Yamaha Fazer8 2013 — Specifications

Is it possible for a motorcycle to be too sensible to its own detriment? That’s the question I ask myself every time I see this 2013 Yamaha Fazer 8. It is the heir to a prestigious name, that of the FZS 600 Fazer which marked its time, but it sometimes seems to hide behind its pedigree rather than brandish it. Yamaha took the large four-cylinder engine from the FZ1, the one derived from the 2004 R1, and undersized it to obtain 779 cm3. The result? 106 horsepower at 10,000 rpm, which is respectable, but more importantly 82.4 Nm of torque at 8000 rpm. They worked on the architecture, with a large airbox, double butterfly injection, and differentiated intake ducts to compensate for the absence of the famous EXUP system. It has a bit more response than the Kawasaki Z 800 of the time, and noticeably more than the FZ6 Fazer S2 it replaces. The engine is there, it is meaty, it has a voice. But does it really have character?

The major new feature of this 2013 model year, and it was necessary, concerns the suspension. The previous version, like its roadster cousin the FZ8, was criticized for being too soft. Yamaha reacts: the 43 mm inverted fork becomes adjustable in rebound and compression on one sleeve, and in preload on the other. The rear shock gains a stiffer spring and a rebound adjustment. This is a tangible technical improvement, which refines road handling. They also slipped in a few cosmetic modifications: clear turn signals and a more elegant exhaust, replacing the original "muffler." These changes do not revolutionize the motorcycle; they polish it. They give it a little more finesse in its approach, but not a new identity.

And that's where the problem lies, or rather where the philosophy is revealed. The chassis is almost identical to that of the Fazer 1000. Aluminum diamond frame, swingarm worthy of a hypersport, front brakes with two 310 mm discs and four-piston calipers. It is a robust platform, designed to absorb much more power. It is therefore very stable, very safe. With its weight of 215 kg fully fueled and a seat height of 815 mm, it offers a road riding position, dominant but not aggressive. ABS is a welcome option. All of this makes an extremely versatile and easy-to-live-with machine. It can do sporty road riding, it can carry a passenger, it can cover kilometers without fatigue. It is the anti-drama, the motorcycle that does not surprise you, neither badly nor well.

But precisely, facing the competition like the more eye-catching Z 800 or the Triumph roadsters that play the card of originality, the Fazer 8 lacks a little grain of madness. Its design, with this imposing fork head and the flared flanks inspired by the R6, is elegant and less intimidating than that of the Fazer 1000. It is "piercing," "mischievous" according to some, but it remains within the lines. At €8899, it positions itself as a reasonable, almost rational machine. It is Yamaha's answer to the demand for a powerful and versatile mid-displacement roadster. It technically succeeds in its challenge. It is very competent.

For whom? For the touring rider who wants a reliable motorcycle, capable of honest performance without being demanding. For those who prefer the regularity and safety of an oversized chassis to the agitation of a more nervous machine. It is a very good recipe, as the source description says, but a recipe perhaps a little too conventional. It does everything well, but it doesn't make you vibrate. In a world where motorcycles often seek to provoke you, the 2013 Fazer 8 offers you a serious and effective partnership. That's a quality, but it can also be a limitation for those seeking a true personality in an 800 cm3 machine.