The Yamaha FZ8 and FAZER8 are middleweight motorcycles that Yamaha introduced in 2010. The FZ8 is naked, while the nearly identical FAZER8 has a half fairing and ABS.
Yamaha FZ8 at a glance
| Maker | Yamaha Motor Company |
|---|---|
| Class | Middleweight street motorcycle |
| Introduced | 2010 |
| Model names | FZ8 and FZ8N (naked), FAZER8 and FZ8S (half-faired) |
| Engine | 779 cc inline-four |
| Bore and stroke | 68 × 53.6 mm |
| Engine basis | FZ1, with a smaller bore, lighter crankshaft and smaller valves |
| Frame | aluminium, taken from the FZ1 |
| Wet weight | 212–215 kg in magazine tests |
| US availability | discontinued after 2013 |
| 2013 update | adjustable front suspension |
Based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the Yamaha FZ8
The FZ8 was created by shrinking the 998 cc FZ1 engine. The bore fell from 77 to 68 mm while the stroke stayed at 53.6 mm, giving 779 cc. Yamaha also fitted a lighter crankshaft, smaller valves and revised camshaft profiles, and used the aluminium frame and swingarm of the FZ1. The naked FZ8 and the half-faired FAZER8 with ABS were intended to replace the smaller FZ6 and FZ6 FAZER, although those models continued in some markets for a time.
Magazine tests put the performance in the middle of the class. Motorcycle Consumer News measured a wet weight of 212 kg, 89.47 hp and 69.40 N·m at the rear wheel, average fuel economy of 5.33 L/100 km and a top speed of 221.1 km/h, with 0–97 km/h in 3.51 seconds. Cycle World recorded 215 kg, 91.6 hp at 9,900 rpm and 52.4 lb·ft at 8,100 rpm, 5.6 L/100 km and a 230 km/h top speed.
Some British reviewers thought the bike expensive next to rivals such as the Triumph Street Triple and Kawasaki Z750. Yamaha kept improving it, making the front suspension adjustable in 2013, but discontinued the FZ8 in the United States after that year.
Design and features
- 779 cc four: a short-stroke engine built from FZ1 parts for a balance of torque and top-end.
- FZ1 chassis: the aluminium frame and swingarm came directly from the larger model.
- Two versions: the naked FZ8 and the half-faired FAZER8 with ABS.
- Later refinement: adjustable front suspension from 2013.
Yamaha FZ8 versions
- FZ8 / FZ8N: naked version.
- FAZER8 / FZ8S: half-faired version with ABS.
- 2013 model: adjustable front suspension.
The FZ8 sits between the FZ6 and the FZ1 in Yamaha’s range. More models are in the Yamaha collection.
Sources
- Yamaha FZ8, English Wikipedia: engine, chassis, versions, test data, production
