First Ride: Yamaha FZ8/Fazer8 [Cycle Canada]

[UFO]

Sorry U.S., you have to live vicariously through our brethren to the north.



With an engine based on the FZ-1's, which is in turn based on the R1's, the 779 cc FZ8 shares bits with the last-generation supersport. The crankshaft is the pre-crossplane unit from the ’08 R1, while the connecting rods are shared with the current R1. The compression ratio is 12:1, and each cylinder inhales and exhausts through four valves, unlike the FZ-1, which has five.

Yamaha estimates horsepower at 110 while the torque claim is 61 lb-ft at 8,000 rpm. A torque peak at 8,000 rpm immediately tells you that this is not a slow turning twin, but the number is a trifle misleading.

Read the entire First Ride here:  http://www.passionperformance.ca/motorcycle/articles/8193/

[birdrunner]

I've subscribed to this mag because of real life quotes like this.

And the criticisms that we level against motorcycles are not absolute dismissals of a machine but rather a description of weak points in what is often a very strong overall package.

And I think a Fazer 8 is just what I'd like to ride to the next STN Nat'l just to show you what your's missing  

[Bravo12]

And I thing a Fazer 8 is just what I'd like to ride to the next STN Nat'l just to show you what your's missing  

Just don't leave it unattended.  

[Rincewind]

What a sweet naked roadster!    C'mon Yamaha US - get with the program!  



Here's the Yamaha-CA site on it.  $10,499 CAD

[Shrike]

So I wonder if Yamaha managed to figure out how to get both headlights working on the fazer8. The one light on while the other is off always looks like a bulb has blown.

[ZED]

It looks like they bought the leftovers from Kawi's pre-2008 Z1000 headlight fairing.  
Very similar.  Looks good.  
I should go test ride one.  Just cause I'm in Canukistan and I can.  

[SVTNate]

Yawn.

New FZ1, cross plane crank, please.

I got to enjoy an '09 R1 with carbon Akras inside a local moto shop today.  It's the sweetest sounding I4 I've ever heard!

I'm sure the FZ8 is a good bike, but I've been waiting for a cross-plane FZ1 for a year