So you want to be a Naked Hooligan Streetfighter ?
Written: May 06 '07 (Updated Jun 18 '07)
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Pros: Powerful R1 motor, comfortable riding position, head-turning design, perfect for city & highway riding
Cons: Would have been even better with a slipper clutch & under the seat exhaust pipes.
The Bottom Line: A pleasant blend of sportbike performance and real-world rider ergonomics. Ideal for the daily commute or the occasional hot-laps at the track.
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| aashok's Full Review: 2007 Yamaha FZ1 |
WHY DID I BUY IT?
I cut my motorcycle riding teeth in India, where two wheelers are the preferred choice of transportation. Their use varies from the daily commute, to racing and (lately) stunting. The last time I owned and rode a motorcycle was over 20 years back. It just fell off my things-I-enjoy-doing list, as family and work concerns took priority. Being that many of those concerns are now behind me, I decided to buy a motorcycle for my big 4-0. I knew that I wanted a bike that was comfortable for long rides on the highway, maneuverable enough for city driving, and had the look and feel of a sport bike. I also prefer a naked design over full fairings. Much like the late Indian Larry, I feel that the mechanical components of a bike are beautiful and need to be showcased. Not hidden behind expensive painted plastic. I could have compromised with a smaller 600cc motor, but why? So I decided to go with a minimum 1000cc motor. As I started researching on the internet, I found some excellent choices. The following 2007 models ended up on my short list:
- Suzuki Bandit 1250ABS
- Yamaha FZ1
- Honda ST1300ABS
- Kawasaki Concours 14 (2008 model)
- Suzuki B-King (2008 model)
The Honda and Kawasaki models have an impressive feature set, however they are also 250 lbs heavier. I wanted a light zippy sport bike with upright seating. The Suzuki Bandit 1250 had a bigger displacement motor and ABS brakes. However IMO it had outdated styling. The Yamaha FZ1 really stood out over the others for many reasons. It had the tried & tested 1000cc inline 4 cylinder motor. It had a comfortable upright seating position with sensibly placed foot pegs. And to top it off, it had killer contemporary aggressive styling. The FZ1 has been around since 2001. TheFZ1s released from 2001 to 2005, are considered first generation models. The 2006 & 2007 bikes are considered second generation models. This was another selling point for me. Due to its rich pedigree, there are numerous aftermarket parts and accessories available for the FZ1. After drooling on various bikes in the showroom for a few weeks, I finally took delivery of my new FZ1, two days before by birthday. I shopped for the bike at 4 different dealers in NY and NJ. I however purchased it from Camrod Motorsports in New York City. www.camrodmotorsportsnyc.com If you are looking for a pleasant, honest and trustworthy place to buy your next bike, I highly recommend Camrod located at 46th St and 11th Ave in New York City. Ask for Steve Travers. He will give you his honest opinion on what bike is best suited for your intended use, help you in deciding between the various models, filter through the pros & cons of the various options and features, and get you the best price possible.
THE RIDE:
My first experience riding this bike was from the showroom in NYC, thru evening rush hour traffic, across the Lincoln tunnel to New Jersey. A dealer employee took me in the back, showed me where all the controls and features are located on the bike, informed me the gas tank is full, advised me not to ride too fast, gave me the keys, slapped me on my back, and sent me on my way to rider heaven. The first few days I tooled around town at slow speeds, just so I could familiarize myself with the gears, the clutch friction point, gentle & emergency braking, throttle response / control, turning and maneuvering at various speeds, etc. The bike has ample power in the low to mid range. I typically use gears 1-4 for slow light-to-light city riding. This is great for getting out of sticky situations, and away from lumbering trucks and buses. The motor just loves to rev up and scream at 4000-5000 rpm. Redline is 12000-13000 rpm. The lower gear ratios are just right for urban riding. Shifting between gears was crisp and clean. Finding neutral was also very easy. This allows me to let go of the clutch and relax my fingers at a red light. More aggressive low gears would make the bike too dangerous (for me), but just right for stunting, pulling wheelies and stoppies. In which case, I would recommend the very capable R1.
Yesterday, I finally summoned the courage to take this monster out on the open highway. I wanted to go see my brother who lives about 40 miles south of me. But more important, I wanted to test the high gear performance of the bike. I pulled into the toll plaza. Within 20 seconds of the staging lights displaying EZPass Toll Paid, I was in 6th gear doing 70mph on the NJ Turnpike. I started really opening the throttle as the traffic started opening up around exits 13,12 & 11. Within seconds the bike was comfortably cruising at 120 mph at 7000 rpm, with a lot more power to spare. Both 5 & 6 gears have a very tall range, allowing for sustained high speed highway riding. The only time I went into the lower gears was on the return trip when the traffic was bumper to bumper near the Lincoln tunnel exit. Above 80 mph, the engine noise is replaced by wind noise, and wind resistance starts becoming a real issue. I was thankful to Steve at Camrod, for making sure I purchased my MotoGP riding jacket, AGV modular full face helmet and Icon Pursuit riding gloves. When I hunched down just a bit, the bike liked it and went even faster. I now understand, why bikes like the Hayabusa have large fairings, forward leaning rider position and drawn back foot pegs.
POWERPLANT & TRANSMISSION:
The FZ1 has the same 998cc inline 4 cylinder motor found on the R1, but slightly detuned for street use. Considering the reduced compression ratio & milder cam shaft, the FZ1 still packs quite a punch throughout the transmission range. It delivers enough low/mid range torque to get the adrenaline pumping, and enough top range torque to make you scream in your helmet. The multiplate clutch allows for clean shifting through all 6 gears. However I wish it had a slipper clutch like the R1, in order to reduce the engine braking inherent in all 4-stroke engines. The exhaust system runs from 4 into 1, and uses an automatic EXUP system. This is basically an exhaust valve that is controlled by the throttle position. It works automatically to ensure optimum back pressure throughout the rev range. The single highly stylized muffler has built in heat shields, and is used to control both noise and emissions.
COMFORTABLE RIDER POSITION:
Unlike typical sports bikes, the FZ1 allows for a more upright and relaxed rider posture. The wide handle bar allows me to put the bike through some quick turns and swerves. It also makes the bike more maneuverable in heavy traffic. The rider foot pegs place the feet right under me, and makes it easy to quickly lower my feet to the ground when stopped at a light or splitting lanes thru bumper-to-bumper traffic. The upright posture also prevents me from having any lower back pain on long rides. The bike uses a rigid frame that pushes the rider & motor forward. This allows for better balance, handling and stability in almost all situations.
SUSPENSION & BRAKES:
Both the front & rear suspension allow for five inches of travel, and can be individually customized for different riding conditions. You can make them tighter for running hot laps at the track, or soften them up for touring purposes. Supposedly the front suspension is similar to the one used by Valentino Rossi on his MotoGP bike. One side is used to dampen the rebound, while the other side is used to dampen compression. The rear suspension is one large shock absorber similar to Motocross bikes. The front brake system has two 320mm discs with 4 piston calipers. Yamaha beefed up the front brakes because they are responsible for up to 90% of the bikes braking power. The rear brakes use a single 245mm disc and single piston caliper. These are perfect for gently slowing down in traffic, or gentle speed control. By themselves they are useless for emergency stopping. It is much safer to train yourself to USE BOTH BRAKES ALL THE TIME.
ACCESSORIES & ADD-ONS:
Yamaha sells a wide range of accessories and apparel on their website: http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelsubcontaineritems/5/7/187/2029/2007/0/1.aspx
However you can Google-up numerous companies & websites that sell aftermarket parts and accessories for the FZ1. Here is a list of stuff I have purchased to date:
- Corbin Smuggler Trunk: replaces passenger seat, very high quality, matched paint job.
- Gold billet aluminum handle bar ends
- Gold replacement engine oil cap
- Gold racing foot pegs
- Gold Pazzo racing levers – short
- Carbon tank pad
- Carbon front fender & rear wheel hugger
- Rear fender eliminator
- Adjustable fuel cap mount for video camera, GPS or cell phone
- Motovation frame sliders (must have item)
THE BOTTOMLINE:
The (2007) FZ1 quite capably addresses the needs of the urban rider / commuter, while delivering super sports bike performance, all packaged in an attractive contemporary naked design. It has more than enough power for running hot laps at the track, and a relaxed rider position for taking the long comfortable leisurely ride back home. The low & mid range is just right for city riding, while the high gears are tall enough for fast sustained highway riding. However if you are into stunting, you may want to consider the R1 instead. I only wish it had under the seat exhaust pipes, and a slipper clutch.
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FZ1 Model Specifications:
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelspecs/7/0/specs.aspx
FZ1 Image Gallery:
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelgallerylib/7/1/0/gallery.aspx
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PSA for Motorcycle Riders:
- Wear all the gear, every time you ride, your life may depend on it.
- Always do a pre-ride check (TCLOCS) http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/T-CLOCSInspectionChecklist.pdf
- If you are a first time rider or just haven’t ridden in a while, you MUST take the Basic Rider Course offered by MSF. You can take it for free in NJ http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Licenses/motorcycle_safety.htm#a1
- Be especially careful and vigilant at every intersection
- Be visible and be SEEN, think bright flashy colored apparel
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Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 9000.00
Condition: New
Model Year: 2005
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Member: Ashok
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