Nov 05, 2008 06:09 PM
40778 Views
(Updated Feb 02, 2009 10:12 PM)
These are troubled times with banks going to the gallows, stocks biting the dust and people losing jobs left, right and centre. The last thing that anyone would notice is another new bike on the road. Right? Wrong!!! A single date with this beauty and I was smitten to smithereens!
Armed with stunning looks, yet frugally priced at Rs. 74, 000 on-road in Pune, the Yamaha FZ-16 will undoubtedly appeal to all and sundry with its perfect balance of booty and brawn. One look at its menacing batmanish headlamps (armed with halogen lamps), one touch of the petrol tank sculpted like Bruce Lee's shoulders in The Way of the Dragon and one snarl from the futuristic exhaust designed like a space-ship is enough to make any man (and woman!) go weak in the knees. I can vouchsafe that, for I gave it a respectful Maximus within minutes of seeing it.
A very disctinct concept outlined is the attempt to concentrate mass towards the centre which ensures more stability to the bike. This is one feature I can comment on once the test-rides are provided. At the moment, Yamaha is treating this baby like any other first new-born, with respect and out of bounds. The most you can do at the showrooms is start and race the engine on neutral! Even that will make your heart leap!
Another thing that will gladden your heart is the super-wide rear tyre which imparts a macho look apart from adding extra sinews for sharp turns and sudden brakes. Its unheard of on any other bike in the past in India. Being tubeless, they promise to be safer and lighter.
Monocross rear shock absorber that made a debut with Honda Unicorn promise a stately ride on the roads in India's potholes (pun intended!) with 120mm of wheel travel.
Did you ever go on a blind date and felt you had met the love of your life? How was it saying goodbye to her after the date? When you leave the showroom, remember that you were warned! The only silver lining is that the lead time for purchase is about 4 weeks. Not bad for a long-lost love!
Update on 2nd Feb 2009----------------------
Well, I finally bought the bike last week! Had to really do a lot of phoning around to find which dealer will deliver the bike immediately. Finally a dealer near Swargate, Pune agreed to hand over the bike the same day if I paid cash! I did and brought the bike home without any papers or number! I know I am crazy!
Been driving it around since then, and its every penny worth the spend. The balancing is amazing and beats the Pulsar by a large margin. I can almost keep the bike standstill after braking for many seconds without touching the ground. Never managed to do that on a Pulsar.
The pickup is amazing and the sound from the space-age silencer is guttural (throaty) which is really nice and gives it a different identity.However, priced at almost equal to Pulsar 180, this is a costly buy and is only for the aficionados who only want this bike. Pulsar is more value for money, this is a style statement. At almost every signal I am mobbed for more information on it. Wherever I park it, people surround it and analyze every bit of it. Nice to see that!
The mileage is around 50kmpl at the moment and should improve after the servicing.The rear seat is very cramped and the only person who could be comfortable riding pillion in your girlfriend; it will ensure 0 distance between you two! There is no saree guard foot-rest, so women is sarees or those who sit side-saddle cannot ride pillion at all. Be aware of this.
The rear suspension is amazing and the ride is less bumpy than the pulsars I've been riding.All in all, I am really happy I went for it, even though it was a big strain on my wallet!
All the commenter who found my older review useless, please resubmit your views! I'd be happy to answer any questions.
