All Tests – The Fazer 1000 goes off its hinges! – Used YAMAHA

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The Fazer 1000 goes off its hinges !

All Tests - The Fazer 1000 goes off its hinges! - Used YAMAHA

With its new Fazer, Yamaha seeks to retain its customers but also launches in the pursuit of more sporty motorcycles. Its engine and its cycle part always closer to those of an R1 would they put the sport within the reach of all? ? Test.

Launched at the Intermot Show in the fall of 2000, the FZS 1000 Fazer had acquired its letters of nobility thanks to its versatility. It then harmoniously combined the engine of the R1 – "calmed down" at 145 hp in free version -, a simple and healthy cycle part, and equipment comfortable enough to consider long rides..

But after six years, it was clear that the old Fazer 1000 – since it is commonly called that – deserved a little refurbishment … But the manufacturer of Hamamatsu did not do things by halves: he points out himself, the 2006 FZ1 Fazer is "new and radical".

"The new FZ1 and FZ1 Fazer have been designed to appeal to different categories of users, whether they are owners of a current Fazer 1000 or owners of other large-displacement faired or non-faired sports cars.", says Yamaha about its two new" Street Fighters ".
Paris, 10/27/2006 – The FZ1 Fazer 1000: a road-ready R1.Video Site.

The new Fazer 1000 therefore hunts the old model but also hyper sporty models of all brands. Two very distinct hares, which require some preparation. What the new Yam does not miss !

It remained to test the capabilities of the Fazer 1000 to race the R1, GSX-R, CBR and Ninjas but also the Z1000, Speed ​​Triple, FZS, ZZR or CBRXX … So on the way !

Pampered by its engineers

In 2006, it is a brand new Fazer 1000 that the brand delivers to us. It is still driven by the R1 engine, but new generation this time. It is more precisely the block of the R1 2005 that it has, that of the 2007 being already different. !

The FZ1 / Fazer engine – painted black for 2007 – therefore now develops 150 horsepower at 11,000 rpm and 106 Nm at 8,000 rpm. In France of course, the engine of the two sisters does not exceed 106 hp at 10,000 rpm and only reaches "only" 91.3 Nm at 7,000 rpm….

To calm down the 20-valve block of the old R1, the Japanese engineers decided to increase the inertia of the crankshaft by more than 40% and to reduce the compression ratio "from 12.4: 1 to 11.5: 1 by adopting a cylinder head gasket of different thickness".

Thus, the new 998 cc mill would prove, according to its designers, "efficient, versatile and user-friendly under ‘realistic’ conditions of use on current roads". But the new Yam is also adorned – and above all – with a cycle part highly inspired by those of the boiling R1.

"Designed using Yamaha’s proprietary CF die-casting process to vary the thickness of the aluminum millimeter by millimeter to achieve desired stiffness in a specific location ", the new frame aesthetically offers a not insignificant sporting character compared to the old double tubular cradle.

The observation is the same concerning the swingarm: the technique of casting aluminum used makes it possible to obtain an aspect close to that of hypersports which will satisfy the amateurs of voluptuous forms. It is also adjoined to its right by a new pot much shorter than its predecessor.

The resolutely sporty orientation of the Fazer 1000 also leads it to equip itself with a new inverted fork "anodized gold" including the separation of the damping functions between the two arms "has already been used successfully on the Yamaha YZR-M1 and therefore constitutes", according to the employer of Valentino Rossi,"a new example of the transfer of advanced technologies used in competition to Yamaha road motorcycles".

The brakes have "the same specifications as on the R1": 320 mm double front disc clamped by 4-piston calipers which are no exception to the" radial "fashion. The rims are no exception to the rule either, since their particularly thin five spokes offer a very clean look – so effective? – to the new Yam.

It smells of attack !

By riding the beast, the radicalization of the model becomes even more concrete. The handlebars lowered by 25 mm and brought closer by 10 mm compared to the 2005 model are above all almost as straight as that of a supermotard. Added to this are the footrests raised by 16 mm and set back by 27 … The tone is set: it smacks of attack full nose !

The dashboard is for its part very complete, the digital screen located to the left of the tachometer – red zone at 12,000 rpm, yum! – offers all the information a rider needs, including a distance recorder made on the reserve.

The latter will also prove useful at first for ex-owners of the FZS 1000, who will undoubtedly regret the reduction in the tank from 21 to 18 l. That said on the motorway, maintaining a 140 km / h cruising, the new Fazer can travel serenely over 250 km..

Driving "cool" is also widely possible on this machine, and consumption can easily drop below 6.5 l / 100km. Its engine barely started accepts times at very low speed – or 1,500 rpm – and is very flexible even when pulling on it..

The gearbox requires a little adaptation time for those unaccustomed to short selector strokes and firm gear changes. But once tamed, it becomes precise and pleasant. In addition, the engine’s demure between 2000 and 4000 rpm and the smooth clutch make it easy to tame the new Fazer in the city, while its tall and wide handlebars make it remarkably agile..

In built-up areas and the surrounding area, the picture would therefore be idyllic if the saddle wanted to be more welcoming! Relatively hard, it is especially its downward and forward tilt that makes it uncomfortable. Very quickly, we are on the move … And the Fazer was just waiting for that.

A real hyperactive

Just to focus your attention elsewhere than on your posterior, so you are tempted to change the pace. It is not that the discomfort pushes to go home hastily – one should not exaggerate either -, but the rider knows that by regularly changing position, his rear end becomes more discreet and therefore enduring..

Suddenly, the right wrist is activated more and lets escape from the new pot a particularly catchy sound. The revs are lively and from 4000 to 8000tr / min, the acceleration is exponential. Unfortunately on the French version, there is no point in lingering beyond the 8,000.

A certain frustration does not take long to appear and it takes several exits from the corners to resolve to gear up well before the red zone … Fortunately, the Fazer 1000 also offers sufficient driving pleasure to erase this defect, including the bridle is the only responsible.

Because the cycle part of the Fazer is exemplary. Its large handlebars also make it easier to enjoy the performance of a real sportswoman: the tank wedged between the thighs, the right bust, you can switch the bike from one side then the other in no time without even having to sway.

The curves are swallowed up well and only the jerk in the too frank reaccelerations can harm the cut trajectories … to the Fazer! And the brakes are just as effective! With just the right amount of bite for road use, they deliver plenty of power without having to put too much strain on the lever.

On a nice departmental road, the Fazer therefore allows itself to tax a good number of 600, 750 or 1000 cc "pocketbikes", so easy and instinctive driving..

A little less comfortable

On the other hand, when the road deteriorates, the new Yam shows its limits, in particular at the level of the too firm rear suspension of origin. Thus its sporting ambitions undermine the legendary versatility of the Fazers: comfort is set back on uneven surfaces and the driving position is sportier, and therefore tiring..

Conversely, if it does not offer the comfort of a road worthy of the name, the new Fazer has the merit of protecting its driver better than its predecessor. While the helmets of older adults remain exposed to the wind, but for the majority of pilots, the small bubble will be a precious ally on the expressway.

But it is at "high" speed that the Fazer suffers from another small inconvenience: between 4 and 4500 rev / min, a crackling is heard, without one can precisely determine its origin. The Fazer taking 25 km / h at 1000 rpm in sixth, calculate the speed at which this vibration occurs ?…

Correct: 100, 110 meter, or the average speed on secondary roads: regrettable but fortunately bearable! The slight tremor also reaches the mirrors, in which the view remains however satisfactory.

Equipment side, the Fazer 1000 is doing well compared to current standards. The presence of the central stand will appeal to bikers – "the real ones" – who will lubricate their chain more easily and park it more surely than on the side. We just note that the crutching requires a little force…

Under the saddle, you can fit a U and the tool kit, but no need to try to fit a rain suit. Impossibility all the more regrettable as the mud flap – which will be cut by a good number of aesthetes – does not protect the pilot from projections, nor the fork crown. To go on a trip, the accessories catalog will ultimately be useful !

Finding without appeal

At the end of this test, the results are therefore clear: the new Fazer is resolutely sportier, thus allowing to take the wheel of the best "superbikes" … Provided that Charpentier or Bayliss are not obviously on the handlebars. !

But the engine of the Fazer nevertheless suffers from the restriction of 100hp, which is not the victim of the CBF and its CBR1000RR engine much more sober. The Honda will logically become the favorite of big drivers, while fans of expressive 4-cylinders with flawless behavior on beautiful tarmac will turn more to the Yam.

Its future buyers will therefore have to accept a higher price than before: € 10,999 instead of € 9,299! With the imminent arrival on the market of the new Suzuki Bandit 1250 S "floor price" with the new liquid-cooled and injection engine, bikers have not finished hesitating between sport, versatility and wallet. !

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