2015 Yamaha Fz-07
Ignition
DUCATI MONSTER 821 > HARLEY'S NEW FLAT-TRACKER? > RED BULL STRAIGHT RHYTHM -> RIDE CRAPI
FUN ON THE CHEAP: Yamaha has found the formula to building fun bikes that don't sting your bank account.
2015 YAMAHA FZ-07
CW FIRST RIDE
Yamaha grabs another gear and drops a cylinder to make the awesome FZ-09's little twin. We like this one even better.
Blake Conner
Of the Big Four Japanese motorcycle companies, Yamaha appears to be the only one rebounding from the 2008 recession by building exciting new models that are fun to ride, stylish, and easy on the wallet.
So far, although there are some exceptions, it seems there are two trains of thought: revamping existing models and taking little risk, or jumping off the rails-like Honda has done-and building motorcycles that are either practical to the point of bland (NC700X) or just plain odd (NM4).
Meanwhile, Yamaha has found the middle ground. The tuning fork company struck first with the Star Bolt, a sub-$8,ooo urban bobber that has been a huge success. It then followed up with the $7,990 FZ-o9 triple, one of the most entertaining models of the year. And now,
Yamaha has upped the ante even more with the 2015 FZ-o7, which has an MSRP of $6,990.
Bikes like the FZ-07 come along only once every decade or so. What Yamaha has accomplished with the smallest FZ is building a goodperforming, inexpensive, exciting motorcycle with attractive stylingkind of like a modern Suzuki SV650 or Honda Hawk GT (though the Hawk wasn’t cheap).
Key to the FZ-07 is the brand-new 689CC parallel twin. It delivers an outstanding claimed 58 mpg, yet its crossplane 270-degree crank and uneven firing order provide one of the best power deliveries of any middleweight on the market. The FZ-07’S claimed 50.2 pound-feet of peak torque and 75 hp might not sound all that impressive, but, as I discovered on my all-day ride in Seattle and on Bainbridge Island, the 07 has a surprisingly fun character that turned me into a total hooligan. (Third-gear wheelies, are you kidding me?!)
One factor is the EFI’s excellent fueling. Yamaha keeps it simple by not using ride by wire or multiple ride modes, and the result is throttle response that’s much cleaner than the FZ-09’S. Another huge bonus: The torque curve is incredibly flat.
BY THE NUMBERS
42
Percentage of sport riders who use their smalldisplacement bikes for commuting, according to a Yamaha poll.
$5,699
1999SUZUKISVG50: Sixteen years ago, this versatile machine seemed like a bargain. Now, the FZ-07 seems like a steal
-158
CUBIC CENTIMETERS: The new Yamaha FZ-07, down one cylinder and 158cc compared to the FZ-09, costs $1,000 less than its big brother.
COOL STUFF
ACCESSORIZE YOUR EZ-07
If your wallet is still feeling thick after purchasing your brand-new FZ-07, Yamaha will gladly help you lighten the load with a wide range of accessories. For more versatility, look at soft saddlebags ($129.99 and up), front cowl ($147.99), and rear rack ($184.99). For bike protection, check out the engine guards ($224.99) and radiator side covers ($119.99). And for pure aesthetics, a variety of steel mesh side covers and billet-aluminum accent pieces are available. -BC
CLASS MATES
DUCATI MONSTER 696
$9,295
KAWASAKI NINJA 650
$7,699
KTM 690 DUKE
$8,999
SUZUKI SFV650
$8,149
TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE
$9,399
From bottom basement through the middle and to the top, there is always usable torque—just pick a gear and leave it there. As a matter of fact, in first gear, I was able to let out the clutch and leave a stop with my right hand completely off the throttle grip without any protest from the engine. Well-chosen ratios in the six-speed transmission mean you can carry a tall gear for smooth cruising (and stay away from the minimal but present vibes typical of a parallel twin), or rev it when strafing apexes.
Okay, it has a sweet little engine, but the FZ-07 is built around a great chassis too. With a low 31.7-inch seat height and a claimed wet weight of 397 pounds, this
new Yamaha feels very light and maneuverable. A steel frame uses the engine as a stressed member, and it carries a conventional (non-adjustable) KYB fork in front and a preload-adjustable shock in back. Considering how basic the hardware is, the ride quality felt cushy, and the bike never felt overwhelmed on twisty roads. Cornering clearance wasn’t an issue either.
Braking, too, was very good. Up front, a pair of four-piston calipers work with 282mm wave-style discs. In back, a single-piston caliper squeezes a 245mm rotor. ABS, to keep the price right, isn’t even available as an option.
Where the new 2015 Yamaha FZ-07 stands out is in perceived value—you get a lot of motorcycle for less than $7K. Moreover, the attractive 10-spoke castaluminum wheels (mounted with sporty Michelin Pilot Road or Bridgestone Battlax BT023 tires), together with a stylish steel swingarm, easy-to-read LCD dash, LED taillight, good footpegs, adjustable levers, and excellent materials, put quite a few more expensive bikes to shame.
While the rest of the competition figures out how to build a ridiculously fun and value-packed bike like the greatlooking FZ-07, Yamaha will sell ’em like tonic at a gin convention. Cheers!
2015 YAMAHAFZ-07
$6990
