Q & A Kit Sasaki

Q & A KIT SASAKI

CW

Talking with a Yamaha product planner, one of the men behind the FZRs and the FJ1200.

DAVID EDWARDS

With the new FZRs and the re-introduction of the FJ1200, Yamaha has greatly strengthened its sportbike lineup in the U.S. Why the emphasis on sportbikes?

Well, motorcycling is a sport. Certainly, engine performance alone is important, but that's only one part of motorcyling. Handling and braking are also important. Allaround performance is what makes motorcycling enjoyable for many people, and sportbikes provide that kind of combination.

Lately, we've seen some negative-if un founded-publicity concerning high-perform ance motorcycles. Was this a concern in the development of the new FZRs?

A Of course this was a concern. I think the im portant thing to remember here is that many people just concentrate on a particular bike's top speed. But today's sportbikes have more than just top speed; they have great suspen sion, strong brakes, excellent tires and han dling that has a lot in reserve. The whole package has been improved. Another thing to remember is that sportbikes are what many people want; the way they choose to have their fun. If we forget about the fun and

enjoyment of motorcycling, then there’s no sense in us building motorcycles.

One of the by-products of having a motorcycle with increased levels of performance in all categories is that its price goes up. The FZR1000, for example, costs $7599. Are we coming to a point where these kinds of motorcycles are going to price themselves out of existence?

This is a big problem. But when you have a motorcycle with these levels of performance, it’s just naturally going to cost more; high technology is not cheap. At least we’ve seen that when people are as passionate about a sport as they are about motorcycling, enjoyment is more important than price.

Despite being only two years old, the FZR1000 was totally redesigned for 1989. Is this kind of quick changeover what it takes to be competitive in today’s marketplace?

It’s not necessary in every case—look at the FJ 1200—but when it comes to high-performance four-stroke sportbikes, Yamaha’s image hasn’t been all that stong in the U.S. In Japan, we have a strong image thanks to our showings at the Suzuka 8-hour endurance race and recently our national championship in the F-3 (400cc) class. But within the company, there was a feeling that we had to build a truly great four-stroke. We hope the new FZRs are just that.

YAMAHA

Who is the average buyer of an FZR1000?

I don’t think things like age, household income or where a person lives are all that important in the motorcycle industry. We’re not in the coffee or chewing gum business; our business is fun. What we’re after with the FZR1000 is the person who simply loves motorcycling.

preceded all-new, though they look them. the very Why FZR1000 similar didn’t and to the Yamaha FZR600 bikes that make are them look different, perhaps by using all-enclosing bodywork?

At Yamaha, we believe that function is important. We are not a “cosmetic” company; we’re a function company. Of course, we

think that the FZRs are beautiful, but their function comes first.

Many people have welcomed the return of the FJ1200. Yamaha must be gratified with the response.

Yes, it’s a special motorcycle. At Yamaha, we enjoy riding motorcycles, and for many of us the FJ was the best bike we had for doing that. It’s a machine with character. What we’ve discovered is that while some people want the high technology of an FZR and are willing to pay for it, others are not. For them there’s the FJ, which, while certainly not a low-tech bike, is perceived by its riders as simple.

It’s been five years since the original FJ was introduced. Will it be around for another five years?

That’s hard to say, but the FJ is a favorite of mine and lot of other people at Yamaha, and it’s very hard to just throw away a motorcycle like that.