A new FZ has big shoes to fill. But Yamaha has a way of filling them in a uniquely understated manner. So, does the new FZ25 follow the same pattern?
Yamaha has one peculiar habit. Whenever they launch a new product, they under-promise and over-deliver – at least in India that’s been the case for quite a while now. We’ve seen this happen with the first-gen R15 in 2008 and more recently with the R3. Both these bikes didn’t have splendid numbers to flaunt on their respective spec sheets. But, boy did they deliver in the real world! Now the reason I bring this up is because Yamaha’s latest offering, the FZ25, seems to be following a similar approach.
When Yamaha launched the FZ25 roughly a month ago, it left many – including me – a bit under whelmed with its specifications. But, before forming a premature opinion of the bike, I thought it best to wait to ride the motorcycle first. Fortunately, I got to ride Yamaha’s brand new street-naked in sunny Goa. And I think I’ve come back with some relevant findings…
Backstory
Since its launch in 2008, the FZ16 has been mechanically unchanged. Yes, it did get multiple facelifts – including the introduction of a fuel-injected version – but, in terms of performance, Yamaha didn’t really push the game forward with the FZ series of bikes as we had hoped. In fact, Yamaha admits that they were losing existing FZ16 customers to other manufacturers, owing to the fact that there was no upgrade available in their own range. So, more than anything, the FZ25 is the product with which Yamaha intends to make up for lost ground. So, has it worked? Well, let’s find out…
Aesthetic Appeal
This story is from the April 2017 edition of autoX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2017 edition of autoX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Honor-able Mention
Aiming at users who like premium smartphone features at mid-range prices, the new Honor X9b promises to offer it all. However, can it truly deliver on these promises?
LIGHTS OUT
MotoGP 2024 kicks off in style as the usual stars and a rookie sensation shine under Qatar floodlights.
'I've Seen How Quickly Things Can Change'
Nick Cassidy of Jaguar TCS Racing discusses the level of competition that his team is facing in Season 10 of the FIA Formula E World Championship.
UNBEATBLE AGAIN!
The new season seems to unfold a familiar narrative Red Bull, led by Max Verstappen, all set to secure the championship once again.
Chilling Point
It's not every day you bid farewell to winter by frolicking in the snow. So, when the opportunity presented itself, we decided to master the art of chilling.
FULL THROTTLE
What happens when you put your foot down in a VW and refuse to lift it for 24 hours?
ICE BREAKER
If drifting an Audi on a frozen river in Lapland sounds exotic, well, that's because it is. Suffice to say, it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on - ALL your clothes!
DREAM DEBATE
GT3 RS or GT4 RS? Talk about first-world problems… but if you’re going to choose, you should be so lucky as to be in a position to decide between two of the most focussed driver’s cars ever made.
TEUTONIC COMBAT
BMW and Mercedes are once again trading punches - this time vying for supremacy in the realm of full-size luxury SUVs.
DRIVING IN STYLE
The updated Range Rover Velar offers a unique package-stylish, yet capable-but what do we think of it after spending a few days on the road with it?