Yamaha has opted for a single downtube frame with the engine as a stressed member. The frame, with its twin rear shocks and telescopic forks makes the Fazer a stable, if light handler. The only time the Fazer seems a bit upset is when you lean it deep quickly. Then the tyres suddenly seem to lose a bit of their otherwise good performance. For the record, the test bike wore a Dunlop Zebra 2.75x18 up front and a MRF Zapper-Y 3.00x18 at the rear. I got to ride the machine only on near-perfect tarmac, so ride quality will have to remain uncommented upon.
The agility in handling should point to a quick machine through traffic. Which brings me to the first of the Fazer’s weaknesses. The front brake is a 150mm drum, the largest yet in the segment. However, while effective, it lacks the bite a near-11 bhp machine’s anchors should have. Yamaha does intend to introduce a deluxe model in October with an optional disc brake, but for now, the drum will have to do.
Perhaps the most pleasing bit about the Fazer is its ergonomics package. Yamaha have created one of the more comfortable machines to ride. It could be the most comfortable of all, but we’ll comment on that post road test. The half hour I spent aboard passed without my body even realising that I was on a motorcycle at all, so the signs are all good.
The Fazer is positioned to straddle the upper reaches of the 110cc commuters and just undercut the 125/133cc competition. At Rs 43,900 ex-showroom Delhi, the promising Fazer could be Yamaha’s ticket to more sales. More significantly, for those of us who want more powerful machinery, Yamaha’s product range now misses only segment. The premium segment. There’s another reason to celebrate, then.
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