Arguably the ultimate all round bike – a Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer does the lot and does it all extremely well. But it’s actually a big softie with plenty of punch. The Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer is a streetbike with an R1 engine – it could have been a compact brute of a machine with fearsome manners and ability to waste sports bikes below 80mph.For the Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer, Yamaha's engineers lopped the high rev peak power
off the R1 engine – but somehow managed to make low down power a little weedy too. A de-tuned bike like this
should ooze torque but you have to rev the Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer hard if you want it to really fly. Shame. Modifying the carbs can help but it shouldn’t be necessary.
Like so many modern motorcycles, the Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer's reliability is great
Like so many modern motorcycles, the Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer's reliability is great
but build quality is not so good.Major mechanicals are very rare but corrosion related niggles are common. Plenty of the Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer's metallic parts will corrode and the EXUP valve in the exhaust can seize too. Headlights, throttle sensor and carb balance can be
set wrong from new so they’re worth checking.No fancy stuff on the Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer but all the basics are well thought out. Good headlights, poor mirrors, modest under seat storage. Comfort’s well above average on the Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer even if the pillion accommodation’s slightly disappointing. The screen is very low – most Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer owners fit taller versions such as MRA’s Vario touring or double bubble versions – Yamaha even make a taller screen for the FZS1000 Fazer themselves.
