User Review of FZ FI by Reuben Pereira

Purchased: Aug 2023; Current ODO: 1,300; Services Completed: First Free
Engine/Performance/Mileage: Given I am mostly riding in the city puttering around in traffic with the occasional open road to open the throttle, I have found the performance to be ample. Maybe if I was out on the open highway looking to do triple digits, I would have found the engine to be wanting given the power on tap. On further thought, I am not sure there are too many 150-160 cc bikes out there that would be comfortable doing triple digits on the highway, but I could be wrong. I found that doing 65-75 was kind of a sweet spot for this street bike (surprisingly the ECO indicator would be on between 65-70 too!). The torque though is sufficient enough to perform the quick overtake and slice through the traffic. I had heard there could be engine overheating issues on occasion, but I have not encountered issues of that sort (touchwood). As far as fuel efficiency is concerned, I can get around 50 kmpl (I usually fill something like 3 liters when the gauge starts blinking and then expect it to go for another 150 km before it blinks again, and it seems to work!). For the specs on offer and the translated performance on the road, I would give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Gearbox/Clutch/Transmission: Before my first free service, I had found the gearbox to be notchy with the false neutral being encountered far too often. But after the first service, there has been a complete transformation. The gearbox is now silky smooth and engages effortlessly (sometimes without even realizing it). If I were to name any con, that would be the occasional engagement of neutral when shifting from first to second, but I think that's more me than the gearbox. Easily a 4.5 out of 5.
Suspension/Ride & Handling: This has to be the best feature of this bike. The fat 41mm front telescopic forks and rear mono-shock in tandem with the 140-section rear tire work marvelously to offer a great ride and leaning into turns or corners and turning the bike in the twisties is a breeze (albeit the bigger turning radius). I still haven't had a consistent pillion to comment on pillion comfort but as a rider, I really couldn't ask for more. I would give it a 5 out of 5.
Braking: I am usually not one to use the brakes extensively given I anticipate (or at least try to) the upcoming traffic and allow engine braking to do most of the slowing down. However, when I have needed to rely on the brakes for a quick stop the front 283 mm disc has been extremely reliable with great feedback and bite (I employ a repetitive engage-disengage pattern to braking which I have found to work efficiently for me, rather than a hard tug at the lever). The rear brakes do the job well without biting too hard and locking the rear tire. I have found the single-channel ABS to intrude only once so far when I had to stop suddenly, and it was a rude awakener, but I now completely understand why we need it. I would give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Instrumentation/Lights: The instrumentation is completely digital looks good and is readable - both day and night. Still feel they could have added a gear position indicator and maybe average fuel efficiency. The ECO indicator (which used to be a tell-tale light previously) is now included in the instrumentation cluster at the bottom right - hard to gauge if you ask me. The headlights could have been better, much better. Not much of a problem on lit city roads but come the dark dungeons of the city pockets and you wish you had packed an extra flashlight. How I wish I could somehow install the N160's projector LED on this one! I had heard the V4's updated headlight may be better but video comparisons don't show much of an improvement there either. The fuel gauge is a tricky little thing to understand. One thing I found out was, don't trust it when you start the bike. Wait for at least one km before you read the fuel gauge. I would give it a 3.5 out of 5.
Build Quality: The plastics on the sides are so flimsy that I have had issues with them on more than one occasion. They look like they could fall apart any moment (I have to be ultra careful when I wash my bike to ensure I don't exert too much force so that they yank out of position - already happened once!) Didn't expect that from Yamaha given their quality standards. Even the engine guard accessory installed by them is so malleable. I found that I could use my one hand and bend it whichever way I needed it. God knows how it would work when it needs to do its job. I am very inclined to have it replaced already but I did pay 1,100 for it so might see it out before I look for an alternative. I would give it a 3 out of 5.
Overall, I am content with the bike's performance. As any avid bike rider would know, there are pros and cons to every machine and for the price I paid, I have to say I am satisfied.

About the Reviewer

Purchased: Aug 2023; Current ODO: 1,300; Services Completed: First Free
Engine/Performance/Mileage: Given I am mostly riding in the city puttering around in traffic with the occasional open road to open the throttle, I have found the performance to be ample. Maybe if I was out on the open highway looking to do triple digits, I would have found the engine to be wanting given the power on tap. On further thought, I am not sure there are too many 150-160 cc bikes out there that would be comfortable doing triple digits on the highway, but I could be wrong. I found that doing 65-75 was kind of a sweet spot for this street bike (surprisingly the ECO indicator would be on between 65-70 too!). The torque though is sufficient enough to perform the quick overtake and slice through the traffic. I had heard there could be engine overheating issues on occasion, but I have not encountered issues of that sort (touchwood). As far as fuel efficiency is concerned, I can get around 50 kmpl (I usually fill something like 3 liters when the gauge starts blinking and then expect it to go for another 150 km before it blinks again, and it seems to work!). For the specs on offer and the translated performance on the road, I would give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Gearbox/Clutch/Transmission: Before my first free service, I had found the gearbox to be notchy with the false neutral being encountered far too often. But after the first service, there has been a complete transformation. The gearbox is now silky smooth and engages effortlessly (sometimes without even realizing it). If I were to name any con, that would be the occasional engagement of neutral when shifting from first to second, but I think that's more me than the gearbox. Easily a 4.5 out of 5.
Suspension/Ride & Handling: This has to be the best feature of this bike. The fat 41mm front telescopic forks and rear mono-shock in tandem with the 140-section rear tire work marvelously to offer a great ride and leaning into turns or corners and turning the bike in the twisties is a breeze (albeit the bigger turning radius). I still haven't had a consistent pillion to comment on pillion comfort but as a rider, I really couldn't ask for more. I would give it a 5 out of 5.
Braking: I am usually not one to use the brakes extensively given I anticipate (or at least try to) the upcoming traffic and allow engine braking to do most of the slowing down. However, when I have needed to rely on the brakes for a quick stop the front 283 mm disc has been extremely reliable with great feedback and bite (I employ a repetitive engage-disengage pattern to braking which I have found to work efficiently for me, rather than a hard tug at the lever). The rear brakes do the job well without biting too hard and locking the rear tire. I have found the single-channel ABS to intrude only once so far when I had to stop suddenly, and it was a rude awakener, but I now completely understand why we need it. I would give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Instrumentation/Lights: The instrumentation is completely digital looks good and is readable - both day and night. Still feel they could have added a gear position indicator and maybe average fuel efficiency. The ECO indicator (which used to be a tell-tale light previously) is now included in the instrumentation cluster at the bottom right - hard to gauge if you ask me. The headlights could have been better, much better. Not much of a problem on lit city roads but come the dark dungeons of the city pockets and you wish you had packed an extra flashlight. How I wish I could somehow install the N160's projector LED on this one! I had heard the V4's updated headlight may be better but video comparisons don't show much of an improvement there either. The fuel gauge is a tricky little thing to understand. One thing I found out was, don't trust it when you start the bike. Wait for at least one km before you read the fuel gauge. I would give it a 3.5 out of 5.
Build Quality: The plastics on the sides are so flimsy that I have had issues with them on more than one occasion. They look like they could fall apart any moment (I have to be ultra careful when I wash my bike to ensure I don't exert too much force so that they yank out of position - already happened once!) Didn't expect that from Yamaha given their quality standards. Even the engine guard accessory installed by them is so malleable. I found that I could use my one hand and bend it whichever way I needed it. God knows how it would work when it needs to do its job. I am very inclined to have it replaced already but I did pay 1,100 for it so might see it out before I look for an alternative. I would give it a 3 out of 5.
Overall, I am content with the bike's performance. As any avid bike rider would know, there are pros and cons to every machine and for the price I paid, I have to say I am satisfied.

About the Reviewer

Purchased: Aug 2023; Current ODO: 1,300; Services Completed: First Free
Engine/Performance/Mileage: Given I am mostly riding in the city puttering around in traffic with the occasional open road to open the throttle, I have found the performance to be ample. Maybe if I was out on the open highway looking to do triple digits, I would have found the engine to be wanting given the power on tap. On further thought, I am not sure there are too many 150-160 cc bikes out there that would be comfortable doing triple digits on the highway, but I could be wrong. I found that doing 65-75 was kind of a sweet spot for this street bike (surprisingly the ECO indicator would be on between 65-70 too!). The torque though is sufficient enough to perform the quick overtake and slice through the traffic. I had heard there could be engine overheating issues on occasion, but I have not encountered issues of that sort (touchwood). As far as fuel efficiency is concerned, I can get around 50 kmpl (I usually fill something like 3 liters when the gauge starts blinking and then expect it to go for another 150 km before it blinks again, and it seems to work!). For the specs on offer and the translated performance on the road, I would give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Gearbox/Clutch/Transmission: Before my first free service, I had found the gearbox to be notchy with the false neutral being encountered far too often. But after the first service, there has been a complete transformation. The gearbox is now silky smooth and engages effortlessly (sometimes without even realizing it). If I were to name any con, that would be the occasional engagement of neutral when shifting from first to second, but I think that's more me than the gearbox. Easily a 4.5 out of 5.
Suspension/Ride & Handling: This has to be the best feature of this bike. The fat 41mm front telescopic forks and rear mono-shock in tandem with the 140-section rear tire work marvelously to offer a great ride and leaning into turns or corners and turning the bike in the twisties is a breeze (albeit the bigger turning radius). I still haven't had a consistent pillion to comment on pillion comfort but as a rider, I really couldn't ask for more. I would give it a 5 out of 5.
Braking: I am usually not one to use the brakes extensively given I anticipate (or at least try to) the upcoming traffic and allow engine braking to do most of the slowing down. However, when I have needed to rely on the brakes for a quick stop the front 283 mm disc has been extremely reliable with great feedback and bite (I employ a repetitive engage-disengage pattern to braking which I have found to work efficiently for me, rather than a hard tug at the lever). The rear brakes do the job well without biting too hard and locking the rear tire. I have found the single-channel ABS to intrude only once so far when I had to stop suddenly, and it was a rude awakener, but I now completely understand why we need it. I would give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Instrumentation/Lights: The instrumentation is completely digital looks good and is readable - both day and night. Still feel they could have added a gear position indicator and maybe average fuel efficiency. The ECO indicator (which used to be a tell-tale light previously) is now included in the instrumentation cluster at the bottom right - hard to gauge if you ask me. The headlights could have been better, much better. Not much of a problem on lit city roads but come the dark dungeons of the city pockets and you wish you had packed an extra flashlight. How I wish I could somehow install the N160's projector LED on this one! I had heard the V4's updated headlight may be better but video comparisons don't show much of an improvement there either. The fuel gauge is a tricky little thing to understand. One thing I found out was, don't trust it when you start the bike. Wait for at least one km before you read the fuel gauge. I would give it a 3.5 out of 5.
Build Quality: The plastics on the sides are so flimsy that I have had issues with them on more than one occasion. They look like they could fall apart any moment (I have to be ultra careful when I wash my bike to ensure I don't exert too much force so that they yank out of position - already happened once!) Didn't expect that from Yamaha given their quality standards. Even the engine guard accessory installed by them is so malleable. I found that I could use my one hand and bend it whichever way I needed it. God knows how it would work when it needs to do its job. I am very inclined to have it replaced already but I did pay 1,100 for it so might see it out before I look for an alternative. I would give it a 3 out of 5.
Overall, I am content with the bike's performance. As any avid bike rider would know, there are pros and cons to every machine and for the price I paid, I have to say I am satisfied.

About the Reviewer