Fazer8, half-dressed

Yamaha has released information and more photos of the company's new FZ8 and Fazer8 motorcycles.

The bikes are powered by a new 779 cc four-cylinder motor that makes 106 hp and 60.5 lb-ft (82 Nm) of torque.

Both bikes feature aluminum frames that use the engine as a stressed member, 43 mm USD forks, monoshock rear suspension, and four-piston monoblock brake calipers at the front.

The Fazer8 comes with a half-fairing and a windscreen, while the FZ8 is all undressed.

FZ8, all naked

Wet weight is 211 kg (216 kg with ABS) for the naked FZ8 and four kilos more for the Fazer8.

Wheelbase is 1,460 mm for both. Both models are shod in standard-sized 120/70-17 and 180/55-17 tires.

In Europe, where the bikes will first be marketed, MSRP will be €8,190 for the FZ8 and €8,690 for the Fazer8 — that's $11,435 and $12,133 in Canadian dollars.

For more, have a look at Yamaha Europe's website.  A leaked photo prompted Yamaha to release an earlier image late in January.

I think the Fazer 8 could be of real interst to me, depending on a few things:    Will it come to Canada?    Will Yamaha have the fuel injection properly sorted?    And will the seat be reasonably comfortable?    From what I understand ergonomically these bikes will be very similar to the current FZ-1, so comfort may be an issue for me, being somewhat long legged.    Maybe I should scrape my pennies together and buy a new Multistrada. Posted by RyYYZ 15-03-2010 21:17 » Report this comment to administrator Something about the naked FZ8 looks just right to me and if it was priced well I would consider one.    RET Posted by RET 18-03-2010 06:22 » Report this comment to administrator This looked like the bike I’ve been asking for! But from the Euro specs, it just seems to be a sleeved down FZ1. Same stroke, chassis dimensions and only 6 kg lighter. That’s too bad. I was hoping for an 800 stuffed in the FZ6 (or new middleweight) chassis. The FZ6 is/was just about perfect size wise, with a nice narrow seat/tank juncture. It just needed more torque. I find the FZ1 too wide across the middle. I like the BMW F800ST chassis, but I’m not fond of parallel twins.    Am I just too picky?  Posted by singletrack 22-03-2010 09:43 » Report this comment to administrator Will be interesting to see if/when these make it to North America. Remember when the TRX 850 was in all the mags? Personally I think the TDM900 looked like a fine machine, unfortunately it never made it either. Yamaha doesn't seem to gamble on niche bikes here anymore. Posted by Jack 22-03-2010 11:38 » Report this comment to administrator