Yamaha 800 FZ8 Race Blu 2013 — Specifications

When Yamaha decides to refine the styling of a roadster that already had everything it needed to convince, one might wonder whether it's mere vanity or a genuine response to criticism. With the FZ8 in "Race Blu" trim for 2013, the answer is a little of both — and that's a good thing.

Because the FZ8 wasn't without its faults. This 779 cc four-cylinder, capable of delivering 106 horsepower at 10,000 rpm and 82.4 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm, had the profile of an accessible sports roadster — a kind of budget FZ1 for those who didn't want to take on a declared 98 horsepower that was, in reality, considerably more. The problem, up against rivals like the Kawasaki Z800 or the Suzuki GSR750, was the suspension. Vague and imprecise, it let down a machine that deserved better. Yamaha listened: the suspension on this 2013 edition is now fully adjustable, with a 43 mm inverted fork and a rear monoshock, both offering 130 mm of travel. It's not a revolution, but it's exactly what was missing to let the aluminium twin-spar frame express its full potential.

The other novelty is the exhaust. More harmonious visually, and above all more generous sonically, it gives the four-cylinder a voice that stands apart from the sometimes monastic discretion of modern roadsters. At €8,399, that was the least one could expect.

The "Race Blu" itself deserves a closer look, without getting swept up in the marketing. Yamaha chose this colorway to dress several models in the 2013 range — a shade born on the MotoGP M1 at the Grand Prix of Misano. The combination of Yamaha blue and matte grey creates a livery that is understated yet assertive, far removed from the garish excess of some special editions. The blue wheels, matching hubs, tinted cam cover, and the thin pinstripe running along the fairing form a coherent whole. This is a motorcycle that looks toward the city as much as the track, and wears that ambiguity openly in its lines.

Who is this FZ8 for? Clearly not for the beginner — the 815 mm seat height and 211 kg wet weight demand a certain level of mastery. Not for the long-distance tourer either; the 17-litre tank and sporty riding position set their own limits. This is the motorcycle for the intermediate rider who wants character without paying the premium of a litre-class sportbike, and who will find in this 2013 edition a machine finally worthy of their mechanical ambitions.