Yamaha FZ 16

The 150 cc two-wheeler space has been set ablaze with the Macho Street Fighter Yamaha FZ 16. Unveiled in India for a price of Rs 65,000.

We saw the FZ 16 for the first time at the Auto Expo in January 2008. The price of the FZ16 is lower than most expected - that might give it a jump start. Official information from the company uses the words ‘Macho Street Fighter’ in the press release, that seems to be a description of the motorcycle, not its name. FZ 16 is all we can find on the website of yamaha India.

The Yamaha FZ 16 motorcycle boasts of a 153 cc air-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder high torque engine, single-axis balancer and mono-cross suspension. Other feaures that come with bike that sports street-fighter looks include 5-spoke die-cast alloy wheels, brakes of 267mm single cross-drilled ventilated rotor with 2-pot calipers and 130 mm drum and a fuel tank with a 13-litres capacity.

According to company top brass, FZ 16 has all in it to provide Indian bike enthusiasts with both a rough and brutish expression as well as a certain subtlety. Expected to be a bike that could be picked up by all bike enthusiasts who love the thrills of biking, the FZ 16 is being offered by the company in in three hues, Lava Red, Midnight Black and Flaming Orange.As far as macho looks go, the Yamaha FZ 16 motorcycle beats all other motorcycles hands down. The design is that muscular, in some ways the polar opposite of that other handsome motorcycle from Yamaha, the YZF R15.

Yamaha India hopes to sell at least five lakh FZ 16s in year 2009, which going by the looks and features may not be a tough task. Reviewers of the bike have said that the street fighter looks make Yamaha FZ-16 the best looking naked bike in its class Further, the macho tank, aggressive front heavy stance and the rear view make the FZ-16 a must buy in its category.

You get fat 100/80-17 / 140/60-R17 (front/ rear) tyres, a monoscross suspension that looks really well integrated into the frame, and a weight of 137 kilos, that make the FZ16 a very manageable motorcycle on the road.

The petrol tank, silensor, the yellow-gold plated rear shock absorber and fat tyres give enough clues to the true strength of the Yamaha FZ 16 motorcycle - torque that is a bit higher than the 160 Apache RTR and tuned for acceleration and mid-range than outright top speed. Unlike the YZF R15, the Yamaha FZ16 motorcycle is more a city bike, tuned for aggressive city riding than for pure top speed.

The bike is expected to shake the entire two-wheeler segment market in the country by luring all youngsters to the showrooms. It is expected that the other majors such as the Apaches, Pulsars and the Hunks would see tough competition when the bike arrives this October.

Yamaha FZ16 Engine

Engine type: Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve
Displacement: 153.0cm3
Bore & Stroke: 58.0 × 57.9mm
Compression ratio: 9.5:1
Maximum output: 14PS / 7500 rpm
Maximum torque: 14 N.m / 6000 rpm
Starting method: Electric starter
Lubrication type: Wet sump
Carburetor type: BS26
Clutch type: Constant mesh wet multiplate
Ignition type: CDI
Primary/secondary reduction ratio: 3.409 / 2.857
Transmission type: Return type 5-speed

Yamaha FZ16 Chassis

Frame type: Diamond
Suspension (front/rear): Telescopic / Monocross
Brake type(front/rear): Hydraulic single disc / drum
Tire size (front/rear): 100/80-17 / 140/60-R17

Yamaha FZ16 Dimensions

Overall Length × Width × Height: 1,975mm × 770mm × 1,045mm
Seat height: 790mm
Wheelbase: 1,335mm
Minimum ground clearance: 160mm
Dry weight/Curb weight: 126 kg / 137 kg
Fuel tank volume: 12 liters
Engine oil volume: 1.2 liters