The first time I had seen the shape of the bike I thought it was being launched elsewhere and they would bring it in only after a year or too. But as soon as I got the news that the bookings had opened for the bike I paid a visit to the showroom. There stood a new model which looked lean in the hind and brawny in the front, just like John Ab I guess, with a good torso and upper body and a toned up lower body to complement it. I hadn’t felt the bike as much until I took a Power ride on it. Well the placing of the fat 140/60-R17 tyre has been used just to make good for the loss of all the flab behind. The armored headlamp looks more like Arnold as ICEMAN in Batman movie. The upper shell of the fuel tank makes for the bulky look while keeping the weight of the bike well below the riders waistline. The placement of the handlebar is very strategic, and the only drawback I felt was the sloping pillion seat. The foot pegs for the pillion too seem to be a little low making the thigh and leg angle more than 100 degrees which puts a little strain on the legs during the long journey. Although this can be overcome by the pillion clinging to the rider which would put all the weight on the rider’s back. The wheelbase of 1335 does make the bike look a tad shorter but enough for two people. This one looks the perfect size just like the Apache 150 was. I guess guys with average height would love this one. The single lever Gear mechanism may look cumbersome but it is pretty smooth and no strain on the foot part whatsoever. The rider seat being lower than the pillion seat and the tank top makes for a good position to control the bike. Initially I was apprehensive of the front Disc brake, a little amount of braking without the use of hind brake throws the whole weight on the inner side, but later got used to it and found it enough for the vehicle. I don’t really know what good it would do to the hind wheel, but I do guess it would give the bike a Skid King status.
The bike’s specs is known to everyone I guess….The wheel base height length engine specs and chassis specs etc. Now I give you the other specifications that actually matter. First, its not a family bike; DINK or SINK couples will find it better suited. Why; because of the odd shape, u cant make ur kid sit in front of u on the tank and be comfy with the view and there’s hardly any place to keep the grocery safely. U can always hang it of course. Second, not at all a very fuel efficient bike, atleast when u compare to the bikes that dish out 100 KMPL, this one wont return you anything above 50 under normal conditions, the fat hind tyre and the 153 cc engine with 14 PS, not just eat a lot of kilometers but need a lot of fuel to wash it down with. Third not suited for cruising and with male friends not at all, better u do that alone if not a female who can be your second skin.
The bike has a very distinct purring engine sound, which seems so very different from the heavy grumbling Pulsars Apaches and CBZs makes, I bet theres a lot of sound pollution that can be brought down, the Horn is also very subtle but audible enough for recognition. The lack of a Kickstart may bother a few, but I guess a bike which doesn’t need ‘kicks’ to start is better than one that always needs a kick. of course for that once in a while problem you will have to push it around a lil bit. But I guess if the battery is taken care of then all problems are solved. The city driving that I was doing had satisfied me to the hilt, I could easily cut the corners, turn without putting my feet down with the least turning radius, easy handling, quick pick up and easy gear changes and of course a lot of heads turning my way.
The real test had to be the long distance run, this one was about 50 kilometres both ways but the path was all kinds rolled into one; ups downs plain pot holed gritty sandy muddy watery everything was there. And the bike just lapped up the challenges it was put into. I bet the line ‘Treats Dirt like Dirt’ goes best for this Beast in the garb of a Beauty. At 40 kmph on a road that was being laid and only the gravel had been put on the path, I thought would make me wobble a bit, but to my satisfaction the hind tyre did not let me down and inspite of the speed and the front tyre being the normal 100/80-17 it moved like a Puma on the hunt, steady and resilient. The constant 40-50 that I was doing was not at all a trouble for the FZ16 even on the rise and falls. With a thin seat and shuddering feeling, the pillion rider gets the top view and the smooth movements up and down the roads and through the potholes making it merrier. The pillion rider feels more comfy leaning onto the rider and clutching by the chest which supports the posture that the shape of the bike forces upon the pillion and puts the CG just at the midship of the bike. Add to it the cursory glances that it gets from all. The design part seems to be so very elaborate there is some or the other detail for each part that can not be placed elsewhere. Like the placement of the side stand and Center stand, any deviation in the placement would misbalance the parking posture of the bike. The placement of the front number place, cant be put below the headlamp coz it may hamper the dampener movement and spoil the conical drop of the headlamp. Then there’s the most important tail lamp which has been propped upon the rear mudguard, placing it behind the pillion seat would require the sleek design to be bulky and seal the show that present Yamaha sign puts up.
There are a few drawbacks other than the missing kick starter, like the absence of a leg guard in the front, the high placement of the mudguard, absence of below seat storage, although u can surely stow your tool kit and Medical pack over there and of course the mileage part. All those words out of the guys riding the Apaches and Pulsars don’t matter much when u are seated upon this lovey-dovey with the best looks on the road and typical Yamaha performance that just enthralls not just the rider but the onlookers too. But believe me, if u are not the one made for a Bullet/ Royal Enfield/Harley Davidson u can surely get on this one and feel the wind on your face with the glances of all those going past and just smile at their feeling so very jealous. Just make sure they can see your face clearly cos the next time they see you walk by their side U can feel the burning tinge ;-) ……
The bike’s specs is known to everyone I guess….The wheel base height length engine specs and chassis specs etc. Now I give you the other specifications that actually matter. First, its not a family bike; DINK or SINK couples will find it better suited. Why; because of the odd shape, u cant make ur kid sit in front of u on the tank and be comfy with the view and there’s hardly any place to keep the grocery safely. U can always hang it of course. Second, not at all a very fuel efficient bike, atleast when u compare to the bikes that dish out 100 KMPL, this one wont return you anything above 50 under normal conditions, the fat hind tyre and the 153 cc engine with 14 PS, not just eat a lot of kilometers but need a lot of fuel to wash it down with. Third not suited for cruising and with male friends not at all, better u do that alone if not a female who can be your second skin.
The bike has a very distinct purring engine sound, which seems so very different from the heavy grumbling Pulsars Apaches and CBZs makes, I bet theres a lot of sound pollution that can be brought down, the Horn is also very subtle but audible enough for recognition. The lack of a Kickstart may bother a few, but I guess a bike which doesn’t need ‘kicks’ to start is better than one that always needs a kick. of course for that once in a while problem you will have to push it around a lil bit. But I guess if the battery is taken care of then all problems are solved. The city driving that I was doing had satisfied me to the hilt, I could easily cut the corners, turn without putting my feet down with the least turning radius, easy handling, quick pick up and easy gear changes and of course a lot of heads turning my way.
The real test had to be the long distance run, this one was about 50 kilometres both ways but the path was all kinds rolled into one; ups downs plain pot holed gritty sandy muddy watery everything was there. And the bike just lapped up the challenges it was put into. I bet the line ‘Treats Dirt like Dirt’ goes best for this Beast in the garb of a Beauty. At 40 kmph on a road that was being laid and only the gravel had been put on the path, I thought would make me wobble a bit, but to my satisfaction the hind tyre did not let me down and inspite of the speed and the front tyre being the normal 100/80-17 it moved like a Puma on the hunt, steady and resilient. The constant 40-50 that I was doing was not at all a trouble for the FZ16 even on the rise and falls. With a thin seat and shuddering feeling, the pillion rider gets the top view and the smooth movements up and down the roads and through the potholes making it merrier. The pillion rider feels more comfy leaning onto the rider and clutching by the chest which supports the posture that the shape of the bike forces upon the pillion and puts the CG just at the midship of the bike. Add to it the cursory glances that it gets from all. The design part seems to be so very elaborate there is some or the other detail for each part that can not be placed elsewhere. Like the placement of the side stand and Center stand, any deviation in the placement would misbalance the parking posture of the bike. The placement of the front number place, cant be put below the headlamp coz it may hamper the dampener movement and spoil the conical drop of the headlamp. Then there’s the most important tail lamp which has been propped upon the rear mudguard, placing it behind the pillion seat would require the sleek design to be bulky and seal the show that present Yamaha sign puts up.
There are a few drawbacks other than the missing kick starter, like the absence of a leg guard in the front, the high placement of the mudguard, absence of below seat storage, although u can surely stow your tool kit and Medical pack over there and of course the mileage part. All those words out of the guys riding the Apaches and Pulsars don’t matter much when u are seated upon this lovey-dovey with the best looks on the road and typical Yamaha performance that just enthralls not just the rider but the onlookers too. But believe me, if u are not the one made for a Bullet/ Royal Enfield/Harley Davidson u can surely get on this one and feel the wind on your face with the glances of all those going past and just smile at their feeling so very jealous. Just make sure they can see your face clearly cos the next time they see you walk by their side U can feel the burning tinge ;-) ……
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