Yamaha FZ1 1000 FAZER 2008 — Specifications

Who remembers when Yamaha decided to shove an R1 engine into a faired roadster? That was back in 2006, and the Yamaha FZ1 1000 Fazer came to shake up a segment dominated by the Bandit 1250 and other Z1000 models. Two years later, the 2008 model year FZ1 1000 Fazer carried on with a simple yet formidable recipe: a 998 cc inline four-cylinder derived from the 2004-2005 R1, recalibrated for road use. The result is 150 horsepower at 11,000 rpm and 105.9 Nm of torque available from 8,000 rpm. On paper, that places this sport-GT well above the competition in terms of raw power. In practice, the Yamaha FZ1 1000 Fazer 2008's output translates into strong acceleration and an engine character that recalls its track-bred origins. The electronic fuel injection, which replaced the carburetors of the old FZS 1000, delivers a cleaner response at low revs and a noticeably smoother overall operation.

The chassis is no slouch either. Yamaha borrowed the die-cast aluminum frame concept introduced on the FZ6, but sized it to handle the 150 horsepower from the engine. The inverted telehydraulic fork offers 130 mm of travel, with the rear monoshock providing the same figure. Braking relies on two 320 mm discs gripped by four-piston calipers up front, complemented by a single 245 mm disc at the rear. The wheels, which appear borrowed from the R1, wear 120/70-17 tires at the front and 190/50-17 at the rear. The whole package weighs in at 220 kg wet, which remains reasonable for a machine of this displacement. For comparison, a Suzuki Bandit 1250 S easily tips the scales at 260 kg.

On the styling front, the Yamaha FZ1 1000 Fazer plays the card of controlled aggressiveness. The headlight fairing evolved from the old FZS but retains that identity unique to Yamaha's big-bore machines. The silhouette borrows the FZ6's design language on a larger scale, with taut lines and a distinctively shaped exhaust that doesn't go unnoticed. Love it or hate it, it has the merit of looking like nothing else in the segment. The 18-liter fuel tank provides decent range for weekend rides, and the seat height of 815 mm will suit average-sized riders without issue.

Who is this machine aimed at? Clearly the experienced rider looking for a compromise between sport and versatility without sacrificing thrills. The FZ1 Fazer is neither a pure sportbike nor a leisurely tourer. It sits right between the two, capable of devouring mountain passes with gusto on Saturday and handling the daily commute during the week. With a price of 10,999 euros new at the time of its release, the Yamaha FZ1 1000 Fazer remained competitive against the BMW K1200R or Kawasaki Z1000. Today, used Yamaha FZ1 1000 Fazer models can be found at very affordable prices, making it an appealing entry point into the world of big Japanese four-cylinders. The mechanicals are robust, parts are readily available, and the riding pleasure remains intact. It's hard to find better value for this level of performance on the used market.