Yamaha FZ8 2016 — Specifications

It is time for the FZ8 to retire. While the competition made its life difficult, the final blow was dealt by its own cousin, the MT-09 roadster. The FZ8 models now available at dealerships are 2015 models, thus concluding the career of this machine.

The FZ8 had a tough time with the Z and GSR in its wake, not to mention the Street Triple, which is much lighter and more efficient. Improvement had become more imperative than usual, and 2013 allowed for modifications to the main shortcomings of the Yamaha roadster. The change is the appearance of settings on the fork and the shock absorber. The rider will finally be able to adapt the damping to their preference. The FZ8 was heavily criticized for the suppleness of its suspension, not really suited to its caliber. The fork is now adjustable in rebound and compression on the right fork tube, and in spring preload on the left fork tube. The shock absorber gains a stiffer spring (83.4 N/m against 78.4 previously), new settings, and a knob for adjusting rebound. Cosmically, a special Race Blu color scheme, transparent turn signals, and, above all, a new silencer in place of the horrible previous pot. Refined, perfected, the exhaust system no longer invites criticism. More than anything, it’s time to breathe for the engine block derived from the FZ1.

Enclosed in the large-format aluminum frame, the 4-cylinder engine introduced a displacement at Yam. With 779 cm3, the FZ8 sits exactly at the 106 hp barrier. But what interests us is the torque available with this displacement. The FZ8 delivers 8.4 mkg, that is 2 mkg more than the old FZ6 (whose successor it is). Lacking EXUP, Yam placed above the injectors intake trumpets of different dimensions: 125 mm for cylinders 1 and 4, in the center, 150 mm for cylinders 2 and 3. Thanks to the physical properties of pressure waves, these ducts optimize filling and inflate the curves. As for the character of the engine, it should be quite close to that of the FZ1. This "small" 800 is a reduction of the 1000 cm3, itself derived from the hypersport R1. The piston stroke is exactly the same (53.6 mm) while the bore has been reduced by 9 mm to display 68 mm. A technical choice that favors torque and its availability. The airbox of almost 8 liters goes in the same direction.

The technical platform of the FZ8 differs from that of its 1000 brother only on anecdotal points. A narrower rear tire, a few kilos less, a less plump tank (- 1 liter) and that's it. The policy of rationalizing costs favors cloning, and this FZ8 is truly an FZ1 on the cycle part side. We no longer have much to reproach its equipment: the diamond-type aluminum frame with the engine as a stiffener, the 43 mm inverted fork, 4-piston calipers that are not radial but very effective, a superb swingarm... Renewal is not on the order of the day, because a troublemaker redistributes the roles. The FZ8 takes on the versatility of the Fazer in history while the MT-09 agitates the market.

M.B - Photos constructeur