2002 Yamaha FZ1000 Fazer

When Yamaha first produced the amazing R1 they rejoiced as it went straight to the top of the sports bike tree. Then some bright spark at Yamaha thought, "what would the R1 engine be like in a retro bike?" The answer is the 1000cc Fazer, a bike that's so barking mad it needs to be kept not in a garage, but in a padded kennel! Glenn Le Santo donned the leather straight jacket to test Yamaha's cure for suburban boredom.

I've just returned from another insane afternoon spent aboard the fantastic Fazer. Excuse me if I already sound very enthusiastic about the model so early in this review, but the Fazer isn't the kind of bike to leave you under-whelmed. The super powerful and ultra compact R1-derived engine fits snugly into the Fazer's tubular steel frame and puts out stacks of torque and power despite its diminutive size. For the Fazer the R1 package has been slightly re-tuned for more emphasis on mid range power. The result is a ball-busting 145bhp 1000cc motor with bulging torque that catapults the Fazer out of turns towards the horizon in a way that really gets your adrenaline going. If this bike doesn't move you then you probably made of cold, hard stone.

Most of the motorcycles pitched into the Fazer's category produce even more torque, but the Fazer makes a good power effortlessly all across the rev range, and has brilliant top end power. The Yamaha FZS1000 is a fast motorcycle.

Out on the country roads the bike was in its element. The fairing sparing me the worst of the wind blast as I blatted down the straights. The suspension dealing with the bumps and ripples in the road without fuss. The engine always ready off the throttle, take a big handful of Mikuni and the Fazer picks up and dashes for the horizon. Hold them open and the engine responds by producing strong horsepower all the way to the obtrusive rev limiter. No surprise that the Fazer engine is a peach that revs hard and works like a terrier. It has all the lightweight internals of the R1, all the low friction materials, and super compact design.

The Fazer wasn't designed as an out-and-out sports bike so gone is the R1's full wrap around race inspired bodywork. But the designers at Yamaha didn't go full retro with the Fazer, on went a sleek sports fairing that left acres of engine and exhaust pipes on show. The all alloy beam frame on the R1 has been replaced by a steel tube affair that's more in keeping with the style of the 'naked' or 'retro' class that the Fazer's aimed at. Yamaha have got it right with the chassis, it's light and strong, and although the front forks aren't the cutting edge upside-down units from the R1, they still do a brilliant job and are complimented by a rear shock that does a great job of ensuring the Fazer gets all it's ponies down onto the Tarmac. It's not all multi-adjustable race track standard stuff, and it's even a bit harsh at times, but the suspension will do nicely for the average user. For those that want a little bit more, there's already a big after market in Fazer hop-up stuff.

Fast bikes need good brakes, so you'll be pleased to note the twin disc set up at the front and single at the rear, all just as you'd find on the R1. Those three race derived callipers are all made from solid alloy billet and produce tremendous, and dependable, stopping power, time and time again without a hint of fade. The brakes are just three reasons why riding the bike is so much fun. You can trail the front stoppers deep into a turn, there's plenty of feel as you ease off the brakes as the bike heads for the apex. The steering is precise, although the front end can get a little unsettled over rough corner exits. Enthusiastic riding will release too many of those claimed 143 ponies too early and have the font wheel lofting out of turns. If you're riding like this you're going to experience a few flaps of the bars as the front gets skittish powering out of turns. Throttle control cures the problem immediately.

The Fazer is compact for a 1000cc bike, and this means the Fazer is accessible even to those who stand less than six foot tall. This is good news for those who have looked at the Fazer 600 because they needed a bike small enough for them to sit on, but found the styling of the old 600 uninspiring (it's been updated in line with the 1000 for 2002). The Fazer 1000 is much sharper looking, faster and more powerful by a long shot, and yet it isn't physically larger than the 600.

With the upright riding position, wide saddle, motocross style bars and lower footrests the Fazer is much more comfortable than the R1. The half fairing looks small but it does a great job of deflecting the wind off the rider. The bike's 160mph top speed would give your neck muscles a very hard time without it.

Wait a minute! 160mph top speed, half fairing and modern styling? How can this bike be categorized as a retro or a naked? Good point. As with many of Yamaha's bikes, the Fazer actually redefines the genre. It's not a standard, or a naked, or even a retro. The Fazer is a roadster, it's got a big engine, an upright seating position, and it comes with modern styling, loads of power. The result is simple - it's great fun to ride.

How does it compare to the other bikes that might be on the retro list? The truth is it doesn't. Yamaha already produce the XJR1300 to compete head on with the Bandit and the Kawasaki ZRX and the rest of the naked/retro market. The Fazer occupies belongs with bikes that I would call 'roadsters', machines such as Honda's capable Hornet or Triumph's wonderful Speed Triple, they have small fairings and aren't sports bikes, but they're too cutting edge to be called retro. Roadsters have modern performance and handling to match their butch, stripped down and the Fazer fits the roadster bill perfectly. It's very fast, it handles superbly and performance wise it's only separated from the superbike sector by its lack of low bars, full enclosure bodywork and a few horsepower.

Whenever I test a bike nowadays I find myself struggling to find faults. The standard of modern bikes is so high that there's often little you can criticize. The Fazer's no different here, as looking through my notes I can't find a single black mark against the bike. The pillion perch doesn't look too comfortable, so that'll rule out two-up touring I guess. But with its combination of a useful engine, proven reliability, an easy riding position and brilliant handling the Fazer would make a stonking sports tourer.. I'd quite happily use this bike to tear down to the South of France with a credit card and tankbag full of swimming gear. The Fazer would also be the perfect mount to hoon around my local twisty country roads on. And it wouldn't be a bad choice for the commuter who has a mix of town and motorway riding to cope with but wants a bike he can have fun on come the weekend. It's nimble and fast and the ultra compact R1 engine means it's very narrow for a four cylinder bike - perfect for slipping between lines of slow moving cars. Then hop off to a track day where it'll be plenty capable of giving some of the real sports bikes a run for their money. The Fazer is very easy to ride fast and this will go in its favour on any track. This is where the real attraction of the Fazer lies, in its ability to cope with a variety of roles.

The Fazer is a practical bike with loads of character. The combination of an upright seating position and the powerful R1-derived engine means that for an experienced rider pulling wheelies is a doddle. Just as the superb chassis allows knee down at the race track without fuss. The 160mph performance and searing acceleration simply add to the heady mix. Whenever I rode the Fazer I found myself staying out for longer and longer rides. Unlike on similar sports bikes rides my aching butt and cramped wrists weren't screaming for the relief of a soft sofa and a few hours zoned out in front of the TV. I really didn't want the fun to end. Motorcycling is supposed to be about having a ball and Yamaha have got the mix absolutely right with the Fazer. It may be practical, and flexible, but it's also a brain-out machine in the best Yamaha tradition. It's a Yamaha tradition that can trace its roots right back through the R1, the LC350 and the original nutter bikes, the aircooled RZ/RD 250/350/400's of the mid-Seventies.

Who would buy the Fazer though? If you really want a full-on sports bike you'll buy the R1, and if you want a big mile munching tourer then you'll probably be looking down at the BMW dealership. But what if you want a bit of each? Or maybe you want a bike that's big without being heavy, fast without being uncomfortable and stylish without being a cruiser? If you want a bike that does it all then the Fazer should be somewhere on your shopping list, preferably near the top. It won't suit everyone, but there's few genuine riders who would be untouched by the experience should they opt for a test ride on a Fazer 1000.

FAZER 1000 SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE

Type Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, inline 4 cylinder
Displacement 998cc
Bore & stroke 74mm x 58mm
Compression ratio 11.4:1
Max. power (DIN) 105.2 kW (143.1HP) @ 10,000rpm
Max. torque (DIN) 105.9 Nm (10.8kg-m) @ 7,500rpm
Carburation 4 x Mikuni BSR37/4
Fuel tank capacity 21 litres
Engine oil capacity 3.7 litres
Transmission Constant mesh 6-speed
Final transmission Chain

CHASSIS

Overall length 2,125mm
Overall width 765mm
Overall height 1,190mm
Wheelbase 1,450mm
Caster angle 26°
Trail 104mm
Front wheel travel 140mm
Rear wheel travel 135mm
Dry weight 208 kg

Front suspension Telescopic forks, 43 mm tubes
Rear suspension Link-type swingarm
Front brake Dual 298 mm discs
Rear brake Single 267 mm disc
Front tyre 120/70 ZR17 (58W)
Rear tyre 180/55 ZR17 (73W)