2013 FZ8 test: spring for the Yamaha roadster !
On the best selling motorcycle segment in France, the medium-capacity roadster, the Yamaha FZ8 made a relatively modest entry in 2010. This 2013 vintage must correct its main flaws: test drive and circuit in Alès, at the foot of the Cevennes.
Update on the FZ8
Brrrrrrrrrrrr! Arriving at the Alès Mechanical Pole, this February morning, the atmosphere is rather cool … As evidenced by the plumes of smoke which, as for a cleverly orchestrated teasing, only gradually reveal the 2013 Yamaha FZ8s that we will soon be riding.
But make no mistake: MNC is hot as embers, as the modifications announced by Yamaha should correct the flaws blamed on the first version of this FZ8. A little step back is in order before discovering the new vintage.
Remember that the first version FZ8 is a good bike that has had some faults to complain about, starting with an unsurprising design (identical to the FZ1, except for the optics). It was especially criticized, in addition to its unworthy exhaust silencer (which forced Yamaha to make agreements with Akrapovic and Laser to mount promotional operations), suspensions which were certainly comfortable but which gave the FZ8 a clumsy and imprecise behavior in arsouille mode. . Add to this table a weak ground clearance for the big anglers, and the pole position of the sales of roadsters was moving inexorably away…
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Sales of Yamaha FZ8 in France |
| 2010 is not a full year of sales, so 2011 is significant for the Yamaha roadster. The FZ8 was then overtaken not only by Kawasaki, undisputed leader of the category with its Z, but also by Honda and its Hornet 600: a real snub … The arrival of the Suzuki GSR 750 will not improve the situation in taking third place in the category, however remaining behind a Honda Hornet 600 judiciously "replaced" in price… |
| Year | Yamaha FZ8 | Kawasaki Z750 | Suzuki GSR 750 | Triumph Street Triple | Honda hornet |
| Rate | € 8,399 | € 8,899 (Z800) | € 8,299 | € 7990 | € 6990 |
| 2012 | 2909 | 3755 | 3287 | 1788 | 3407 |
| 2011 | 3336 | 4729 | 2841 | 2330 | 3660 |
| 2010 | 2008 | 5338 | – | 2844 | 2460 |
Yet the bike was born well as shown by its track record in competition, "where we don’t cheat", underlines Eric de Seynes, CEO of Yamaha Motor France (see our interview): victory for Denis Bouan in and 7th place in, victory for Mathieu Charpin in the 2011 French Roadsters Championship, victory for Cyril Carrillo and Frank Tauziède in the Bol d ‘Silver 2012…
But if indeed we do not cheat in the race, we prepare the motorcycles a minimum: the suspensions are reviewed – or even changed, at least for the rear -, the attitude of the motorcycle is changed to improve ground clearance, etc. . And on the stock model, Yamaha identified problems with ground clearance and suspension which first led to offering one that still achieved 40% of sales. !
Something to think about a real evolution, rather than limited series or other promotions … Hence the arrival of this new vintage FZ8 2013, whose objective is not to resume the head of motorcycle sales but well to keep a good place in the charts: Eric de Seynes openly aims for second place for motorcycles over 125, with annual sales of between 3 and 4,000 copies (FZ8 and Fazer8 combined).
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