Yamaha FZ-8

The Yamaha FZ8-series Yamaha is proud to announce two new motorcycles that open up a whole new class within the popular FZ sportsbike range – the FZ8 and the Fazer8. The FZ8-series is based on the idea of a high-performance all- rounder with the power and character to make every ride an exhilarating sports ride. Following in the footsteps of the hugely successful FZ6-series – which, since 1998, has sold over 250.000 units – both bikes offer serious sports bike looks, outstanding handling and a flexible, powerful, torquey engine that encourages riders to explore its full potential. It’s an accessible kind of adrenaline: a shot of sportsbike energy, designed to be enjoyed every day. These dynamic new sports machines are built on a new 779cc engine and all-aluminium frame.

The engine offers a balance of middleweight accessibility with big-bore power and instant grunt throughout the rev range. It steers fast and effortlessly, and handles with surefooted confidence - whether it’s cranked right over on a tight, smooth corner or slicing its way through traffic on a congested commute. The naked FZ8 is a machine with attitude. Muscular, aggressive design gives onlookers a hint of this bike’s serious intentions. Not a bike for beginners, the FZ8 is a pure expression of performance and quality craftsmanship. With the semi-faired Fazer8, the emphasis is placed firmly on getting out there and enjoying the roads, whatever the weather. Discover sportsbike performance and handling, with the aerodynamics, wind and weather protection of a front cowl and screen. It’s a solid step up in performance and quality.

779cc, liquid cooled, inline 4-cylinder engine In order to arrive at the perfect power and torque spread for a mix of high performance and all-round usability, Yamaha threw out all preconceptions about engine size. The 1000cc and 600cc categories that largely divide the market are imposed by racing regulations, not road riding considerations. Many riders find 600cc supersport engines to be hard work on the open road – and 1000cc superbike engines to be overkill. Yamaha’s engineers selected a 779cc engine displacement to provide the perfect balance between the accessible performance of a 600 and the broad, instant torque and power of a litrebike.

The new FZ8-series engine is fuel injected, and uses both a throttle valve and an electronically controlled sub- throttle valve to provide additional control over intake airflow volume. The cylinder bodies have a bore and stroke from 68.0x53.6mm. Readings on engine rpm and throttle opening are processed in real time by the ECU, which operates a new stepping motor to control the sub-throttle valves and optimise volumetric efficiency in each part of the rev range. This is one of the many design considerations aimed at boosting low-middle drive. Another key to the FZ8-series motor’s flexibility is found in the large-capacity 7.8 litre airbox, where the air intake funnels are two different lengths – cylinders 1 and 4 have 125mm intake funnels, where 2 and 3 are 150mm in length, producing an excellent spread of torque throughout the rev range.

The FZ8-series engine produces 106.2PS (78.1kW) at 10,000rpm, and a generous 82.0Nm of torque at 8,000rpm – with a character that feels light, torquey and responsive down low but builds to a signature Yamaha top-end power rush. It easily clears EU3 exhaust emission standards, using a short, side mounted muffler and a 4-into-2-into-1 exhaust system with a honeycomb type catalytic converter fitted at the point where the header pipes meet. An oxygen sensor feeds real-time exhaust information back to the ECU, allowing the bike to constantly adjust its air/fuel mixture for optimum efficiency and clean emissions.

Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. Press Release Chassis and running gear The FZ8-series features a new engine that is a stressed member in an all- aluminium frame. The design’s high rigidity and low weight minimises frame torsion while providing outstanding high-speed stability and cornering confidence. The FZ8-series also uses a CF aluminium die-cast swingarm, enhancing the effectiveness of the rear suspension. Front-end suspension is a pair of upside-down forks, running 43mm inner tubes. Rear suspension is handled by a linked Monocross unit – the link being designed to provide soft, light suspension near the top of the stroke to deal with bumpy surfaces in comfort, but then to provide firmer cushioning as the shock is further compressed, for sharper handling during hard cornering. Front brakes are twin four-piston monoblock calipers, gripping 310mm floating front discs. Being monoblock designs, the calipers suffer minimal distortion under hard braking, so the stopping force is linear, stable and controllable when the chips are down. Both the naked FZ8 and semi-faired Fazer8 models are available with optional ABS.

The wheels are five-spoke cast aluminium rims – the front tyre is a 120/70 ZR17, and the rear is a 180/55 ZR17. This gives both bikes outstanding ride feeling, grip and cornering performance, with access to the full range of sports rubber. The riding position is sporty but comfortable, with a seat height of 815mm and a narrow tank which gives the rider a good ground access. Overall ride experience is compact and light, with generous room for manoeuvring. Steering is quick and responsive, with an extended 33-degree left-to-right steering angle - making tight U-turns and peak-hour traffic busting much easier. Muscular, mass-forward design The FZ8-series consists of two models – the naked FZ8 and the semi-faired Fazer8 with a front cowl and screen. A short muffler, narrow tank and new 3-part tank cover instantly distinguish these bikes from their peers. Visually, the FZ8 series evokes a pure release of energy in forward motion. The black side parts on the tank provide comfortable knee grip, and give the subtle impression that the coloured tank is breaking away and accelerating forward. The headlight unit on the naked FZ8 adds an aggressive-looking detail. In all, the visual impression is of a bike that looks fast even when it’s standing still – and that sensually curved diamond frame and muscular 4-cylinder engine are still the stars of the show.

Accessories A range of genuine Yamaha functional and styling accessories is available to enhance the looks and extend the capabilities of the FZ8 and Fazer8. The range includes : • Higher windscreen for the Fazer8

• Stylish flyscreen for the FZ8

• Seat cover • Subcowling

• Rear carrier

• 46L Topcase

• Passenger backrest for 46L topcase

• Innerbag for 46L topcase

• Grip heaters MC 120

• Passenger grab bars for the FZ8

• Main stand • Radiator cover

• Engine guards

• Roller protectors

• Stylish license plate holder (available in April 2010)

• Tankpad • Stylish LED indicators in black, chrome and carbon look (available end May 2010)

• TF Touring tank bag for the Fazer8

• TF City tank bag for the FZ8 Apparel Yamaha offers a wide range of apparel, designed to keep riders and passengers stylish and protected. The apparel range includes the following riding gear among others:

MD Comparo: Yamaha FZ8 vs. Triumph Street Triple R

In the Beginning, in the late 19th century A.D., God created motorcycles, starting with Daimler’s wood-framed Reitwagen, and She saw that they were good. Naked, they felt no shame.

Then, in the mid 20th century, The Devil whispered ‘styling’ and ‘wind protection,’ and the scales fell from their eyes. They felt shame and wanted to be clothed. So God created fairings and windscreens. And She saw that they were good.

Her first mass-produced example? Probably Velocette’s 1948 “LE,” with fairings, windscreen and bags—quiet, smooth and an early water-cooled/shaft-drive design. Others followed, some so big, heavy and burdened with fairings that they had all the disadvantages of ‘cars’ that fell over when you stopped. Motorcyclists: start your arguments about the first such machine, then try to defend the ‘two-wheeled car.’ Lotsa luck.

But among those clothed machines arose spirits yearning to be free, to shed the fairings that encumbered them: costly, heavy, vulnerable plastic, hiding Magnificent Machinery. Their windscreens placed a shield between riders and God’s Elements.

So Naked Bikes returned, based on sportbikes’ core engines/geometries. And it was good, especially for hooligans riding short distances below 80 mph who scorned wind protection and relished wheelies, despite risking “Appearance of Speed” citations. And motojournos called them, appropriately, ‘streetfighters.’ Not, as we shall see, ‘road warriors,’ and searched them out to test.

And we found two such machines, and accepted the task of comparing them. One came from Perfidious Albion, the other from Mysterious Nippon.

2011 Yamaha FZ8

John Joss. Age: 77. Years Riding: 62. Most Recent Flogging: 1955

My wife, Katherine: “It looks like an Arabian stallion—lean, lithe, muscular—with the mask of a comic-book hero.” Picking it up from Yamaha in Cypress, facing a 425-mile ride, it looks to me like a bike with no windscreen . . . uh, naked.

But what a ride. The riding position for my 5-foot-9 frame jis ideal. Virtually new, perfectly prepared, every control functions flawlessly. Within two blocks my inner hooligan is unleashed on this 467-pound (wet) lightweight and my age drops decades. It (and I) would like to wheelie in the bottom three gears and slash through the traffic like a demented otter. Those knife-into-hot-butter gears are close-spaced and low. With its 11,500 rpm redline and seamless, EFI-managed throttle, the 779-cc (68 X 53.6mm) inline-four wants to rip right now on city streets, an engine small and light enough for revs, big and beefy enough to deliver mid range. Hooligantics seem . . . natural.

Then, alas, it’s time to cruise, a task for which this machine is unsuited: up I-5, at an indicated 85 on the wildly optimistic speedometer. I escape the drone at Frazier Park, over gnarly twisties where the nonadjustable front fork (the shock is adjustable for preload) delivers a bone-jarring ride. Then: 166/33, through Taft, onto glorious 58 (perfect surface) to Santa Margarita, dodging Bambi.

At rest, it feels a little top heavy. On the move, handling is light, almost nervous, until it becomes clear that the FZ8 will do exactly what you ask, instantly. Utter joy in the twisties, showing its R1/R6 DNA. Firm, easily modulated Sumitomo brakes. But above 85-90, on the straights, wind pressure (increasing as the square of the speed) is almost unendurable. Despite those silky-smooth four cylinders, residual vibration and wind effects render the mirrors marginal at speed.

After two hours, the saddle’s hard contours fry my aging bum, but four hours remain. On 101, droning, the wind is exhausting, worsened by a 25 mph Salinas Valley headwind. The 4.5-gallon tank delivers 40 mpg but working the gears, rev happy to an indicated 115-plus, pushing into the wind, this declines to 35-37 mpg.

Form should follow function, and Yamaha’s engineers have nailed it: a near-perfect naked bike, at $8490 a steal (get the optional fly screen if you plan to ride more than 100 miles at a time; the saddle? Check the aftermarket). Yamaha has engineered satisfactorily the compromise between simple/low-cost on one hand and exhilarating performance on the other.

For street fighters, terrific.

FZ8 instrumentation

Gabe Ets-Hokin: Age: 42. Years Riding: 23. Most Recent Flogging: Wednesday

If there’s a theme to moto-journalism, (other than figuring out how to score free stuff) it’s the ongoing quest for the perfect motorcycle. A bike that can do it all: tour, commute, do trackdays and still look good enough to motivate the occasional washing. I have yet to own or test such a creature, but I keep trying.

Here’s what I was expecting from the FZ8: slow, heavy and not that interesting. In this eon of 200-horsepower superbikes and sleek sport-tourers, 470-ish pounds and 80-ish hp isn’t very exciting. At least, on paper.

My first ride on the FZ8 kind of confirmed this. John warned me of suspension unpleasantness, with our indifferently maintained local highways cheerfully beating up my lower back and the windblast over 80 just as Sir Joss described. A ride up and back our local twisty backroad was also challenging—you don’t toss the FZ8 around much more than you do the heavier, more-powerful FZ1. Still, it was comfortable (for sub-100-mile rides), well built and had an entertaining motor.

That motor saves the bike from the ‘blah’ pile. It’s reasonably smooth (though that perception is somewhat filtered by the rubber-mounted bars and footpegs) and the throttle response, though abrupt right off idle, is much improved over the FZ1s I rode a few years ago. It also has nice midrange and top end, fast enough to just rip through traffic at 80-plus mph in sixth. Snap it into fifth or (if you’re really impatient) fourth, whack the throttle open and be prepared for some fun.

For some reason (mostly because I can’t resist anything that’s free) I signed up to do a trackday on the FZ8, courtesy of Yamaha and ZoomZoom trackdays (zoomzoomracing.com). I had to filch one of my cat’s Zanaxes* to help me sleep the night before, as I was worried about how well the sport-touring oriented Bridgestone BT-023 tires would do on the slippery, gyrating surface of Laguna Seca.

It was a good thing I signed up, because this would be an uninteresting review without it. The FZ8 was more entertaining on the track than it was on the street (which explains why ZoomZoom’s instructors love the FZ8s Yamaha has provided them so much). On smooth pavement, the suspension works well, with good spring rates and adequate rebound for my 160 pounds. Once I removed the peg feelers there was enough cornering clearance, and the motor gave me enough juice to stay in front of most (okay, more than one) of the B-group guys.

The brakes were good too, as long as you pretended you were riding in 2003, when these monoblocs were tha’ shizzle. Those 023s were grippy enough and didn’t seem to degrade from my (very mild) abuse. And I got more and more track to myself as R6 after R6 was black-flagged by the dreaded Laguna Seca sound-booth fairies. The FZ8 is quiet enough that it doesn’t annoy our non-riding brothers and sisters, but has some good intake noises to make a day on it an interesting (but not painful) aural experience.

Perfect bike? Hardly. That seat does grow hard (call Corbin!), the suspension needs re-tuning and adjustability (but I’ll bet you could find stuff on eBay that would fit and Öhlins makes a shock) and you do feel the weight. Also, like the Street Trip, it has disappointing mileage and fuel range—I saw about 35 mpg and the stupid low-fuel light came on around 115 miles, which is depressingly normal these days, I guess. What’s the point of restricting yourself to 80 hp if you get the same mileage as an ‘85 Toyota Corolla? But that’s a question best pointed to the OEMs.

Give me a couple grand to play with and I’ll strip 30 pounds, upgrade the brakes and suspenders, and give the FZ8 some attitude. That’s the fun of a naked bike, I guess—sportbikes these days are so close to perfection they need little modification, but their unclothed cousins always need some dress-up. It’s like having a very fast set of paper dolls. And the ‘8 has enough potential attitude that it could be a very adequate only bike.

So, do I prefer it to my Triumph? No, but that’s just because the Trumpet is so much freakin’ fun. The FZ8 is solid, capable and drenched in value, but calling it a hooligan is like calling Neal Patrick Harris a doctor. He can play the part, but I don’t want him cutting out my spleen.

*I am not making this up.

Triumph Street Triple R

John: Street Mistress

Do motorcycles have age and gender, education and experience, character and attitude? If they come from the pens of intelligent engineers and stylists, marketers and bean counters, they do. Customers’ psychographics count for plenty as major manufacturers crank up new models or refine existing ones. You ‘are’ what you ride.

So let’s call the FZ8 a school buddy, sensible with a wild streak. Fun to be around, reliable when you need him. He’ll never let you down.

The Street Triple? She’s young and pretty, your best friend or your worst enemy. She’s been around, tough and street smart. She knows the score, she knows what you like and how you want it. She does not suffer fools. She can behave in a ladylike way when she must, but she has a roving eye and she knows that everyone wants a piece of her. She’s a temptress. She taunts and teases, and she gets her way. She’s a city chick with a whole lot of moxie and attitude.

Stretching a metaphor? No. The Street Triple is a hellion, sexy as hell, as close to an all-out race bike for the urban environment as you’ll find—light, agile and lethally quick. A glance at the tach, with a 13,500-rpm red line, is the first hint (the dial goes to 16,000—what could they be thinking?). Then you unsheathe the weapon and . . . begone, dull care, throw caution to the winds. Who cares if tickets cost $500 and up, like a very expensive date. This Is Living.

Triumph’s triples are engineering marvels—smooth, powerful, torquey, pleasant power delivery, glorious growl—and the Street Triple makes the most of them. The bike is a stripped 675 Daytona, a race bike in street drag. The Brilliant Brits, this time around, knew exactly what they were doing. But it’s still . . . naked.

Gabe: Please Don’t Make me do that Again…

John says the FZ8 is like your sensible old buddy, but everybody had that other high school friend your parents told you to avoid (unless you were that friend). He or she always knew where to get beer and pot and had more fake I.D.s than Robert Hanssen. But you liked hanging out with him because he made you do things you wouldn’t have done on your own. Fun things. Bad things.

That’s the appeal of Triumph’s brilliant Street Triple. It’s built on the 675 Daytona chassis, with some subtle tweaks to make it more rideable as a streetbike—1/2 inch longer in the wheelbase, a bit more trail. It also has a different subframe, which allows an inch-lower seat (31.7 inches) and the fitment of old-timer stuff like luggage racks. The motor is also from the Daytona, a 675cc Triple detuned about 15 percent with different cams and whatnot. Wet weight is about 415 pounds.

Where the Daytona feels like a well-engineered and predictable sportbike, the Street Triple is an untrained puppy. The throttle is (maybe too) touchy, especially at low rpm. Steering is wickedly responsive—to be expected from such a light bike with radical chassis numbers and wide, upright handlebars. Throttle wheelies happen easily (thanks to a shorter first gear for the Striple), and the motor makes its peak torque 2000 rpm earlier than the Daytona. This means you should not test ride a Street Triple, under any circumstances, unless you are ready to buy one. You will not be able to resist.

Get out to your favorite twisty road and look out. The handling and incredibly flexible powerband combine to give you superhuman riding powers. Seriously. On my regular Sunday ride, I had to keep waving people in front of me so I would be forced to slow down. The bike turns quickly, effortlessly, yet holds a line very well. At higher rpm the fueling is very smooth and responsive and the suspension is set up just right for bumpy, twisty roads. And that exhaust/intake note…mmm, mmm. When it’s time to slow down, the brakes bite hard, yet are easy to control. One or two fingers are just fine. It’s no wonder Triumph dealers are having a hard time keeping these in stock—watch for a Japanese competitor in the next few years. For instance, a Yamaha R6 streetfighter built on this model would be pretty fun (and cheap for Yamaha to develop).

The bad news is that it’s not as practical as you’d think. It still has steering lock similar to the clip-on-equipped Daytona, which means a wide turning radius. The twitchy throttle can make low-speed maneuvering nerve-wracking. The seat is spartan, wind protection isn’t, and the fuel economy (and range) can be pretty bad—mid 30s or worse—unless you ride the speed limit, and there is no way this bad influence is going to let you do that. Get a KLR and paint it safety yellow if that’s your thing. In 15 years you’ll save enough money to buy another KLR.

My personal bike is a Street Triple R, and the extra $700 (on top of the standard bike’s $8899 MSRP) for the upgraded suspension and brakes is more than worth it. The standard bike’s shock is chintzy enough you’ll want to spend $800 upgrading it in a few weeks, and you’ll still have to have the fork redone and do something about the numb-feeling (but not that bad, considering) two-piston front brakes. With good rubber and set-up suspension, the R is great on the track and you can tear up a twisty road as well. It’s a unique product with a lot of character.

Perfect bike? No closer than the FZ8. But good enough that I can ride it without feeling ashamed by my nudity.

Source motorcycledaily.com