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.

And on the track ?

It is now on the track of the Mechanical Pole of Alès that we continue our contact with this Yamaha FZ8 2013. Luckily, the sun darted its beneficial rays on the now dry layout of the speed track. Time to put on our clothes of lights and gazzz: there, as Eric de Seynes said the day before, we no longer cheat !

After a few laps of reconnaissance of the circuit in the wake of the inevitable Denis Bouan, here we are: trapper braking, stubborn angles, go-around as soon as possible … and we start again! First observation: the music of the 4-cylinder is still as pleasant and the new silencer has the good taste of preserving the sound of flights to high revs.

The excellent news is that a dozen drivers – of very different levels – are far from filling the circuit. We do not jostle at the entry of curves, a guarantee of confidence that allows us to focus more on the sensations than on the rascal which passes with 20 better limits! All the journalists present can therefore express their talents as best as possible without embarrassing or being embarrassed..

Here again, the slightly rounded tank is the only hindrance, even if it is limited by the position which should be adopted on the track. The improvement of the fork is this time very noticeable: you can brake hard until late on the angle without anything disturbing the maneuver. Then, the go-around, strong and early, is well contained by a rear axle devoid of parasitic movements.

The 2013 FZ8 is much more reassuring than its predecessor thanks to its new suspensions. To the point that even a boe will manage to seek the limits of the ground clearance even before the slider comes to graze the track … However, if it is undoubtedly true that said ground clearance is improved – which does not was not a big challenge to take up – she is still a bit fair for the bigger attackers.

Verdict: much better !

The improvements made to this 2013 FZ8 are all going in the right direction: Yamaha has retained the primary qualities of comfort and perceived quality of its roadster while correcting the silencer, the only major aesthetic flaw..

As for the new suspensions, they also have the good sense to keep the FZ8 its comfort while allowing to push the limits during a good arsouille from behind the bundles, as befits a roadster. Enough to relaunch his young career with arguments now much better supported !

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