YAMAHA FZ-10
FIRST RIDE
P76
FACE VALUE
There's been a dramatic shift
in the way us riders spend our
money over the past few years.
We're buying less superbikes
and more naked bikes, bikes
that are a more jack-of-all-trades
style compared to the narrow
focus seen from behind an R1
screen. Naked bikes fit this bill
perfectly, a statement Yamaha
knows the truth of only too well
thanks to the rockstar popularity
of the FZ-09 and FZ-07.
Superbikes now are so damn
fast but for the most part stupidly
uncomfortable, and I can't for
the life of me think why big bore
naked-bike sales are not higher
in the U.S. than they currently
are—have a ride on an Aprilia
Tuono 1100 or a KTM 1290
Super Duke R and tell me they're
not utterly awesome.
But those are expensive Euro
bikes and at $12,999, Yamaha's
FZ-10 gives you quite a big bang
(sorry, couldn't help myself) for
your buck. The engine has been
revised for the more low-down
torque you need on the street,
the fully-adjustable KYB suspen-
sion is softer and more compli-
ant to deal with the kind of roads
Yamaha hopes you'll take the
FZ-10 on, there's traction con-
trol, ABS and cruise control, and
the ergonomics are such you'll
"WHEREAS THE R—
WHO'S SUSPENSION
THE FZ-10 DIRECTLY
RIPS OFF—IS STIFF AND
HARSH OVER BUMPS,
THE FZ-10 WILL FLOAT
OVER THEM AND
TRANSMIT ONLY ABOUT
HALF THE SHOCK TO
YOUR ASS YOU'D GET
FROM AN R1."
The look will grow
on you, we promise!
The aesthetics
are certainly a bit
different to the
retro theme that's
dominated bike
design of late.
