This is perhaps the most sensational bike release in India. People
are excited about the Yamaha FZ16 more than any other bike launch in the
history. Why? Because it is not the big bike which a common Indian
youth can’t afford. And it is not the sports bike with big flaring and
sexy but unmanly looks. FZ16 changes the definition of street biking,
its daring, strong, aggressive and unique. Join with me into a journey
of exploring the various features of Yamaha FZ16.
Looks and Styling: A magazine writer who has
reviewed this bike tells me that this is the best looking bike in India.
But I do not agree. Each kind of biker has a different taste. Some like
smooth lines and big flaring, while some like the aggressive, naked and
bold looks. I prefer the latter! Yes, this bike is the best looking one
in the muscle segment.
Let not the pictures mislead you. The bike looks much better in real.
The size of the tank looks massive. Even though the real tank hides
itself from the outer make up, no one would know! When I saw the bike
for the first time, I felt as if it spoke to me, “Hey, look I am here”.
Definitely a head turner for sure. Even the majestic Bullet will look
small near this bike. And I am sure that when you park the bike in your
college parking lot, Splendors, Stars and Discovers will think twice
before parking near Yamaha FZ16.
You can’t help from noticing the macho tires that add to the boldness
of the bike. The 140mm rear tyre is the biggest in India. MRF has made
this radial tubeless tyre exclusively for the FZ16. The front tyre is of
100mm, very impressive. The short 1.5m exhaust pipe adds to the unique
feeling of the bike.
No Indian bike has a head lamp shaped like the one in FZ16. Yamaha
has always tried different head lamps with its bikes, and this one is a
sure winner.
The dashboard is a little disappointing for me. Muscular bikes have
analog meters. This one looks as if this is a toy bike. Sorry for the
FZ16 lovers, but this is the part of the bike I don’t like. It features
all digital stuff including tachometer, speedometer, fuel gauge, trip
and odometer.
The grip bars for the pillion does not look like one at all. Yamaha
has tried something new with it, fortunately, it looks very cool! And
look at the sharp edge of the tail… says something!
Performance: You cannot compare Yamaha FZ16 with the other premium bikes in India. The Karizma,
Pulsars and R15s are for the long rides and sporty feel. But most of
the Indians ride 90% of the time in city traffic. The 153cc engine of
this bike is designed for the urban commute. The machine churns out 13.6
Nm of torque just at 6000 rpm. The broad tires, low center of gravity
and high torque at low rpm makes it a celebration to drive in city
traffic. I am sure that the so called big-bikers will be left behind
once the signal turns green!
The bike covers the world standard 0-60 kmph sprint in just 5.5
seconds. The mid range thrust and the highly tuned throttle response are
designed to give you the feel of a ultra-powerful bike in the urban
ride. The maximum speed is 111kmph. As I said before, this bike is not
for the long commutes. The seats are soft which is comfortable
initially, but will yield and give you a pain in the ass if your drive
for more than an hour. Strictly self start, no kicking anymore. I miss
the kick. I used to kick my Karizma to start even though I had a self
starter because I felt that only girls who do not have the kicking power
would press a button with their thumb. But anyway, lets not blame
Yamaha for that!
The open front gives you a good view of the vehicles going ahead and
the broad tires help you twist and turn with ease. You can easily do
stunts with Yamaha FZ16 because of the superior mass centralization and
broad tires. The 267mm diameter brakes assist in doing easy stoppies.
Now you too can get such a pic for your online profile! The mileage
figures are not the highlights, but it is still doing good. 40kmpl in
city and 54kmpl in the highways.
Verdict: Throw away your sporty looking bikes which
people call sports bikes. Get real, India needs a bike like this. The
mono suspension is great and can be adjusted unlike R15,
which helps you to tune according to the road conditions. You may not
have the money to buy Harley Davidson, you may not want to work all your
life to fill the tank with ever increasing fuel prices and you may not
have all the strength to handle a Bullet, but you definitely have a
choice of picking a red, flaming orange or black coloured Yamaha FZ16.
Pros:
- Manly Looks
- Broad & Tubeless Radial Tires
- International Branding
- Tuned for Urban Riding
- First of its Kind in India
- Competitive Pricing (Rs.65,000 Ex-showroom)
- Six Free Services and 2-Year, 30,000 Km warranty
Cons:
- Toyish Dashbaord with Full Digital Stuff. (Would have been better with dials)
- Just three colour options
- Could have provided disc brakes for the rear tires.
Specifications:
Displacement: 153cc
Engine: Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC
Maximum Power: 14bhp@7500rpm
Maximum Torque: 13.6Nm@6000rpm
Gears: 5 Manual
Weight: 126.00 kg
Ground Clearance: 160.00 mm
Fuel Tank: 12.00 ltrs
Wheelbase: 1335.00 mm
Wheel Size: 100/60 – 140/60 mm
Brakes: 267mm Hydraulic Disc
Brakes(Rear): Drum
Engine: Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC
Maximum Power: 14bhp@7500rpm
Maximum Torque: 13.6Nm@6000rpm
Gears: 5 Manual
Weight: 126.00 kg
Ground Clearance: 160.00 mm
Fuel Tank: 12.00 ltrs
Wheelbase: 1335.00 mm
Wheel Size: 100/60 – 140/60 mm
Brakes: 267mm Hydraulic Disc
Brakes(Rear): Drum
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