YAMAHA FAZER: NEW BIKES

GOGGLE EYEs YAMAHA FAZER

PRICE Rs 43,990 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
ON SALE July 2004

Yamaha Motors India (YMI) had us flummoxed for some time now. While most manufacturers have been churning out model after model, YMI did not seem to be making any significant move. Until now. The 125cc Fazer, which was unveiled at the Delhi 2004 Auto Expo, is to get an early July launch.
This is one gutsy move from the company for despite the Libero not receiving much applause for its futuristic styling, they have sculpted the even more adventurous-looking Fazer. This bike makes no bones about shrieking a presence.
Internationally, this particular insect-like styling trend is doing the rounds and that’s just where the goggle-eyed snout of the Fazer comes from. It’s possibly ahead of its day in the nascent Indian motorcycle market, though full marks are due to YMI for bringing modern trends to India. The Fazer is surely not a design every one of us will swoon over, but it’s best left described as distinctive.

Attention to detail and fit-finish, however, should be evident even to the blind and is stunning, with any amount of praise to these being an understatement. The twin-headlight ‘fly’-screen sticking out in front is unique with more than a
semblance to that particular insect. There’s an aluminium triple-clamp and twin-pod instrumentation housing a rev-gauge, speedometer and all the usual idiot lights.
The large tank is highlighted with scoops flowing into its functional knee-recesses. The filler is the cute bowler-hat design from the Libero. The tank runs down into bubbled side-panels and reverses into a trick-looking integrated rear-end. The 727mm seat is well padded, ending in a striking alloy grab-rail, also playing bodyguard to the tail-cluster. A smoothened aluminium sub-frame section mounts the pillion foot-pegs below to which the chopped cruiser-like silencer adds its bit.

All rubber, plastics, switchgear, grips and levers are quality bits and will perform duties thoroughly. Red, Blue, Black and Grey are the colours to choose from, and dangling a pannier will be an option available direct from the factory.

The four-stroke two-valve engine is enhanced in many ways over previous Yamaha units here. It meets stringent Indian 2005 emission norms, assisted by pumping oxygen into the exhaust port to burn any unburned mixture. This unburned air is drawn directly from the air-filter box, bypassing the carburettor and intake while a reed-valve prevents the return of waste gases via the same path. Exhaust gases are further cleaned by a catalytic converter within the silencer.
The carburettor is a Mikuni Constant Velocity unit with butterfly and employs a unique valve that reads increased cylinder-suction and compensates by automatically adjusting the mixture. This provides smoothness no matter how bad the riding situation, surely a boon for the daily stop-and-go conditions prevalent in our gullies.

Then there’s YTPS, abbreviation for Yamaha Throttle Position Sensor, which functions to boost economy. Yes, ignition timing varies in sync with engine-rpm for the Fazer, but now the throttle position also factors in adjusting this critical burn period. Thanks to this, precious fuel will not be wasted in situations where the bike is revving high but the throttle is shut, and there is no need to scramble all horses. Conversely, think of the benefits when engine rpm is low but the throttle is cracked open and YTPS alters timing, resulting in crisp acceleration and no flat spot.
The Fazer’s 123.7cc cylinder dimensions are all-square at 54/54mm and it puts out 10.8bhp at 7500rpm and 1.06kgm of torque at 6500rpm, both of which are bang on target for its segment. Compression is 10:1 and a single overhead camshaft twirls off a silent roller-chain. Even the oil-pump uses resin gears to reduce noise. Within the sump, there’s a balancer to level out unwanted vibes. A beefy strator-plate and magnet cater to the twin 12V and 25W/ 25W lights, so expect sheer brilliance at night.

The positive and well-weighted clutch uses asbestos-free friction plates in another environmental-friendly move. The slick-operating gearbox uses a heel-and-toe shifter and a one-down-three-up pattern with a fifth gear sadly not even an option. Yamaha, like a few other manufacturers, feels this segment does not warrant a fifth cog.

Our brief sojourn with the Fazer showed the engine to have a pleasing nature and wide, evenly spaced ratios. Make no mistake, we too argue in favour of that useful fifth gear, if on no other grounds, then simply because the competition does offer them.
When riding the bike, one quickly recognises it as a well-mannered machine, though the short mileage and limited terrain we were allowed to use made it impossible to truly push the bike and analyse it for its handling capabilities. The frame is the conventional single down-tube diamond-type metal, with a box-section swinging-arm. This Yam feels nimble and sturdy, with ride quality as good as can be expected.

The front telescopic forks offer 120mm travel and at rear 50mm for five-way adjusting twin-shockers. Dunlop has developed the footwear on the Fazer called ‘Zebra-Y,’ which bears more than a passing resemblance to MRF’s successful Zappers. In front is a substantial 150mm drum and the rear uses a 130mm unit, both combining to give adequate feeling arresting power. Unfortunately, a disc brake will not be an option.
This company that uses the famous tuning fork logo claims a most conservative and accurate sounding 55kpl for city users. That sounds plausible, leaving no reason to doubt otherwise, given the nature of this machine.
We will, of course, have to conduct a full road test to learn just how this bike stacks up against its competition. Furious activity from all quarters means the Fazer lands in a cauldron simply bubbling over with new machine after new machine.l Rishad Cooper



Factfile How big? L/W/H 2065/730/1060mm Wheelbase 1300mm Ground clearance 160mm Fuel tank capacity 13 litres Kerb weight 125kg Engine Layout Single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, 123.7cc Max power 10.8bhp at 7500rpm Max torque 1.06kgm at 6500rpm Specific output 87.30bhp per litre Power to weight 86.4bhp per tonne Gearbox Type 4-speed manual, 1-down-3-up Suspension Front Oil-damped telescopic forks Rear Double-sided swingarm, adjustable shock absorbers Brakes Front/rear 150mm/130mm drums Wheels & tyres Type Wire-spoke, 1.6x18-inch (f), 1.85x18-inch (r) Tyres 2.75x18-inch (f), 3.00x18-inch (r)

WHAT TO EXPECT A highly refined125cc contender, with love- it-or-hate-it twin-headlight styling. Captions: Smartly executed instrument bay. 150mm front drum largest in class; the Fazer is a sturdy and stable feeling bike with good manners; here’s a backside worthy of a pinch. Refined 123.7cc motor is smooth; insect styling is in keeping with recent international trends, which this Yamaha brings home to India. Alloy triple clamp is first in class. God is in the ‘sheer’ed’ detail.