Yamaha FZ25: Like a gazelle

Lightweight and super-agile, the FZ25 is the latest addition to the Yamaha stable

The FZ series of Yamaha has got a new champion in the form of FZ25. One look at the spec sheet and I knew this bike would demonstrate gazelle-like agility. Boasting a kerb weight of just 148 kg, the FZ25 has a good power-to-weight ratio. It comes built on a diamond-type tubular frame and a precision engineered suspension setup that comprises telescopic forks up front and a monocross swingarm in the rear.

  

The single-cylinder, 249cc, fuel-injected motor puts out its peak power of 20.6bhp at 8,000rpm and peak torque of 20Nm at 6,000rpm. Catering to a smooth and powerful climb up the rev band, the low end torque proves to be quite thrilling. Mated to a 5-speed constant mesh, the FZ25 goes through the first two gears quite fast and helps the bike climb up to the 100 kmph mark quite easily. This motorcycle is quite happy cruising at 110-120 kmph, but post 130 kmph, it does feel a bit sluggish. The combination of the diamond-type frame and suspension setup, along with the light weight, enables this motorcycle to change its line swiftly and in a sure-footed manner. 

Yamaha has also bolted on disc brakes to the front and rear wheels of the bike. While the front gets a 282mm disc, the rear features a 220mm disc brake. The front disc comes with a 2-pot caliper, while the rear gets a single pot version. The brakes are extremely efficient, even while braking hard I did not get any major wheel lockup that caused a tail out on the FZ25. Yes, ABS would have been a very welcome addition to this bike. 

The bike’s full LED head lamp, which features three LED bulbs (two for low beam and one for high beam) lends this bike a very distinct appearance on the road. The FZ25 also features a legible digital instrument cluster that gets two trip meters along with a fuel average consumption and current consumption display. Even the switch gear on the bike has been laid out in an ergonomic fashion and is easy to operate. 

Yamaha FZ25

Engine: 249cc, single-cylinder, fuel-injected, air-cooled

Torque: 20Nm@6,000rpm

Power: 20.61bhp@8,000rpm

Transmission: 5-speed

Kerb weight: 148 kg

Price: Rs 1.19 lakh (Ex-showroom, Delhi)