News 6 Nov 2009

Quick Test: 2009 Yamaha FZ1

MotoOnline.com.au puts Yamaha’s 2009 model FZ1 nakedbike to the test out on streets of Sydney in a Quick Test.

fz1-front-specs

2009 YAMAHA FZ1 SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE
Engine type:
Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 20-valve, inline four-cylinder
Bore x stroke: 77 x 53.6mm
Displacement: 998cc
Compression ratio: 11.5:1
Transmission: Six-speed
Power (claimed): 150hp
Torque (claimed): NA
Fuel capacity: 18 litres

CHASSIS
Frame type: Aluminium
Front suspension: 43mm fully-adjustable inverted telescopic fork
Rear suspension: Monocross
Wheels (front/rear): 17 x 3.50 / 17 x 5.50
Tyres (front/rear): Michelin Pilot Power 120/70 ZR17 / 190/50 ZR17
Brakes (front/rear): Twin 320mm discs, monobloc four-piston calipers / 245mm single disc and two-piston caliper
Wheelbase: 1460mm
Seat height: 815mm

DIMENSIONS
Weight (claimed):
214kg (with fuel)

PURCHASE DETAILS
Price: $TBA
Warranty: TBA
Colour options: Extreme Yellow; Graphite; Midnight Black
Test bike: Yamaha Motor Australia
www.yamaha-motor.com.au

Yamaha has long been a leader in the nakedbike segment with its FZ1, introduced in 2001 with the snappy inline four-cylinder engine direct from the YZF-R1 superbike motorcycle.

Since that time there has been one major revision in 2006, launching the second generation of FZ1, and then in the preceding years there have been upgrades to keep the bike at the head of the pack.

Yamaha’s superbike-engined naked bike is sharp in its appearance and enjoys the engine power direct from the previous model R1, which has since moved on to the big-bang concept that was introduced this year.

For those who aren’t sold on the new R1’s engine configuration, then the FZ1 is where you’ll find that traditional inline four, complete with the aggressive nature that Yamaha’s R1 engine has always been recognised for pre-2009.

But there’s much more to the FZ1 than being just a R1 without fairings. In fact, it’s far from that. The look of the bike is right up my alley as far as nakedbikes go, compact in its stance with the Extreme Yellow paint job of our test bike doing its appearance a world of good.

The stumpy rear-end and exhaust are offset by the sharp and focussed lines of the headlight, and there’s plenty of room at the back for a passenger or luggage if you’re looking to ride for the long haul.

The 18-litre fuel tank gives the bike a wide feel ergonomically when seated, and the wide, flat handlebars are a decent mix between an aggressive sportsbike and a relaxed naked.

I’m not completely sold on the silver paint job of the ’bars as they look somewhat cheap compared to the remainder of the build quality featured on the bike, but I can live with that when summarising the complete package.

Once fired into life, the FZ1 has a superb engine note that’s deep upon each blip of the throttle, almost instantly making me that much more tempted to take it out for the test ride on the first of a number of cloudy, but dry days.

The engine is a retuned version of the 2004-05 model R1’s 998cc DOHC 20-valve engine and has been revamped to promote a stronger torque curve for mid-range punch and top-end power.

It has a claimed 150 horsepower, with its redline reduced by 1750rpm compared with the engine in its original R1 trim.

The FZ1 looks the goods and rides like a treat.

The FZ1 looks the goods and rides like a treat.

It’s fuel-injected with computer controlled sub-throttle valves, which permits precise fuelling that is noticeable in the throttle response when applying the gas from a standstill.

The motor revs quite quickly with a bore and stroke of 77 x 53.6mm, powering through the rpm range from around 5000 all the way to its redline point of 12,000rpm.

Visually, the dash is nice if a little simple, meaning what you see is basically what you get, which is a speedometer, tachometer, odometer, dual trip metres, a fuel gauge, temperature gauge, clock, and the regular roundup of warning lights.

The handlebar-mounted controls are some of the easiest to reach and nicest feeling position-wise that I’ve felt, making indicating, etc, that much easier even if it is a relatively simple thing to start with – it all counts.

There’s plenty of mumbo tucked beneath the frame rails in the engine and it’s delivered in a fashion that’s as torquey as Yamaha claims, while retaining a smooth motion in each of the gears.

You can pretty much ride the torque of the engine in any gear and you’ll feel the surge, with the six-speed gearbox accurate in its selection apart from a little free-play in the lever.

The primary and final drive ratios are the same, as are first to fourth gear ratios, while fifth and sixth are taller.

The engine is direct from a previous model YZF-R1.

The engine is direct from a previous model YZF-R1.

At times it’d be nice to have a touch more grunt in the bottom-end as Yamaha has openly focussed on the mid-range and top-end, leaving it lagging slightly behind the snappy Ducati Streetfighter in that sense.

If I had to compare the Streetfighter and the Honda CB1000R to the FZ1, I’d place the Yamaha directly in the middle as a nice balance between the pair of them.

Handling-wise, the FZ1 isn’t as quick-steering as the Ducati but it’s more stable and edges toward the stability of the Honda. Yamaha has got the balance between manoeuvrability and comfort on more open stretches very good.

You need to build confidence in the bike’s swift turning accuracy as it responds quickly to any input suggested through the rider’s movements, but once you do then you’ll very much reap the rewards of this bike’s turning prowess at speed.

It’s got a superbike-like front/rear weight ratio of 51 percent bias toward the front-end, which further assists in getting the bike turned into the corners once your barking is complete.

Speaking of the brakes, the 320mm front-discs complete with monobloc four-piston calipers make for a touchy set of stoppers that beg for stoppies if you dare, and the adjustability in the lever is helpful to get your setting right.

The 43mm fully-adjustable upside-down forks soak up even the harshest of bumps like a nakedbike should, and their characteristics under braking and through front-tyre feedback are confidence inspiring in a lot of ways.

Like Yamaha’s MotoGP racers, the left fork contains compression damping adjustability and the right fork has rebound adjustability, with stiffer springs over the previous model to boot.

The rear suspension is somewhat springy in its handling and required the rebound to be slowed up, not quite matching the handling of the front suspension, but offering ample amounts of grip nevertheless.

The cockpit of the FZ1 features flat handlebars and a simple dash set-up.

The cockpit of the FZ1 features flat handlebars and a simple dash set-up.

Like the handlebars, the only other thing that reduces the quality of the bike in my opinion are the rubber-based foot rests, which are low-set and reduce the feeling through your feet compared to most sportsbikes.

Granted, they’re probably comfy when racking up a few hundred kays on a highway, but when cornering in the twisties I like to have firm foot rests to pivot my weight around on.

Steering through traffic isn’t a worry on the FZ1 at slow speeds as the flat handlebars give maximum leverage, while the wind resistance at high speeds is next to non-existent as you’d expect from a non-faired motorcycle.

The mirrors featured on the bike are extremely adjustable and could basically be worked into a position to suit any rider, which is a great bonus, although they do tend to vibrate slightly and blur the vision when in the mid-section of the rev range.

Nakedbikes are something that I’ve really been getting into lately, with Yamaha’s FZ1 living up to the hype that I’ve heard over many years. It’s not quite an R1, but you’d be hard-pressed to be disappointed if you were to lay down you dollars on the naked beauty.

Next year’s version of the bike again feature just minimal changes, with an ECU revision set to boost the bottom-end power a touch. Apart from that, expect a few colour changes and you’ll essentially be riding the same bike.

For now though, I still have a couple of days left to play with the FZ1, so time to take it out for another spin!

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