2010 Yamaha FZ 1

Well, after a very long wait, since it was officially unveiled, Yamaha India website got finally updated for the 2010 Yamaha FZ1. During this period, deliveries have already been made and ownership experiences have already flooded the webspace, and true to Yamaha's legacy, people are spell bound with the Yamaha FZ1, which is primarily based on the mighty R1.

So, for a layman like me, what is the 2010 Yamaha FZ1 all about? Let's find that out together.

To begin with, as per Yamaha for the model year 2010, both the Yamaha FZ1 and the Yamaha FZ1 Fazer, got a new ECU mapped for increased drivability on road conditions while maintaining it's outstanding mid-range and top-end performance. That's the only difference between the 2010 version and the previous version.

What Yamaha has done with the FZ1 is that, they took the amazing 2002 Yamaha R1 engine, and fine tuned it to be a more civilized urban dweller. Adorned with a light and strong aluminum frame and sculpted body work and garnished it with comfortable handlebar and seat to make it the perfect companion both on city traffic and high speed highway cruises. All this with a seasoning of fully adjustable suspension, which allows the 2010 Yamaha FZ1 dish out city street and sports touring performance with equal ease.

Engine
For the Yamaha FZ1, Yamaha took the 2002 998cc, 20 valve, DOHC R1 engine, and tuned it for tremendous mid-range to complement is massive top-end power delivery. As mentioned earlier, for the model year 2010, Yamaha provided an ECU map for the FZ1 to make the mid-range more smooth for city riding conditions. The Fuel Injection, with computer controlled sub-throttle valves ensure that the rider gets the smoothest power delivery across the rev range.

The Cylinder Blocks are closed deck, which means that not only we get a high strength engine, but also it's narrower in spite of the big 77mm bores. Also, the narrow angle five valve combustion chamber provides a highly efficient compression ratio of 11.5:1

High-RPM Durability is provided by carburized connecting rods with fracture split big ends, which also make the engine very quick-revving.

The ceramic-composite cylinder are coated with high silicon content which not only reduces friction, but also maximize the heat dissipation for a consistent power delivery through out the rev range.

Chassis and Suspension
The quick handling of the FZ1 is attributed to it's aggressive chassis geometry with Supersport inspired 51 percent front wheel weight bias

The cast aluminum frame uses the engine as a stressed member which allows for optimal rigidity, light weight and superb handling. The stressed-engine design holds the engine in place with six mounts, for excellent vertical stiffness and handling.

Fully adjustable 43mm inverted fork and a single shock with adjustable preload and rebound damping, can be tuned for sport touring or track days.

The subframe is removable, which allows easy maintenance and detachable passenger footpegs for even more stripped-down style.

Handling
The FZ1 is quite a nimble handler for a naked street fighter genre motorcycle. The bliss of a suspension and the wide handlebar, make the bike every bit a fun possible, provided that you have the right rubber on duty. Even though the ground clearance is low, the FZ1 is very effortless on bumps, couple with the very effective brakes. The engine makes the FZ1 exceedingly rapid and the sweet handling makes exceedingly fun.

Overall
The FZ1 is a very potent product from Yamaha in the naked Street Fighter class and is a very apt competitor for the Honda CB1000R and the Ducati Monster in the Indian market. Currently I would say the Yamaha FZ1 is the most prolific of the lot, but scene might change if Kawasaki decides to bring in it's Z1000 and the Ninja 1000.