capacity of yamaha FZI

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YOU'RE going to have to get used to questions like, "Bro, is this a 400cc bike?" or "How can it be?" if you own a Yamaha FZ16.
It's a 153cc, four-stroke motorcycle riding on its bigger sibling's "celebrity" wave.

In looks, the small capacity FZ16 shares an uncanny resemblance to the Yamaha Fazer FZ1, a 1,000cc naked bike, with a loyal following for its brutish looks. Yamaha created a similar hype within the small bike fraternity before, with models like the YZF-R125 - a 125cc carbon copy of Yamaha's iconic 600cc sportsbike, the R6.


The FZ16, launched last month, may initially cause some confusion. Its unique headlight, large fuel tank, huge exhaust pipe and grab rails look like they came from the same assembly plant as the FZ1.
But up close, it's easy to spot the difference.
The air-cooled FZ16, assembled in India, has a single cylinder instead of four.
The drum brake at the FZ16's rear wheel, usually reserved for smaller cost-effective models, gives the game away.
The side panels, just below and aft the fuel tank, hide a carburettor, not a fuel injection system. As such, the electric start of the FZ16 requires a slight twist of the throttle to bring the engine to life.
Once purring, the motor works silently and is vibration-free.
You know you're in the next gear not from listening to the engine revs, but more likely from the pedalshifter sinking into the next cog.
While the five-speed FZ16 may try to look larger than life, in reality it's still a small motorbike punching out about 13.8HP and 14NM of torque.
This means you would need to keep the revs up if you want to keep the engine eager.
Not a problem, especially on Singapore roads where the expressway limit is 90kmh and the streets are dotted with traffic lights.
Keep the revs hovering at 6,000rpm on the digital rev counter and FZ16 cruises breathlessly.
With a top speed of 130kmh, the FZ16 will comply with most road duties.
If used merely for daily commute, the FZ16 will continue its journey for a long time, all thanks to its 12-litre tank.
We initially thought there was a fault with the compact digital dashboard.
After riding about 200km, the digital fuel gauge still had not reached its half-way mark.
It turns out that the FZ16 isn't a fuel-thirsty bike.
Yamaha revealed that on the expressway, the bike is capable of travelling about 50km on just a litre of fuel.
In the city, the figure stands at 45km.
This is great if you're on a budget.
What sets the FZ16 apart from other small capacity bikes are its pseudo bulk and tubeless tyres.
It may not look it, but it has a dry weight of 126kg - it's light.
Parking the FZ16 on its main stand is also effortless.
Just step (on the main stand) and swing.
Its choice of tyres also depart from the norm. Instead of narrow tyres, the FZ16's rubbers are wider.

Yamaha FZ16

Price: $4,300 Engine: Single cylinder, four-stroke Capacity: 153cc Power: 13.8HP

Although the FZ16 doesn't steer as quickly, there's added assurance knowing you now have a bigger contact patch with the road surface.
Brake-wise, the front disc and rear drum set-up are a decent combo.
You don't get the initial bite from the front brakes, the braking power is gained progressively - the more you depress the brake lever, the better it gets.
Stick to the speed limit and you won't get any surprises from its brakes or suspension.
Smaller bikes normally lack damping and are prone to bottoming out.
On the FZ16, its plush suspension keeps all but the deepest of potholes in check.
Nevertheless, you might tax its telescopic front and monocross suspension with a heavy pillion.
But when you're not riding two-up, the upright riding posture plus the wide handlebars give both rider and bike a mean attitude.
Just like it's bigger brother, the FZ1.