Its more than 5 months, some issues faced. Review on Yamaha FZ16

I bought my FZ 16 on 12th of Oct and it's with me for exactly 3 months now.

I have done only about 1600 Kms in these 90 days as I do not use it frequently during weekdays. There was a sheer excitement when I bought this bike becuase of the fact that I had waited long enough for a product like FZ or say an R15 to come from Yamaha. This was because from the days of RX 100( have a 1994 model RX 100 and ride it occasionally these days), I became a loyal customer of Yam.

Initial Impressions:

(1) Looks - Just One Word to describe "Great Style". There are many people who have articulated this aspect in a better way.! According to me, the design is atleast a couple of years ahead of other 150cc bikes of India.

(2) Purchase Process - The Authorised dealer of Ahmedabad - Planet Automobiles, Sales team over there is very passionate about these 2 new 150 CC entrants.! I had booked on 18th Sept and was promised delivery in 2nd week of Oct - They stuck to their committment and I got my bike on 12th. The delivery process was very smoothly carried out and my first ride on my "Lava Red" FZ was my test ride as they had not started giving test rides on that Day!

The only thing that I did not like is the way some staff was addressing me - there were saying " Uncle".! and were assuming that I have come to buy a bike for my son.! In fact, my son is just 10 and enjoys biking on the back seat.!

Performance -( till first Service)

Nice n smooth engine, pick up, gear shift and suspension. Very nice handling in city traffic. Grabs attention of people at the traffic signals almost every time I stop. People keep on asking about mileage n I keep on saying "Abhi check nahi kiya"!

Braking is good - especially when I started correctly using both the brakes, stopping bike from a speed of 50 was very easy and effective.

Very comfortable ride although there was a continous low noise because of radial tyres( which is normal).

One thing is for sure - this is not a 3 seater! so people expecting an international design and accomodate 3 people( or even for that matter 2 fat people), this is not a bike for them.

First Service Experience:

A reminder from Service Center, nice way of talking to customers, listened to all the aspects that I told them, gave delivery back to me 1/2 hour before promised time.

There was no visible difference after the service, In fact, I felt that the bike has become more smoother at a speed of 50 kmph. But one thing I noticed that the chain has now started making more noice then before and when I checked up with the mechanics they are saying its normal to have this much noise. Anyways, it's a small thing I guess and has not affected the enjoyment quotient.

Mileage: It gives me about 41 kmpl - I have taken the bike up to 90kmph once other wise its obtained in the city traffic at a normal speed of upto 50 kmph. But I am not so worried about the mileage and enjoying rides with my bike.

One thing I have noticed while I took speed up to 90 is that, after say a speed of 65, there is not much feel even if I move the throttle to increase the speed. May be the acceleration slows down with speed after that! But at that speed the bike was giving a feel of a greatly tuned and refined bike and I felt better a lot on the same as compared with my "still-in-an-excellent-condition - RX-100"

Cost: It's a premium bike and there is a definite additional value attached to this bike - worth spending 74K.

Overall: I think, from performance point of view, there are so many close contenders like RTR or say a Unicorn or a CBZ extreme, but the style that the FZ possesses, is something extra ordinary.

It is at par with Unicorn on refinement and workmanship is awesome. I feel that the verdict of some magazines declaring it Bike of the year 2009 and some considering it a runner up to R15 - is just a beginning point where I see a history being created in Indian 2 wheeler industry and india is going to see some very good designs from many of the 2 wheeler manufacturers that will emerge because of the performance and design bars raised by FZ and also R15. Hopefully we will see CBR150 in May-June 2009!

25th March 09

It has been over 5 months now. SOme 1600 kms done. Since some issues have started coming up, I thought should share with you guys.

1. The engine has become little more noisy, clubbed with the increased sound of chain and the chain sprocket. Showed it to the service station. According to them, its ok. I checked up with a few other owners whose bikes are >2000 kms done. Same noisy engine on those bikes as well.

   
   




2. Pick up has been very good and is sustained.

   
   




3. I testdrove a suzuki GS150R to have a comparison. GS150R is much more comfortable, smooth with a better pick up than FZ. Looks wise its a conventional bike with little detailing done on sppedo and tail lamp as well as front cowl. FZ 16 looks really better but looks tiny in front of that bike. I drove a honda Unicorn on last sunday and now I find that thre was not much difference in refinement when FZ was new but now after 5 months FZ has lost its refinement, engine has become more noisier whereas Unicorn it is the same( very smooth on a 1 year old bike!)

   
   




4. All Switch Gears are working absolutely fine, lights, brakes etc are working fine.

   
   




5. Comfort and handling, very nice and confidence inspiring.

   
   




6. Mileage - 43( Drive more in city)

   
   

While my edited review now will look little dry but I thought I should put forward facts that are emerging after 5 months of owning FZ.