2012 Yamaha FZ8

Bikers love a motorcycle that speaks to their tastes. More often than not, they enjoy a ride that comes with aggressive looks and a sporty character. In so many words, that’s what you’ll get with the Yamaha FZ8. The bike’s "mass-forward" styling is accentuated by an aggressive headlight design while an FZ1-style instrument cluster features a great looking tachometer with a white face.

It’s not enough that the bike looks good, which it does, but it also has to come with real-world performance that sports bikes of this caliber are capable. Other bikes will offer you entry-level performance to get you acclimated to the seats, but the FZ8 is different. This is one bike that has naked sportsbike grit with matching power and bucket’s worth of attitude. The FZ8’s muscular stance speaks to the aggression of the machine while a comfortable and upright riding position matches up with a compact design that contributes to the bike’s first-rate handling. In so many words, this bike excels in just about every road it travels.

More than just its stunning good looks, the FZ8 is powered by a 779cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, inline 4-cylinder, 4-valve engine that delivers smooth power delivery and gobs of torque in the low to mid rpm range. Likewise, a cast aluminum frame and a lightweight Controlled-Fill aluminum swingarm provides the ideal rigidity balance for outstanding cornering performance.

Suffice to say, the Yamaha FZ8 is a bike that oozes confidence. It packs plenty of attitude and adrenaline with all of Yamaha’s renowned build and finish quality, resulting in a street sports machine that screams performance riding anytime and anywhere.

Performance

• 779cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, inline 4-cylinder, 4-valve engine delivers smooth power delivery and gobs of torque in the low to mid rpm range. But this engine also lets loose with eye-opening horsepower when the revs climb toward redline.
• Fuel-injection with 35mm diameter throttle bodies has optimum intake efficiency and smooth throttle response. Provides precise fuel/air mixtures for awesome power delivery across the rpm range.
• Compact, pent-roof combustion chamber with a high 12.0:1 compression ratio with 26mm intake valves and 22mm exhaust valves contributes both to the superb torque and high-rpm power of this engine.
• Intake funnels for cylinders 2 and 3 are 25mm longer than the two outside cylinders. This tuning trick helps maximize the engine’s punchy torque delivery.
• The FZ8 inherits proven R1/FZ1 technologies, including forged aluminum pistons, fracture split carburized connecting rods, and ceramic-composite-plated cylinders.
• The 68.0mm bore and 53.6mm stroke specifications were carefully chosen to maximize the strong torque characteristics, as was the new crankshaft with optimized inertial mass.
• Close-ratio 6-speed transmission has ideal ratios for the engine’s performance character.
• 4-into-2-into-1 exhaust system looks great and includes a catalytic converter and O2 sensor. Short muffler is mounted low for great looks and excellent mass centralization.

Chassis and Suspension

• Cast aluminum frame uses the engine as a stressed member and allows for optimal rigidity balance, light weight, and superb handling. Six engine-mounting points help provide superb longitudinal rigidity.
• Controlled-Fill die-cast aluminum swing arm saves weight and is tuned for excellent handling.
• 43mm inverted fork and a link-type Monocross shock with adjustable preload for light and neutral handling characteristics.
• 310mm front discs, squeezed by monoblock four-piston calipers, and a single 267mm rear disc offer strong stopping power.
• Aggressive chassis geometry with supersport-inspired 51 percent front wheel weight bias. Provides light, nimble handling.
• The generous 4.5 gallon fuel tank, is short front to back, and slender where it meets the rider. The foot pegs and handlebars are also placed for a compact, rider-forward riding position that contributes to the bike’s excellent handling.
• 5-spoke cast aluminum wheels contribute to the light and neutral handling character. This bike sports a 120/70 ZR17 radial tire up front, and a 180/55-ZR17 rear radial to complete the look and serve up the traction.