Yamahafz1

YAMAHAFZ1

RIDES 2K3

Family matters

DON CANET

LAST SPRING, ONE OF MY SISTERS PHONED ME LOOKING FOR advice regarding a new-bike purchase, a surprise for her husband. Now, I know how particular men can get when it comes to their wheels. My brother-in-law is not only a large man, but a concrete contractor who could fill my ridin’ boots with ready-mix should I steer Sis wrong.

“So, uh...what’s he been looking at?” I inquire. With a certain relief I learn that the “big guy” has a hankering for Yamaha’s FZ1. “Say no more, that’s the one!” I tell her. “Get it in the sophisticated silver color and you can thank me on your 25th anniversary.”

How could I be so certain? Voted Best Open-Classer in CWs Ten Best Bikes of 2001, third-place finisher in last year’s “World Best Streetbike” shootout, and one of the most popular bikes to ever serve in our long-term fleet, the FZ1 is my usual recommendation to just about any experienced rider-whether family, friend or stranger.

A torque-tuned version of the YZF-Rl’s 998cc liquidcooled inline-Four endows this super-standard with all the power possibly needed on the road. Aside from taking a bit of manual choke management when starting the engine, its bank of 37mm Mikuni carburetors delivers ultra-crisp throttle response. Hey, who needs EFI? The slick-shifting sixspeed gearbox and smooth clutch operation broaden the engine’s appeal for everyday use. Vibration is the only negative point to bring up regarding this otherwise superbly refined package. But as my brother-in-law has yet to phone up complaining about the moderate amount of buzz that seeps through the handgrips across the rev range, let’s forget I even mentioned it.

Sport-calibrated suspension, grippy tires, loads of lean angle and solid handling give the FZ1 plenty of Sundaymorning spirit. Heck, even my 20-year-old nephew is impressed with Dad’s new ride, and that’s coming from a guy who owns a CBR600F4L

Performance numbers gathered on the example tested here show 125 horsepower and 74 foot-pounds of torque on our dyno, and a 10.70-second/125.82-mph run through the quarter-mile. Pretty strong performance for a bike this practical. The FZl’s comfortable upright seating position and spacious saddle have proven just the ticket for my brother-in-law, now middle-aged with years of backbreaking labor behind him.

So, are you, like my in-law, looking for some inside advice? The FZl’s new-for-’03 yellow/black paint scheme pays homage to Yamaha’s racing heritage-just the thing for a mid-lifer harboring a sweet spot for nostalgia. Thank me later.