Yamaha FZ1 1000 FAZER 2011 — Specifications

Who still remembers when Yamaha decided to stuff its R1's four-cylinder engine into a faired touring frame? That was back in 2006, and the Yamaha FZ1 1000 Fazer came along to reshuffle the deck in the muscular sport-GT segment. This 2011 model year carries on the recipe without shaking it up, and that may well be the concept's greatest strength. Beneath the aggressively styled fairing, the 998 cc engine with five valves per cylinder pumps out 150 horsepower at 11,000 rpm and delivers 105.9 Nm of torque from 8,000 rpm. Figures that, even today, place this machine near the top of the class against a Suzuki Bandit 1250 S or a Kawasaki Z1000 SX from the same era. The switch to fuel injection, inherited from the 2006 overhaul, ironed out the throttle snatchiness sometimes leveled at the old FZS 1000 and its carburetors. Throttle response is crisp, linear, almost docile at low revs before waking up sharply past 7,000 rpm.

The chassis borrows its philosophy from the FZ6, in XXL format. The die-cast aluminum frame handles the engine's 150 horsepower without flinching, backed by a telehydraulic inverted fork and a mono-shock each offering 130 mm of travel. The front brakes — twin 320 mm discs gripped by four-piston calipers — inspire confidence from the very first hard stops. The rear end, with its single 245 mm disc, gets the job done without particular fanfare. Shod with 120/70-17 tires up front and 190/50-17 at the rear, the Fazer 1000 delivers predictable, composed handling, whether on twisting back roads or on the highway where its 250 km/h top speed is a mere formality. The 220 kg wet weight remains reasonable for a machine of this size, even if the mass makes itself felt at low speed during parking-lot maneuvers.

The overall design, with its angular half-fairing and taut tail section, has aged rather well. The distinctively shaped exhaust remains one of the details that set the silhouette apart, a far cry from the generic four-into-one systems found on rival machines. The seat, perched at 815 mm, will suit average-sized riders without excluding taller ones. The 18-liter fuel tank allows for decent stints between fill-ups, a point long-distance riders will appreciate compared to some thirstier competitors.

Then there's the question of price. Listed at 11,499 euros new for this 2011 model year, the Yamaha FZ1 1000 Fazer sat squarely in the segment average. Today, it's obviously on the used market that this machine truly comes into its own. A used Yamaha FZ1 1000 Fazer can be found for between 4,000 and 6,500 euros depending on mileage and condition, making it one of the best performance-to-price ratios on the large sport-touring market. The 2006, 2007, and 2013 model years share broadly the same technical platform, with changes limited to cosmetic tweaks and ECU mapping adjustments. Choosing a model year will mostly come down to what's available locally and the budget at hand.

So who is this machine for? The rider who wants a feisty four-cylinder without the back-breaking riding position of a supersport, who racks up miles during the week and tackles a few mountain passes on the weekend. The Fazer 1000 is not a beginner's motorcycle — its 150 horsepower demand a minimum of experience and respect. But for a seasoned rider seeking versatility without sacrificing thrills, it ticks every box with a bulletproof engine and a chassis that delivers on its promises. Yamaha didn't reinvent the wheel with this model. The brand simply applied a proven formula with care and consistency, and the result speaks for itself.