The Yamaha FZ 25 and the FZS 25 BS6 motorcycles have been launched recently in the Indian market. Both motorcycle receive a few cosmetic updates and an updated engine the complies with the latest emission norms.
2008!
Some year that was, for Yamaha, Back to back launches of the R15 and the FZ16 brought in a lot of success and adulation for Yamaha.
But instead of going on the offensive, the company was content in keeping to the 150cc segment.
It did not bother to go beyond that until the launch of the R3 in 2015. But that too bombed, despite being a great motorcycle. It was just too expensive to make sense to the Indian enthusiast.
Lessons were learned, we believe, and Yamaha launched the FZ25, the company's first ever 250cc bike in India at a compelling sticker price of Rs. 1,19,500 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Here are the first impressions of the all-new Yamaha FZ25.
(The Yamaha FZ25 gets a 282mm disc brake and 41mm forks up front)
(The styling on the Yamaha FZ25 has evolved from the current FZ series)
How does it look?
Straightaway, the most stand-out features on the FZ25 are the headlamp and the tank.
A proper muscle that is!
The bike looks great, no doubt about it. But rather than being an out-and-out aggressive design like the KTM Duke range, the FZ25 still has an element of calm about it.
It is neither brash nor loud, but elegantly poised.
Viewed in profile, the chiseled tank stands out along with the air vents in the tank extensions. The overall design is perfectly reminiscent of the FZ series.
Looking at the rear, you know that the job is well done. The step seats, small LED tail lamp and that 140 section tire at the rear makes for a good-looking motorcycle.
(Yamaha FZ25 Instrument Console)
What all does it get?
For your money spent on the FZ25, you get a fully digital instrument cluster which could have been slightly bigger, LED headlamps and tail lamps, monoshock suspension at the rear and disc brakes at both ends.
Unfortunately, the bike doesn't get ABS.
The digital instrument console has a rev-counter, speedometer, fuel gauge, and two trip meters.
There is no gear position indicator, which I believe should have been given.
The features list is good but could have been better considering that some of the 200cc bikes such as the KTM 200 Duke and the TVS Apache RTR 200 have more comprehensive digital readouts.
(The FZ25 uses a newly developed 249 cc single-cylinder engine)
What about the engine?
Like all Yamaha engines, this particular mill too is smooth and likes to be revved. It is a single-cylinder 249 cc unit that is air cooled and has a SOHC setup, along with fuel injection.
The engine puts out 20 bhp at 8,000 rpm and 20 Nm at 6,000 rpm. The cylinder is constructed with forged aluminum and the cylinder walls are coated with nickel and phosphorous.
Then, there are the low friction piston rings, and all this talk about cylinder wall construction and piston rings make for less friction, translating to refined performance.
The torque curve is flat and the mid-range has a lovely punch to it. It will prove to be a god-sent while riding on traffic-laden roads in the city.
The five-speed gearbox works smoothly, Again, riding in bumper-to-bumper traffic made easy.
A cruising speed of 90-110 kmph is not a big deal for the FZ25.
Yamaha was keen on sustained riding and fun for the masses than making a bike go super-fast.
(The FZ25 is a good handling motorcycle)
How does it ride and handle?
At 148 kg with a full tank and oil, the bike is quite light, which means the bike is really manageable on the move and in the parking lot as well.
Yamaha says that the new double downtube frame is all aluminum and light-weight.
Be it flicking the bike from side to side on narrow roads or filtering through traffic, the bike does it with ease.
Also, the claimed fuel efficiency is 40 kmpl, giving a decent range of 560 kilometers with a 14-liter fuel tank.
The ride quality is good, beautifully balanced, Neither too soft that the bike wallows nor too hard that bad roads become a problem.
The bike gets a 282 mm disc up front and a 220 mm disc at the rear which is adequate but more bite would have been preferred.
As mentioned earlier, the lack of ABS, even as an option, is something that is a bad miss.
(The Yamaha FZ25 balances between a weekend tourer and a city commuter)
Should you buy it?
Why not?
If you have a strict budget of Rs. 1.2 lakh or thereabouts and are in need of a good-looking motorcycle that can give you a thrill on a Sunday morning ride and play the role of the daily riding motorcycle with equal aplomb,
then yes!
The Yamaha FZ25 makes a lot of sense. Barring the lack of ABS, the bike comes good on the features list and the price, undoubtedly, is rather compelling
Yamaha recently launched the all-new 250cc street motorcycle, FZ25 in India at a starting price of INR 1,19,500 (ex-showroom Delhi).
The motorcycle shares some of the components with the second generation of fuel injected, 149 cc FZ series while most of the visual part are all new on the FZ25.
It has been launched in Warrior White, Knight Black and Ballistic Blue shades presently.
Here are 7 reasons to buy Yamaha FZ25 over any other bike in its segment.
- It’s a Yamaha
Yamaha motorcycles are known for their excellent built quality and FZ25 would be no different in those terms.
It uses premium parts like 41 mm front forks, wider tires and first in class features like instantaneous fuel efficiency and LED headlight.
Apart from that, the after-sales service and part availability have never been an issue with the company.
The charm created by the first ever FZ could be repeated through the quarter-liter machine.
2. High on Torque
The 249cc, fuel injected oil cooled motor is good for 20 Nm of torque at just 6000 rpm.
This makes it better for everyday riding as no other bike around the price tag of INR 1.20 lakh has such magic in its engine.
Others like Apache RTR 200, Pulsar RS200 and KTM 200 Duke deliver their maximum torque at around 7000-8000 rpm while even then the torque output value is lower as compared to the FZ25.
It’s not built for top speed as the core belief of the engine is crisp acceleration and powerful drive.
3. Full LED light
The first in class, full LED headlight offers better illumination and lesser power usage than a conventional bulb.
The three-part headlight also features the auto-on function.
LED headlights offer more visibility in every driving condition and the front fascia of the FZ25 looks pretty aggressive from the side angle.
However, it is more inspired by the facial expressions of MT series bikes than the FZ series.
The tail even says the same story.
4. Lightweight & Excellent Mileage
Yamaha FZ25 weighs just 148 kg and that too with a fuel tank that has 14 liters of capacity.
Other bikes that carry a quarter liter engine mostly weight between 155-165 kg in the Indian market.
This helps in delivering the excellent 43 kmpl of Yamaha claimed mileage.
The tank extensions are aerodynamic and the overall design facilitates a powerful presence. Yamaha’s Blue Core technology helps in keeping performance high and expenses low.
5. Full Digital Console
The instrument console on the motorcycle is crystal clear and offers a single screen that holds the tachometer, speedometer, odometer, two trip-meters and values like average as well as instantaneous fuel efficiency.
The fuel gauge is even digital on the FZ25. The portion that is finished in Gloss Black holds the LED indicator lights for other functions on the motorcycle.
6. Looks & Style
Undoubtedly, this section will have different views from different users. The fuel tank section of the motorcycle is massive and carries all new extensions that are much sharper than former FZ models.
Headlight and taillight design is highly inspired by the MT series.
Shades have been perfectly distributed on the body parts as few elements are finished in Matt Black while others include body specific colors like Blue, White and Gloss Black.
7. Value for Money
When considering a price tag of INR 1,19,500 in India, it cannot be said that it falls in the easy to buy segment for average buyers.
Still, no other manufacturer offers a 249cc, fuel injected engine on this price bracket and that too with LED lights and such premium finish.
The nearest quarter-liter machine is Honda CBR250R (INR 1.60 lakh) while the closest in terms of competition is Benelli TNT25 (INR 1.80 lakh).
Key Facts About Yamaha FZ25
- Displacement – 249cc, Air Cooled with Oil Cooler
- Engine – Fuel injected, 1-cylinder, 4-stroke, Blue Core
- Maximum Power – 20.69 Bhp @ 8000 rpm
- Maximum Torque – 20 Nm @ 6000 rpm
- Gearbox – 5-speed Transmission
- Price – INR 1,19,500 (ex-showroom Delhi)
- The Most-Affordable 250cc Bike in India
- The Most Fuel-Efficient 250cc Motorcycle
- Lightest Bike in its Class (148 kg)
- 1st Bike in its Class with All-LED Headlight
- Available in 3 shades – Black, Blue, White
- Front Brake – 282mm Single Disc
- Rear Brake – 220mm Single Disc
- Front Suspension – Telescopic Forks
- Rear Suspension – Monoshock
- LED Headlight and Tail Light
- All-Digital Instrument Console
- Front Tyre – 100/80-17 M/C 52P
- Rear Tyre – 140/70-17 M/C 66S
- Front Wheel – 17 M/C x MT 2.50
- Rear Wheel – 17 M/C x MT 4.00
- Overall Length – 2015 mm
- Overall Width – 770 mm
- Overall Height – 1075 mm
- Ground Clearance – 160 mm
- Seat Height – 795 mm
- Wheelbase – 1360 mm
- Kerb/Wet Weight – 148 kg
- Fuel Tank Capacity – 14 liters
- Oil tank capacity – 1.55 liters
- Turning Circle – 2.5 mtr