As the names imply, their engines have increased in size to 779 cc, putting clearer distance between them and Yamaha’s more budget-orientated XJ6 range. The new engine isn’t actually that new, as it’s based on the 998 cc unit from the FZ1 Fazer.
The capacity reduction has been achieved by decreasing the bore size, while keeping stroke the same. That approach was taken to maximise torque, a characteristic that Yamaha is emphasising for the new bikes. To a certain extent it has worked, as the Fazer8 / FZ8 produce 82 Nm of torque, compared to the 63.1 Nm of their 600 cc predecessors.
It’s a partial success since it seems they are going to be needing all of that torque, as well as the extra 8ish bhp that brings power up to 104 bhp. That’s because the Fazer8 / FZ8 have grown to accommodate the larger engine. Indeed, the aluminium frame used for both bikes isn’t new either - it too is borrowed from the FZ1. Consequently, the Fazer8 weighs 215 kg, which is fairly hefty against the 207 kg of the old FZ6 Fazer.
There aren’t many other bikes in the 800 cc class to compare the Fazer8 / FZ8 against. The F 800 series from BMW springs to mind, but that’s about it. The twin cylinder engines in the BMWs are down on power against the Yamahas (producing 85 bhp in the S version, for example), but with 86 Nm have more torque. The F 800 S does only weigh 204 kg fully fuelled and ready to go, however.
Nowadays there are hardly any 750 cc bikes around, either. An obvious competitor though - especially to the naked FZ8 - is the Kawasaki Z750, with its 105 bhp 4-cylinder engine.
The one question that remains unanswered is how much the Fazer8 and FZ8 will cost. Unlike the other Japanese manufacturers, Yamaha seems reluctant to mention prices for any bikes on its UK web site, instead inviting you to consult a dealer.
Nevertheless, if you hunt hard enough on Yamaha’s site, the information is there (hidden away on the finance calculator, if you’re interested). Alas that page has yet to be updated for the new arrivals.
So, in the absence of facts, it’s worth having a guess.
The UK on the road price for the XJ6 Diversion is £5,902 (£6,302 with ABS), and the FZ1 Fazer costs £10,120 (£10,520 with ABS).
On that basis, the Fazer8 might be around £8,000, with ABS another £400 on top.
To put those figures into perspective, the BMW F 800 S is £6,725 on the road (ABS is £620 extra), and the Kawasaki Z750 is £5,999 (plus first registration fee and road tax).
Perhaps then it’s understandable why Yamaha wants people to check with their dealers - at least they can ensure potential customers are sat down before the news is broken to them. Alternatively it could, of course, mean there’s a nice discount to be negotiated?
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