FZ-16 is built withexcellent attention to detail and flawless build quality that we haveoften lauded on Yamaha models in India.
Although the FZ isn’t the fastest in its segment, its forte lies in thecarefree manner in which power is delivered, making it a joy to ride inthe city. It uses a new four-stroke, air-cooled and 153cc Yamaha enginethat deploys two valves and is fed by a Mikuni CV-type carburetor. Thisengine has large cooling fins on its sides, as well as the lower sumparea. Ignition is three-dimensional and considers throttle position –thanks to a Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) – before deciding on thespark strength to be supplied to the combustion chamber. The FZ-16 comes with a precise shifting, one-down, four-up gearbox thatoperates via an adjustable toe-shift lever. This slick-shifting gearboxuses perfectly spaced ratios and comes supported by a light and cityfriendly progressive clutch. The Yamaha has a punchy exhaust note anddevelops 14bhp at 7500rpm. It musters an above-average 1, 42kgm oftorque at 6000rpm, which helps it deliver strong low and mid-rangepower that tapers off at higher rpm, but is enough to make this a greattool to carve through city traffic.
The FZ-16 managed to accelerate past 60kph in 5.59sec, on its way to arespectable true top whack of 109kph says AutoCar (Dec. ’08). It alsoposted impressive in-gear acceleration imes as can be gauged from the4.87sec it took to run between 60-80kph in fifth. The bike is goodenough for 41.4kpl in the city with a healthier 46.8kpl possible on thehighway. This Yamaha 150 is ideally suited to stress free city carving, feelsAutoCar (Dec. ’08), thanks to that wide handlebar and is just as good amotorcycle to munch miles on while riding fast on highway excursions.Ride quality is near perfect, set slightly towards the firm side andcan easily be adjusted seven steps on the rear shock absorber by arider wanting a plusher ride. Yamaha also gets its ergonomics spot-onand a few Indian bikes offer as comfortable and well sorted a ridingstance that is neither too sporty, nor too upright. The FZ’s low ridingsaddle feels soft but makes up for that by being really wide adperfectly shaped.
Among the FZ-16’s best parts are the massive, new compound and tubelessMRF footwear; the rear 140/60x17 inch radial is easily the fattest onan Indian 150cc. Enourmous traction and a stable feel are available allthe time, with the rear tyre sometimes emitting a unique rumble whichis audible at low speeds. Handling is rock steady in a straight line, precise, ever forgiving andwith turn always light. The FZ stitches up corners with little effort, tight or high speed and no matter how bad the tarmac may be. Brakingquality is of a high note too and rider confidence is enhanced by thelarge diameter 267mm front disc and rear drum units.
Thus the FZ-16 is a class act from Yamaha with the refined 150cc bikesimply blowing away the competition. It looks awesome, comes with ahigh standard of fit anf finish, generous specifications and rock solidbuild quality. It uses a delightfully punchy engine, near-perfectgearbox and allows riders to esily harness its potential thanks to asuperb riding posture, high grade tyres and forceful brakes. The FZ-16 certainly isn’t as frugal as some 150’s, but its outstandingvirtues clearly make up for this. It is unquestionably the mostsensible 1500c bike to buy today. Sums up AutoCar (Dec. ’08), thelatest Yamaha is a quantum leap ahead and easily eclipses the currentcrop of Indian 150cc motorcycles.