New Yamaha FZ25 First Ride Review

There is an old saying that says, don't trust anything unless you witness it, initially I wasn't very impressed with the Yamaha FZ25's looks that were shooting up on the Internet, but the whole impression changes when I saw the motorcycle in flesh standing in the showroom. It was the Ballistic Blue color and trust me it looked gorgeous. Yamaha had been keenly observing the Indian market's progress towards bigger capacity motorcycles and so they decided to bring in their first 250cc naked motorcycle exclusively for our nation. The eagerness started to grow more and more as the demand for the motorcycle started to increase in a flash, the people wanted to witness the motorcycle for its killer pricing and reliability simply because it is a Yamaha. So we at BikesIndia got our hands on the Yamaha FZ25 and here's how it surprised us.

Looks and Styling- The Yamaha FZ-25 looks manly upfront, Yamaha has managed to make it look like a mini superbike similar to the MT series that is produced. The split headlamps feature an all time running while LED. With the lower portion acting as the housing for the high beam light. The indicators are bulky like the other Yamaha motorcycles and sadly aren't LED. The chiseled tank gives the motorcycle a macho look and makes it look humongous.

The review unit we had was white in color and had a black protection strip in the middle of the tank. Yamaha has installed air scoops on both the sides of the motorcycle to improve aesthetics and also to help the engine cool down sooner, Yamaha calls it the Iconic silhouette. Moving to the side profile, it looks very similar to the current FZ-16 and FZ-S models. The canister shaped exhaust looks neat and simple and sounds fabulous. Moving to the back, it gets all LED tail lamps that again look similar to the MT range of motorcycles. The FZ25 gets a grab rail which is a good addition.

Instrument Cluster and Switchgear- Ah! The instrument cluster is a 50-50, some may like it some may not because it looks very simple and outdated at times. When the motorcycle is turned off it just looks like a toy. I wasn't really a fan of it, in days where motorcycles like TVS Apache 200, Bajaj RS200 get modern instrument clusters, the Yamaha FZ 25 lacks it by a fair bit. The FZ25 gets a fully digital meter console which includes- Speedometer, Tachometer, Fuel gauge, Odometer, two Trip meters, Fuel Reserve Trip meter, Clock, Instant fuel economy and Average fuel economy indicator. What the FZ25 lacks are the side stand and gear shift indicators. The switches feel nice and premium, the integration of the passing light along with the high beam switch is a smart move by Yamaha.

Ergonomics- The center set foot pegs and upright handlebars make the city rides nice and comfortable. The new FZ25 made me surprised while cutting the corners, even on the hairpin corners it felt stable and tackled the corner with utmost ease. The seats feel nice and soft and never gave the butt an ache under heavy traffic conditions. The motorcycle flickers and maneuvers without any effort or pains. There was a minimal ache in the palms too in the traffic.The motorcycle measures 2015mm in length, 770mm in width, 1075 mm in height with a seat height of 795mm. The motorcycle will suit a rider of any kind and size.

Engine and Performance- Out of the whole motorcycle, we are surprised by the outstanding performance that the FZ25 delivered, a punchy low end and a mid range, just make the motorcycle feel that it is unbelievably quick for a 250cc, 20bhp machine. Surprising figures were obtained for the 0-60 and 0-100. It felt punchier and quicker than the KTM Duke 200 and TVS Apache 200. 3 digit figures were achieved sooner than the KTM Duke200 and TVS Apache 200. The part where the FZ lacked was the retention of the same punch at the top end.

The engine on the new FZ25 is a 249cc, single cylinder, SOCH, 4-stroke unit that is oil-cooled, and fuel injected. It comes with 4-row core oil cooler. The engine produces a maximum power output of 20.69Ps at 8,000RPM and 20Nm torque at 6,000RPM. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The engine feels smooth and refined like every other Yamaha in the market. Yamaha claims a wet weight 148kg which is 13kgs heavier than the FZ16. Yamaha has used the same technology used in the MT models called successive chamber expansions to provide a crisp exhaust note, enhancing the riding pleasure. And trust me the exhaust note sounds macho and bassy. It's sad that Yamaha has included only 5 gears, the inclusion of the 6th gear could have changed the whole scenario. Vibrations are felt a fair bit at the tank and the mirrors, and when it is revved to its maximum limit it is felt at the foot pegs too. Yamaha promise that the motorcycle will return a fuel economy of 43 Kmpl in the city, which is a major takeover to the economy that the KTM Duke 200 and TVS Apache 200 provide.

Braking and Suspension- The motorcycle gets disc brakes for both the wheels. The front end receives a 282mm disc brake and the rear wheel has a 220mm disc brake. The front brakes have a good bite and feedback, the rear brakes feel slow and progressive and lack that bite and feel that the front brakes provided, anyways it is always safer to have 70:30 ratio for braking. It carries the same 100/80-17 and 140/70-17 tires with decent grip and stopping power. The FZ25 is featured with telescopic fork suspensions up front and the rear gets a mono shock suspension. The suspension is a major plus point the ride feels soft and plush, the suspensions seamlessly absorb all the potholes and bumps on the roads.
Pros:

1. Smooth and refined engine.
2. Superb low end and mid range torque.
3. The inclusion of a center stand.
4. Easy to ride and maneuver.
5. Total value for money.

Cons:

1. Mirror vibrations.
2. Lack of 6th gear.
3. Rear brakes can be improved.
Verdict-

Yamaha has made a great move in bringing in the FZ25, but they should have done this earlier. It is still a great product from Yamaha that is valuable for every single penny that is paid. If you are looking for a motorcycle under 1.5 lakhs On-road with great performance and reliability just close your eyes and go for the Yamaha FZ25.

Review by: Rishath Suresh
Ride Courtesy: Bikerz Yamaha ( Aalandhur, Chennai)
Photo Courtesy: Arvindan Balaji
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