Road Test: Yamaha Fazer

Focused on infiltrating every segment in Indian motorcycling, India Yamaha Motor has dished out a dynamic-looking tourer model based around the FZ16, Varad More takes it for a spin

With the Indian sub-continent brimming with picturesque locales in all directions, it doesn't come as a surprise to us that motorcycle touring is fast gaining popularity in the country. Adventurous souls from the biking ilk are swiftly coming to the fore and their perfect idea of a weekend is a long ride through the less traversed Indian roads. There is no dearth of two-wheeled explorers in our country, but what's missing is the variety of bikes that can cater to this large portion. As of now there are only a handful of bikes that can be termed as 'Tourers', like the Royal Enfields, Karizmas and the Pulsars.

Good gets Gorgeous

A new player has joined the big boys - the Yamaha Fazer, a more tour-friendly variant of Yamaha's street-fighter 'Lord of the Street' FZ16. The transformation of a naked hooligan machine to a more relaxed and sophisticated tourer has been done quite smartly on the Fazer. The most striking adaptation is the beautifully sculpted and aerodynamically designed fairing upfront that holds the twin headlights in place. It's quite interesting to see how adding a well-designed, purpose-built fairing can change the character of the FZ16, externally. Apart from the new fairing upfront, there are the new decals complete with a simpler seat design, visually the rest of the bike remains unchanged from the FZ16.

Swing a leg over the Fazer and the most striking change is the ergonomics and the big-bike feel, courtesy the fairing and the matte-black dash housing the digital console. The handlebars have been raised by a few millimetres letting the rider sit with a much more relaxed and upright posture as compared to the FZ16. The view you get from the saddle is that of a contemporary sport-tourer and looks the part. The quality of plastics used is world-class and there are no shoddy gaps or ill-fitting fibre panels anywhere on the bike. Yamaha is known for its build quality as well as reliability and the new Fazer once again substantiates this fact.

With its new found vigour, Yamaha India is on a roll and their cash register hasn't stopped ringing since 2008. The company has introduced market defining models like the YZF-R15 mid-2008 and later the FZ16, but now, it seems to be losing its edge. From the outside, the Fazer looks like any other modern-day touring motorcycle which can munch miles at a stretch, but, if you look at the basic requirements of a biker interested in touring, the Fazer does not live upto it. For instance, the bike does not come with hooks for a bungee cord or a cargo net, which are must-haves for any tourer. The rear seat is comparatively small to support and accommodate a pair of loaded saddlebags over bad roads. The fibre panels concealing the fuel tank work against the Fazer's touring potential, as this wipes out the possibility of employing a magnetic tankbag, one of the most commonly used touring tools.

Longer the better, we mean the gear ratios

And then there is the ultra-refined 153cc air-cooled motor serving the FZ range, which felt great on the FZ16 and the FZ-S, but feels out of sync on the Fazer as it remains untouched. How we would have loved to see a gruntier and taller geared pro-touring setup designed specifically for the Fazer. We understand that developing an all-new motor costs a lot of time and money. Especially, for a company like Yamaha India which was struggling to find its foothold in the Indian market until last year. However, while venturing into a field which requires certain standards to be maintained, you have to take that extra bit of effort in order to make sure that the product actually delivers what it promises. By extra effort we mean the gearing on the Fazer, which too remains unchanged from the FZ16. The shorter gearing drastically dampens the Fazer's touring spirit and what you get is a more relaxed FZ, ideal for weekend getaways.

The Fazer is built entirely around the FZ16 chassis and under the skin it retains cycle parts unchanged from the FZ. So handling too remains unchanged, albeit the revised laidback riding posture that puts less stress on the arms making for a more comfortable and less demanding riding experience. No matter how big and promising the Fazer looks, it is definitely not the most ideal tool for crossing state boundaries. It comes with oodles of feel good factor and draws attention from passersby just like bears to honey. However, the underpowered motor along with short gearing mess up the touring aspect and the Fazer remains nothing more than an able motorcycle for those pleasurable weekend rides and comfortable city-commuting.

Add to that the on-road price tag of Rs. 80, 830 and it puts the Fazer directly in the price bracket of the Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi and the Hero Honda Karizma. Both these bikes have been tried and tested with tourers taking them several hundred miles to the highest motorable passes in Leh all the way down to the shores of Kanyakumari. The only place where the Fazer really scores over the biggest Pulsar and the old warhorse Hero Honda Karizma is fuel efficiency. Not a defining factor, nonetheless an important one for touring. Looks of a hardcore tourer coupled with comfortable ergonomics and decent tank range make the Fazer a decent buy for bikers looking for a stylish, manageable and frugal motorcycle to explore the outskirts of their respective cities.