Yamaha Factor 150 Launched Abroad: Looks Quite Like The FZ-S Fi

This Japanese bike can run on ethanol only, while producing slightly more power

Quick Highlights:

• Looks quite similar to the Yamaha FZ-S Fi

• Gets the same engine as the Indian FZ series

• Can run on E100 fuel while producing slightly more power

Yamaha has launched a new commuter bike called the Yamaha Factor 150 in Brazil, and at first glance, it looks quite familiar. That’s because it is closely based on the Yamaha FZ-S Fi we get in India, both in terms of design and engine. The biggest talking point here is the tech. 

While the top-spec Yamaha FZ-S Fi Hybrid in India uses mild-hybrid assist, the Factor 150 gets something called BlueFlex. In simple terms, this means that the bike can run on petrol, ethanol, or a mix of both. This is quite useful in markets like Brazil, where ethanol is widely used. Performance-wise, the numbers are quite similar to the Indian FZ series. On petrol, the bike makes 12.2PS, and on ethanol that goes up slightly to 12.4PS. Yamaha also claims a mileage of 55.3kmpl, which is pretty solid. Plus, with the large 15.4-litre fuel tank, the Factor 150 can theoretically cover close to 800km on a full tank.

In terms of design, the bike is almost identical to the FZ-Fi. It gets the same muscular fuel tank, sharp tank shrouds, a neat exhaust, and some eye-catching colour options. However, from the side, it looks a bit slimmer, reminding us of the older Yamaha SZ-R. There are a few hardware differences too. The Factor 150 runs on larger 18-inch wheels at both ends, with an 80-section front and 100-section rear tyre. It is also slightly lighter at 133kg (kerb), making it about 3kg lighter than the Yamaha FZ-S Fi Hybrid. That said, it misses out on a rear disc brake, which is a bit of a drawback. Feature-wise, it keeps things simple. You get an LED headlight and taillight, but the indicators are still halogen units. The bike also uses the same basic LCD console as the standard Yamaha FZ-Fi.

BikeDekho Says

The Yamaha Factor 150 is not expected to be launched in India. However, since it uses the same engine as the FZ series, there is a good chance Yamaha could introduce BlueFlex tech here. This could actually help address the issues many users are facing due to increasing ethanol blending in India.