Yamaha FZ25 first ride

The single cylinder, 249cc, fuel injected motor puts out its peak power of 20.6bhp at 8000rpm and peak torque of 20Nm at 6000rpm. Catering to a smooth and powerful climb up the rev band, the low end torque proves to be quite thrilling. Mated to a 5-speed constant mesh, the FZ25 goes through the first two gears quite fast and helps the bike climb up to the 100kmph mark quite easily. This motorcycle is quite happy cruising between 110-120kmph, but post 130kmph it does feel a wee bit sluggish.  The meaty midrange also helps in speedy overtakes and is quite handy while riding on highways. The combination of the diamond type frame and suspension setup along with the light weight enables this motorcycle to change its line very swiftly and in a sure footed manner. While on some tight corners, you won't need to second guess your moves and can throttle up while exiting with the tyres lending you more than adequate grip. The suspension leans mildly to the stiffer side and is adept at tackling most of the undulations you will face on Indian roads.

Yamaha has also bolted on disc brakes to the front and rear wheels of the bike. While the front gets a 282mm disc, the rear features a 220mm disc brake. The front disc comes with a 2 pot caliper, while the rear gets a single pot version. The brakes are extremely efficient, even while braking hard I did not get any major wheel lockup which caused a tail out on the FZ25. Yes, ABS would have been a very welcomed addition to the bike and could have been offered as an optional higher variant. That being said, the braking setup on this bike even without ABS is pretty darn good.

To look at the FZ25 boasts of mean and muscular angles, its full LED head lamp which features 3 LED bulbs (two for low beam and one for high beam) lends this bike a very distinct appearance on road, the bold and broad shrouds along with an arched tank gives the motorcycle its unique character and macho appeal. A very compact and sharp rear bestows upon the FZ25 an unmistakable Yamaha like character. The overall design of the FZ25 is voguish and carries a definite presence on road. The FZ25 has a rider seat height set at 795mm which lends exceptional ergonomics for the rider and one can easily cruise for 200-300kms without getting too worn out.

The FZ25 also features a very legible digital instrument cluster which gets two trip meters along with a fuel average consumption and current consumption display. Even the switch gear on the bike has been laid out in an ergonomic fashion and is easy to operate. The bike offers good build quality and is expected to be a hassle free motorcycle thanks to Yamaha's engineering prowess. Be it city riding or on the highway the Yamaha FZ25 will not let you down, what would have made things even more enticing would have been the additions of a slipper clutch and ABS. The bike offers a fuel efficiency of 43kms to a litre and comes in at a price point of just Rs1.19 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi), making it a lucrative option, not to be overlooked.