Yamaha FZ25 Test Drive Report

The ace Japanese bike manufacturer Yamaha had marked their presence in India for more than 30 years. They entered the Indian premises with the much popular and untamed beauty called RD 350. The brand name 'Yamaha' had flourished in and around the country with that brutal machine on the ground. Ever since then, the name Yamaha had stood for pride, power and reliability. Now, they have shown its real character again with the launch of a brand new motorcycle in the 250cc segment called the FZ25. With eight long years of experience and service, FZ is one of the popular and most desired bike brands in the country. For the time being, let's switch the gear of brand new FZ25.

How it Looks

Well, the FZ25 bears the similar styling standards of the mighty FZ-1 just like the younger siblings FZ-S and FZ-Fi. At first, you notice those tightly packed LED headlamp showing all the characters of a naked street bike. On a closer inspection, it seems like a human face. From the sides, it looks even more attractive with those mouth like projection on the lamp case. It gets two LEDs, one for low beam and other for high beam. Moreover, it gets LED DRLs and pilot lamp as well. The smaller, smoked visor bears the Yamaha logo just like a 'bindi' worn on Indian women's forehead. The number plate is also mounted on the visor to get a clear view from the distance.



The sculpted fuel tank of FZ25 has a storage capacity of 14-litre. This brawny fuel tank unit itself separates the FZ25 from its younger siblings. Moreover, it provides a comfy niche for the knees and helps in maintaining a firm and upright riding posture. The tank extension gels very well with rest of the body.



Another good thing about the FZ25 is the rider and pillion seats. They are wide and offers a higher level of comfort, which underlines the touring capabilities of the bike. Moreover, they are designed in a fine shape and used high-quality fabrics for all weather protection.



From the back, tail section looks neat and complete with LED tail lamp and split grab rails. The turn indicators are well placed under the rear cowl on the number plate extension.

Features

The fully digital instrument console of the FZ25 is rather plain and gets less attention. It displays speedometer with large readout and a tachometer that runs from left to right displaying every rev band of the bike. The console also houses to clock, current mileage, two trip meters with time and average, engine warning lamp, neutral position and turn indicator lights.



The flat handlebar and the split saddle provide superior riding comfort in the FZ25. It gets 17-inch tubeless tyres at both the ends. The wider rear tyre gets a removable plastic hugger, which prevents the spraying of dirt and water. Just like the Yamaha FZ series and R15 range of bikes, the fit and finish of the FZ25 are extremely good. It has used high-quality switch gears with a better handle grip.

The Engine and Performance

The new Yamaha FZ25 underpins the 249cc, air-cooled, 4-stroke, single cylinder engine found in the latest Yamaha YZF-R25. However, in this FZ, the mill delivers only a maximum power of 20.9 bhp @ 8000 rpm and peak torque of 20 Nm @ 6000 rpm. The engine is mated to the 5-speed gearbox which drives the rear wheels using chain drive. At some point, one could felt the absence of a sixth gear when we quiet past the 3 digits. But Yamaha claims that FZ25 has better gear ratios than the 6-geared Honda CBR 250R.



Here, the brilliance of Yamaha engineering is to borrow the engine from R25 and to tune this engine to deliver an optimized power and torque figures that suit the vehicle and its potential customers. The high torque helps in quick to get off from the '0'. Throttle response is crisp and highly responsive due to the advanced fuel injection system. The top speed of the FZ25 is indicated as 136kmph. Meanwhile, riding in the 100 to the 110kmph range is bit relaxed and comfortable on this bike. On paper, it may seem as an underpowered quarter litre bike. However, in the real world it is a perfect combination of torque and power helps in delivering a smooth and quick acceleration at times. According to Yamaha, it is an easy to ride, effortless commuter with the performance that suits its characteristics.

Riding Dynamics and Handling Capabilities

Even before starting the engine, you felt very comfortable and confident over sitting on this FZ. The front end of the bike is lighter, thanks to the mass centralized body structure. Moreover, it weighs 148kgs making it as one of the lightest quarter litre bikes in the country. This makes it easy to handle and control on city traffics and sharp corners. The combination of the beefy 41 mm front telescopic fork and the monoshock suspension at the rear are well suited for Indian road conditions.





However, one cannot forget the grip of the front and rear tyres, especially the bulky rear tyre. They are truly confident boosters to take this bike to corners and even on wet tarmac. Altogether, the bike's dynamics are truly appreciable in all means.



Braking department has been a minor let off from the makers. It doesn't get the ABS system. At the front and back end, it gets 282 mm and 220 mm disc brakes respectively.

The Verdict

Altogether, the new FZ25 is a healthy update of the FZ-S and FZ-Fi. The engine is subtle. It is smooth and powerful at the same time. The weight distribution and riding position of the FZ25 help the most in-experienced rider to drive this bike along the road. The kerb weight happens to be one of the highlights of this Yamaha which boosts the confidence of rider to take this bike to any terrains. According to me, the lack of ABS braking happens to be the only drawback of this bike.



The Yamaha FZ25 is second quarter litre naked bike to be launched in India after the KTM Duke 250. However, both the bikes are from a different family bearing different characteristics and instincts. Therefore, one cannot compare the Duke with the FZ25. If you are planning to buy a quarter litre bike that looks good and rides equally well, then FZ25 is your machine. With a price tag ranging from 1.20 to 1.25 ex-showroom across the country, it is one good Yamaha that is worth the money.



Photos By: Jithin Johnson

Full details, Specification and Pricing of Yamaha FZ25