This is Harish Kulkarni from Pune owning this great FZ-16 machine built to date, in the Indian Market by Yamaha. I am a 30-year “old” office executive whose appetite to have a reasonably good bike for commuting 25 km per day has been fulfilled.JFinally, after heck of a long review procedure on the web, I booked my FZ16 (Lava red) on 5th Feb 2009 from company showroom in Pune.
Traditionally, we had Bajaj bikes associated with our family like KB-100 and Pulsar 150.I have tried to list down my observations and comparison points with other 150 CC bikes like APACHE RTR/HERO HONDA CBZ/HONDA UNICORN/SUZUKI GS150 R.(Disclaimer: These are my personal views based on experience of riding these bikes. If any one does not agree with my observations, then it means no harm to him/her. Note that I am not claiming Yamaha or any other bike is “the greatest” among all contemporary 150 CC segment bikes.
No offence is intended to the riders riding on any other bike.) Below are my observations after 1 month and 1000 KM of riding experience of FZ 16 – Good points – Super refined engine with less noise than Pulsar 150.Excellent acceleration in short span of time in busy city traffic. Only Honda Unicorn has a less noisier engine to my mind. Good performance bike with better stability while riding at 60 KMPH (don’t have patience to ride it at 40 KMPH when you accelerate this engine) Excellent power and pick up matches a rider’s expectation out of this bike.
Throttle response is very good compared to CBZ/Pulsar/Unicorn. Here, I would say Apache RTR has won the advantage due to FI technology. Gear shifting is traditionally the same for Yamaha bikes (right from RX-100 days, 1 down 4 up config.) But while shifting the gears of FZ-16, there is a distinct difference between downshift and upshift. Upshifts are more free and smooth, while downshifts are not that smooth. It happened in Yamaha RX-135 also.
Road grip is considerably perfect with the rear FAT tyre. This thing shall be experienced by any rider riding any other bike in 150 CC segment on steep curves. Note that Yamaha did the road tests with these FAT rear tyres on WET roads. MRF has really provided this machine a good support. Stability at High speeds is yet to be tested by me as Yamaha recommends a speed of 40-50 KMPH for the first 1000 KM. But, at 70 KMPH bike is very stable on the road. Rider position is perfect ergonomically to avoid wind resistance and having a CG (Center of Gravity) in the middle of a body mass of the engine and a rider. Perfect ! Somebody might find this riding position a bit awkward due to tall handlebars fitted on other bikes. I did not have any problem while riding. Monoshock suspension is great even if a pillion rider is sitting. The rider kind of gels with the bike and finds a “oneness” while riding. It is also adjustable.
My bike has survived the sign waves (road blocks) on the Pune roads quite bravely for 1 month now. J Diamond shaped chassis gives enough strength to this machine to carry dynamic as well as static loads of more than 160 KG. Seat is quite comfortable and the cushioning is okay. Looks - Silencer design is very trendy and attractive. People just fall in love with this machine when they see the bike go past them. Body is sporty, mean and masculine ! Petrol tank is awesome in looks with a fiber decoration, gives you a feel of 200 CC bike. Wheelbase is greater (1335mm) than Pulsar 150/Unicorn/Apache/CBZ as well as CG (Center of Gravity) becomes low while riding to have a good grip and stability on the road. Trapezoidal wide and bright headlight gives you enough clarity on the road in the night. High Beam pass on the left is awesome !
NOT so good points –Cost of this bike in Pune is INR 73049/- only ONROAD. With this amount, I would have loved to see the features like FI (fuel injection) and rear disc brakes. Disappointed with the “all digital” instrument cluster. When you have masculine bike like FZ, you must either have analog RPM meter of Speedometer. Best instrument cluster I have seen on 150 CC bike is on the Suzuki GS 150R. No kick-starter installed. Had a bad experience when the battery of my bike got discharged. Had to “dhakka mar” the bike and start. Finally, I had to replace the battery in warranty. This could be a headache in winter & rainy season. Yamaha claims it’s a sport bike and could be a company policy of not giving a kick-starter to this beautiful engine. I was the victim of this policy within 10 days of purchase. Gear lever length is very short. It should have had the back lever to upshift the gears.
Current gear lever causes difficulty in shifting the gears up and scratches your executive shoes ! (If your office is very liberal and they allow you to wear sport shoes on all weekdays…then this should not be a disadvantage) J I would personally not prefer such a gearshift lever. Rear drum brake is not so efficient and quick to respond as that of Pulsar/CBZ/Unicorn. May be a wider tyre would require more effort on the brake-lever. I always have loved to have sixth gear when I ride this bike. Suzuki GS 150R wins in this department. Handle bar is non conventional. Hence people riding other bikes will find this item inconvenient while going for a long ride. No crash guard or leg guard comes company installed.
This could be disadvantage when you hit or meet with an accident or your bike collapses in the parking area. (Our people in Pune are so friendly, that they even park their cycles and bikes very near to your bike in a congested street such that each vehicle kisses each other. This is a gesture of love that Puneites give to rest of the world every day in the parking lot in Pune. J) Pillion seat is Okay to have a companion “mounted” but NOT “seated”. So only guys with slim trim girlfriends or big girls with slim trim boyfriends can ride this bike comfortably. (:-p) Spare part availability with Yamaha service centers is poor. When I asked for a spring and rod for the footrest that was broken on the footrest panel on the right side near brake, service center guys did not have these parts and I had to provide the broken spring and rod myself. What a joke ! Service center guys replied that they will need time to find these parts in the storage. J That was really a joke of the day. Yamaha service is not that great. Mechanics are okay but the promptness that Bajaj and Hero Honda shows is far ahead than Yamaha. May be Yamaha will take a lesson or two from Bajaj and Hero Honda on how to satisfy the customer when you sale the product.
Overall Verdict –A great machine that Yamaha has unveiled after a gap of 15 years after RX-100. My bike gives 45 KMPL in city riding….I did not have the opportunity to ride this bike on a long drive so highway mileage is not calculated yet…but it will be certainly better.Those who want to feel the “oneness” with the bike as well as the performance and adrenaline rush, FZ-16 is the bike made for you !!!!!!! Happy Riding...
HARISH KULKARNI, PUNE