Yamaha FZ1 Fazer SP Touring test and video!

2007 Yamaha FZ1 SP Touring

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Yamaha FZ1 Fazer SP touring-Yamaha’s only real sports tourer

FZ1 Fazer is Yamaha’s do anything and go anywhere motorcycle. It is available both as a naked version and a half faired version. And then you have got the fully faired Sport touring version that I rode in Norway…

Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Linn and Tor Sagen

Yamaha was in so much trouble just after the world launch of the new FZ1 and FZ1 Fazer in South Africa last year. The fuel injection was criticised and one Italian journalist got killed doing a wheelie on the wrong side of the road. The launch was aborted after that tragic event.

I finally got my hands on a 2006 spec FZ1 Fazer for a road test in Norway. The standard version has a 150bhp R1 derived engine and big torque for a 1000cc in-line four. The new Fazer was introduced with sharper lines and a big Euro 3 compliant exhaust system. On paper the FZ1 was an unbeatable combination of power, styling and usability.

Our FZ1 Fazer have been modified to become a full worthy sports tourer with a full fairing, tall windscreen, panniers and heated grips. But where did all that horsepower go? -I thought after my first ride on the motorway. I remembered the old Fazer 1000 to be a motorcycle that could wheelie at will always feeling powerful enough. That was because Yamaha-Scandinavia provided me with a 106bhp version of the bike!

They did so because there is a lot of cash to save by doing that and Yamaha can offer a very competitive price to consumers. Yamaha demo what they sell basically. In France 106bhp is the limit by law and there is a huge market for putting bikes back to original spec. Imagine living in France with hundreds of miles of wide and open Autobahn spec motorways with only 106bhp! Yuk! Politicians shooting themselves in the foot, but we are not going to talk about them here.

When first taking a seat on the FZ1 it feels really low. The seat height is 815mm (which is not very low), and there is plenty of room for my arms due to the tall handlebars. But my legs don’t seem to have enough space and my knees are at a sharp angle. This has got something to do with two things: sporting ability and lean angle and the new flat as a turd and oval muffler that sits on the right hand side of the Fazer. The seat is not overly luxurious, but fits the riding style that can be adapted for the sports part in touring. Next to the pillion seat are big grab handles for passenger comfort, but due to that muffler again it looks like also the pillion has to settle for a steep knee angle.

The big windscreen and deflector mounted on top is pure luxury though. Coupled with a full fairing and heated grips I never got cold despite the fresh Norwegian Spring weather. Even on the motorway I was just as happy as if it had been 25 degrees Celsius in the middle of summer. For touring on motorways that 106bhp 998cc in-line four is absolutely sufficient. To make it as fun as Yamaha had intended you need the full 150bhp, but if you can save some money in certain countries by buying the 106 version I can’t see why not (except if you have to, like in France). The problem with the FZ1 is not the engine maximum output; it is more the delivery through what seems to be bungee hooks connecting the throttle to the fuel injectors. It really is annoying particularly since this is a touring version that you are expected to spend thousand of miles on. Full throttle acceleration seems to be absolutely fine, it’s just when you want to control the throttle at low to medium speed there is no good communication between my right hand and the injectors! There is a corporate money-saving reason to part of the problem. The 2007 Yamaha R1 probably features the most advanced high tech fuel injectors and ECU on any production motorcycle. But that is just too expensive to put in the FZ1. Simple as that, it’s a matter of cost. A good tuner can probably smooth out the dips in the power band and delivery, but that is at an extra cost to the owners. The engine runs very, very quietly, which enables you to listen to your MP3 player or communicating to your pillion on a lesser volume than on a rock concert.

The suspension, chassis, brakes and wheels are solid and perform well on the FZ1 Fazer. Bumps in the road are absorbed easily with no need to adjust the suspension from standard. When riding on tight B-roads the chassis shines and allows the big sports touring bike to steer precisely. Stiff muscles from many motorway miles suddenly softens up and the FZ1 Fazer is really good fun on a twisty road. The claimed dry weight on a standard FZ1 Fazer is 199kg. Our SP Touring version must be a good few kilos heavier than this, but it still feels light and flickable. The die-cast diamond shaped aluminium frame is one of the best in the business. The 17 inch wheels come standard with a 190/50-ZR17 rear tyre, but with the 106bhp version I would opt for a 180/55-ZR17 personally for even quicker steering. The front tyre is a Bridgestone BT014 120/70-ZR17. They provided plenty of grip on cold and dusty Norwegian early spring roads. The front brake features double 320mm discs and four pot callipers. They are still powerful, but not more powerful than on the old Fazer. Sufficient at all times and lighter than radial struts.

The colour coordinated pannier set looks really smart on the FZ1 Fazer. They are wide enough to take enough luggage for a long weekend, but if you want to go camping in Europe there are no luggage rack, so you’ll then have to leave the pillion at home to bring tent and sleeping bag. That is what sports touring is all about, it gives you the ability to enjoy long and fast rides whilst featuring some practical details at the same time.

Conclusion:

You can’t have it all at the same time, but Yamaha FZ1 Fazer is pretty close. When you are not touring, panniers and side fairing can be removed and suddenly you have a streetfighter or a commuter. Isn’t that more versatile than a Honda VFR800 or Triumph Sprint ST? I think so, but Yamaha please sort out that throttle response.