Yamaha FZ-X: Reviewed Through Photos

Is Yamaha’s latest neo-retro bike the one for you?

A while back, Yamaha launched the FZ-X in India. We recently swung a leg over it and here's a small list of things we like (and dislike) about it.

First thing that catches the eye here is the FZ-X’s stand out design. While it isn’t the “best-looking” bike out there, it’s the only neo-retro offering in its class, which could give you boasting rights. 

This is thanks to its design cues borrowed from the renowned XSR155. Right from the teardrop-shaped fuel tank, metal brace, and the round LED headlamp to the flat tuck-and-roll seat, the XSR155’s influence is quite evident. 

However, what starts off as a neo-retro design, ends up looking like an average joe towards the rear, largely due to the squarish tail section and the bare-bones grab rail.

The quality levels are certainly a step up from the standard FZ and we particularly like the paint, switchgear and plastic quality. 

Owing to the ‘neo’ in the neo-retro, the FZ-X is decently equipped with features.

Up front, you get an all-LED head lamp which adds modern touches to the retro design.

Next up is the new fully digital instrument cluster that looks crisper than the setup on the other FZs. There's also a charging socket tucked under it.

And if you opt for the range-topping Bluetooth-equipped variant, it adds a bunch of features, including phone notifications and app connectivity, with the latter letting you check maintenance intervals, malfunction alerts and last parking location. That said, some things like a gear position indicator and turn-by-turn navigation are dearly missed.

Being a commuter, the FZ-X is ergonomically sound too. Its tall handlebar and forward-set footpegs result in a comfortable upright riding posture. Flat footing on the FZ-X isn’t a task either, thanks to its 810mm seat height.

However, the seat, which feels comfortable in the city, tends to sink in when riding for extended hours, thus spoiling the riding experience.

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The FZ-X’s 149cc, single-cylinder motor puts out an unimpressive 12.4PS and 13.3Nm.

On the go, the lack of outright grunt makes it feel sluggish and during our test runs, it couldn’t even breach 100kmph on the VBOX!

Where the engine does impress, though, is with its efficiency. In the city, the FZ-X returned 55.11kmpl, but as expected, the number tumbled down to 48kmpl at highway speeds.

Like the engine, the suspension setup on the FZ-X comes from the FZ Fi. The telescopic fork and monoshock are sprung softly, and soak most bumps with ease, while inspiring adequate confidence in the twisties too. 

Having said that, you can’t really attack corners, since the gimmicky dual-purpose tyres fail to offer sufficient grip on the tarmac.

Nevertheless, the brakes perform rather well and despite the single-channel setup, the FZ-X maintains its composure even under hard braking. 

The FZ-X is priced at Rs 1.16 lakh and Rs 1.21 lakh for the standard and Bluetooth variant, respectively (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). This makes it more expensive than the TVS Apache RTR 160, the Hero XPulse 200 and even its street-oriented sibling, the FZ-Fi. 

So would we recommend it? Well, it depends. If you’re in the market for a frugal commuter with stand out looks and modern features, sure, the FZ-X is for you. But if performance and sportiness is what you want, you should probably look the other way.