My take on the Yamaha FZ-16
I recently had the opportunity to test drive the newly launched 150cc mainstream motorbike - the Yamaha FZ-16. My friend wanted to have a good look at it as he was interested in purchasing it. So I was there with him in the showroom and we had a look at it and test drove it.
Unfortunately the test drive was provided only within the parking lot of the showroom which was only a few meters space. But in the short period, the bike managed to impress me a lot.
The looks of the bike were both refreshing and attractive. The design varies considerably from the current lot of 150 cc bikes and makes it look fresh. The big scooping tank, unique headlights and tail lights, short and chubby silencer and the wide rear tyre makes the bike look very attractive. But I felt that the headlights looked odd from some of the angles.
I took the keys from the showroom guys and started the bike with self-start which was the only available option (no kick start). The bike felt small and short compared to my Hero Honda Hunk and Karizma. The engine made a sporty growl that made me feel great. The biggest thing going for the bike is the torque which is available in loads of quantities even from the start. The ride was almost vibration free and the engine felt eager to be pushed harder. The mono-suspension, superior chassis and wide rear tyre should provide excellent levels of comfort, handling and control.
The bike is priced at a showroom price of around Rs.65,000 and that is higher that most of the 150cc bikes that are available. But it also equipped better than most of them. The showroom guys claim a fuel efficiency figure of around 40 km per liter.
My verdict is that the bike is ideally suited towards the city rides with its low end torque and small size. And for the freshness factor and the great ride, I feel that the bike is totally worth the money.
