Yamaha FZS 600 Fazer is a worthy representative of the class

This is a road bike that is perfect for urban conditions. There is nothing unusual about it; it is a fairly ordinary representative of the class. However, despite the fact that it finished production more than ten years ago, there are still many who want to purchase this model, because it has a low cost and a good resource.

The Yamaha FZS 600 Phaser is inferior in popularity to the FZ6. This motorcycle existed on the assembly line for quite a long time, despite the fact that it was mediocre, which in itself speaks of the quality and reliability of the model.

Specifications

The engine of this model was taken from the YZF 600 R Thundercat. It is for this reason that one can feel some sportiness and zeal in the character of the car. It may unpleasantly surprise you with a sudden start, but for some this is not a minus at all, but a plus. First of all, we are talking about people who have no need for a sports bike, but sometimes want to feel at least something of the sporty dynamics.

Dimensions and weight

Within the class, a dry weight of 190 kg is quite average. The seat height of 790 mm is not small, but for a person of average height it will be just right. In general, the dimensions are average, which makes it easy to sit upright on the bike or lie on the tank, especially if the rider’s height is proportional to the size of the car.

The Phaser is the first motorcycle under my supervision, so there is nothing to compare with. I will share exclusively subjective personal feelings and thoughts. In this post I will try to understand what kind of beast the liter phaser is and why such a motorcycle is needed. So, first of all, a brief background, or answer to the question, why this particular motorcycle? Why I chose it and why someone else might choose it. I attended a motorcycle school, an option came up, I looked and tried it on, I fell head over heels in love and couldn’t help but buy it. But this is all rhetoric, but in fact, the phaser has an excellent form factor for neophytes of the motorcycle movement. This is a neoclassic, which means that immediately after motorcycle school, riding it will not be a revelation. Another factor is size. This is a full-fledged motorcycle, and not some kind of “bicycle” like YUBR, CBi or even phaser-six hundred (no offense to these worthy motorcycles). The size also has its disadvantages, but where would we be without them? Well, he’s handsome, of course, he’s infectious, he inspires a lot of respect just by his appearance. In principle, this is all I understood at the time of buying the motorcycle. Then I realized that a liter would be too much for me to begin with, but I was encouraged by two thoughts: “this is a motorcycle like all the others” and “you can ‘vomit’ on any motorcycle.”

Now on to the next part of the message. Over the one and a half seasons we have gone through together, we have accumulated a certain amount of knowledge that we are not ashamed to share. It is difficult to systematize it, so there is some confusion in the presentation of thoughts, but I am ready to answer questions of interest.

CITY RIDING In the city, the phaser feels great, although its hippopotamus sometimes comes out. On the one hand, cutting through sluggish traffic jams is quite easy (steers well, accelerates and brakes even better), on the other hand, in standing traffic jams the weight and dimensions take their toll. Particularly annoying are the bulging mirrors, which perfectly convey the situation behind the motorcycle, but still tend to get caught in the “ears” of some crossover. The landing position when driving around the city is pleasing. Owners of steel liters claim that their landing is even more upright than mine, but the current generation kilophaser does not cause any discomfort, the hands do not become numb, the back does not ache, in general, for people about 180 cm tall - just what the doctor ordered. This motorcycle can be used in the city as a scooter - put it in first gear and don’t shift anymore, because first gear is capable of covering the speed range from 0 to 130+ km/h. And city gasoline consumption during active driving ranges between 9 and 10 l/100km

DRIVING ON THE TRACK On the track, the kilophaser can fully realize the potential of its engine, inherited from the P1. But I personally didn’t like the speeds over 200 on this motorcycle at all. There are several reasons for this: a very short windshield, and generally poor protection for the driver from the wind (and at the same time insects, collisions with which are inevitable and painful) and fuel consumption. The aerodynamics of the device are such that at speeds of 160+, willy-nilly, you have to lie down on the tank. Everything would be fine, but when riding with a backpack (and the panniers fit a kilophaser like a cow’s saddle), when you lie down on the tank, this same backpack is torn off by the flow of incoming air along with your shoulders. As for gasoline consumption, a good appetite is quite predictable, given the pedigree of the engine, but in real numbers it looks scary: at speeds constantly around 180 km/h (±20 km/h), the consumption is something like 15 liters per 100 km way (and the tank is only 18 liters, of which 3 are reserve). In quiet mode, at 3-4 thousand rpm, highway consumption can be reduced to 6 liters per 100 km. Feel the difference. But traveling in economy mode is incredibly boring. In general, initially the phaser is not inclined to tourism. A short windshield, a hard saddle, the absence of even minimal luggage capacity and the angle of bend of the knees, which provokes numbness in the legs when driving long distances, are bad aids for a tourist. All these shortcomings can be corrected by installing the appropriate tuning parts, but in this case the phaser liter completely loses its appearance as a reckless and daring urban hooligan. It was for his appearance that I once fell in love with him, so I decided not to tune my motorcycle. Well, except that I’m hatching a plan to install a shorter windshield. And the experience of operating the stock version shows that the devil is not so terrible. Races of both 500 and 700 kilometers are quite feasible, the longer the run, the less fun, but I still would not give a medal “For Courage” to a person who has ridden 1000 km on a phaser kilogram. If you plan your stops wisely, your trip will be a pleasant experience.

TWO AMATEUR WORDS ABOUT THE ENGINE It has no low end, that's true. Although nothing prevents you from driving through traffic jams at low idle speed. But in the last third of the tachometer, a violent temper awakens. Driving “in the moment” is an indescribable pleasure, when the slightest movement of the right hand provokes either a powerful acceleration or a more than distinct deceleration. I have identified three speed ranges for myself - from 0 to 4k (calm temperament, you can drive long and far), 4k - 7k (some liveliness appears, you can move quite confidently in traffic), 7k - to the red zone (this is for extreme sports, " carry me like a deer to your country like a deer"). The “voice” of the engine is also typical for these same ranges: first a sleepy muttering, then growing indignation (“WAKE ME???!!!”), and finally a bright splash (“well, that’s it... hold on!” and with a cry of “kawabanga !” takes the pilot into the sunset)

SUMMARY So what happens, the liter phaser consists of only shortcomings? No! Quite the opposite. The fact is that you can always write about shortcomings objectively, but advantages cause such a storm of emotions that, in addition to “wow!” and “ah!” nothing comes to mind. This is an amazingly versatile device that you can drive to work every day, cruise around party spots every evening, go on a mini run around the Golden Ring on the weekend, and take it on vacation to Europe or the sunny shores of the Black Sea. What he does not accept is off-road conditions and rare gas stations. Phaser can make daily trips to work different from each other - sometimes you sit on autopilot, contemplating the surroundings, sometimes in the style of “come on, catch up!” you will light up on a free TTK. He can also perform Willie and Stoppie, but I have never dabbled in this, because I don’t know how, and it’s a pity for me if something goes wrong. I also have to admit that even despite my personal experience in this matter, I cannot recommend such a device to beginners. Because at first it won’t be a ride, but mutual torment. It needs to be pushed into turns (it itself is not inclined to turn due to the mass, speed and width of the rear tank...), the gas needs to be handled carefully (... but it’s easy to carry the owner into an unknown distance), you still need to get used to the dimensions and weight. And using 10-30% of the motorcycle’s potential won’t bring much pleasure, and a beginner won’t be able to squeeze more out of it.

Summing up all of the above, I confess that someday, one fine day, I will buy myself such a motorcycle again. It turned out to be extremely successful, it’s not for nothing that Yamaha hasn’t updated it for 7 years

Chassis and brakes

The pendants are not soft. Yes, you can adjust the preload, but this is unlikely to change the picture much, given the fact that their travel, both rear and front, is 120 mm. The brakes here are represented by one rear disc and two front ones, but the front calipers are not two-piston, but four-piston.

The frame here is made of steel and is tubular in type. Considering that the weight of the FZS 600 Fazer is quite average, this decision is quite justified. After all, a road bike shouldn't be too light, it's not a motocross bike.

Road motorcycle Yamaha Fazer 250

Yamaha strives to take into account all the nuances of the motor market and produces motorcycles of various classes. There has been a real boom in the 250 cc segment lately. So the appearance of the Fazer 250 in Russia is not accidental. It fits perfectly into the modern Yamaha lineup in terms of build quality, temperament, and characteristically fast appearance. Fazer 250 is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. The single-cylinder engine, located in a steel duplex frame, is equipped with fuel injection, and an oil cooler is included in the lubrication system. To reduce friction losses, the cylinder mirror, with which the lightweight forged piston comes into contact, is coated with a wear-resistant coating. The suspension and braking systems are equipped with modern, proven components. Fazer 250 is easy to operate and maintain. It can be recommended to beginners as a first motorcycle. Small dimensions allow you to easily navigate busy city streets. An efficient and low-noise engine, thanks to the use of modern technologies, it is extremely economical. Peculiarities