The 2010 Yahama FZ1, What a Bike
The 2010 Yamaha FZ1, is a classic example of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. The Yamaha FZ1 has one of the best combinations of chassis and engine in the nakedbike category, so it wasn't a big news to hear Yamaha did not give the new Yamaha FZ1 a big-bang engine for 2010.To put it simple, the 998cc five-valve engine is a pleasure to ride. The Yamaha FZ1 engine has a deep vacuum-like induction roar that gets exponentially louder the faster you go, with a snatch-free throttle and excellent fueling, although the gearbox can be a little getting used to on downshifting when revs are high.
The 2010 Yamaha FZ1 has the torque output you expect from a 1 liter Yamaha motorcycle, although between 4,000 to 6,000rpm the FZ1 engine feels like it gets a little bit lazy, but at 6,500rpm the Yamaha FZ1 takes off and you'll be surfing up and down the torque curve which stays fairly consistent until just before the revs hit 10,000rpm.
At high speed the Yamaha FZ1 is quite stable – large bumps would give the odd headshake at speed – but it remains relatively poised when it's thrown into fast corners. The steering is light and precise which makes it great for riding around town and through hairpins.
The 2010 Yamaha FZ1feels smaller and wider than most other 1 liter motorcycles. The fuel-tank has an odd shape that doesn't let you envelope your legs as nicely as on other motorcycles, and the foot-pegs feel like they are placed a little too far back which can make the rider uncomfortable over long distances. However the fuel-tank has a capacity of 18 liters and, despite the hunger for revs, the Yamaha FZ1 is one of the most fuel efficient 1 liter motorcycles on the market.The switchgear is very Japanese – easy to use without being flashy. The dash is very similar to what you find on the other Yamaha's in the FZ-series and it has the right amount of features for street riding, but it doesn't have things like a distance-to-empty function.
The 2010 Yamaha FZ1 feels a little dated compared to the new offerings from other manufacturers. It has been pretty much untouched for the last few years and the chassis feels like it could do with a make-over in the face of other Japanese competitors and the torque of the European motorcycles. We did like to see it retain its current engine though – if more for the noise it makes than anything else. But what do we complain, the Yamaha FZ1 is the cheapest 1 liter bike available in Thailand.
