Proven, effective cycle components
While the 8’s frame is derived from the FZ1, the rear is made of steel rather than aluminum. One-piece, four-piston, radial-mount calipers and 310-mm floating brake discs ensure progressive braking with no sense of vagueness when braking hard. The alloy wheels are exclusive to the 8 and fitted with the same tire sizes as the R6 (120/70/17 and 180/55/17). Ready to roll, the FZ8 weighs in at 212 kg, and the Fazer 8 add 4kg of fairing to that number.

The Fazer 8 affords the rider excellent upper body protection, leaving the legs to better trousers in the cold or wet. (Photo: Yamaha)

Sporty yet comfortable – can it be?
The 8s don’t have any nasty surprises in store for us when it comes to ergonomics, offering an excellent level of comfort – on what is close to a sport bike. It’s all here: nice form-fitting and almost cushy saddle, foot pegs mounts that include vibration-absorbing rubber, and a fairing/windscreen duo that protects the upper body well on the FZ8, and a fuller fairing on the Fazer 8 for better protection.

The riding position is identical to that of an FZ1, so you’re leaning slightly more forward than on an FZ6R and ready to pounce, especially if you can adapt to the rather large tank that complicates moving from side to side when cornering harder. The rider’s saddle slants forward a little too much for my taste, pushing me against the tank and decreasing comfort for anything but all-out riding on a track.

The well-designed instruments even feature a fuel gauge (much more informative that a check-fuel light and kilometre countdown); the only thing missing is a gear indicator. The standard BT021 Bridgestone tires aren’t grippy enough in corners, as they were chosen by Yamaha for their endurance and relaxed touring rather than sporty riding.

I think Yamaha should mount a slightly stickier tire, like the BT016, better suited to the machine’s sportiness. You’ll just have to pick your poison when replacement time rolls around.

Perfect balance
On the road, the front-rear distribution of masses creates an impression of balance where the bike works with the rider; the front doesn’t seem to hesitate and the rear doesn’t feel like it’s trailing behind. The 8s offer a reassuring compromise between agility and stability perfectly suited to more aggressive cornering. They offer all the riding enjoyment of a sports bike without the strain of bending over for hours in search of the last reserves of cornering speed.

Analog tach dial, digital speedo and mostly icons for the other information. Love those big and nicely spaced out mirrors. (Photo: Yamaha)