Yamaha FZ-8 WGP 50th
Anniversary SPECIFICATIONS, PRICE & IMAGES
MD Comparo: Yamaha FZ8 vs. Triumph
Street Triple R
Motorcyclists: start your arguments about the first such machine, then try to defend the
‘two-wheeled car.’ Lotsa luck.
fairings that encumbered them: costly, heavy, vulnerable plastic, hiding
Magnificent Machinery. Their windscreens placed a shield between riders and
God’s Elements.
Age: 77. Years Riding:62. Most Recent Flogging:1955
Katherine: “It looks like an Arabian stallion—lean, lithe,
muscular—with the mask of a comic-book hero.” Picking it up from Yamaha in
Cypress, facing a 425-mile ride, it looks to me like a bike with no windscreen .
. . uh, naked.
a task for which this machine is unsuited: up
I-5, at an indicated 85 on the wildly optimistic speedometer. I escape the drone
at Frazier Park, over gnarly twisties where the nonadjustable front fork (the
shock is adjustable for preload) delivers a bone-jarring ride. Then:166/33,
through Taft, onto glorious 58 (perfect surface) to Santa Margarita, dodging
Bambi.
s engineers have nailed it: a
near-perfect naked bike, at $8490 a steal (get the optional fly screen if you
plan to ride more than 100 miles at a time; the saddle? Check the aftermarket).
Yamaha has engineered satisfactorily the compromise between simple/low-cost on
one hand and exhilarating performance on the other.
Hokin: Age:42. Years Riding:23. Most Recent Flogging:Wednesday
do it all: tour, commute, do trackdays and still look good enough to motivate
the occasional washing. I have yet to own or test such a creature, but I keep
trying.
John: Street Mistress
Gabe: Please Don’t Make me do that Again…
Bike Features
Make Model:
Yamaha FZ-8 WGP 50th Anniversary
Year:
2012
Engine:
Four stroke, forward-inclined
transverse four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve per cylinder
Capacity:
779 cc / 48.6 cu-in
Bore x Stroke:
68.0×53.6mm
:
Liquid cooled
Compression Ratio:
12.0 : 1
Induction:
Electronic Fuel Injection
Ignition :
Transistorized coil ignition
Starting:
Electric
Lubrication system:
Wet sump
Max Power :
78.1kW / 106.2 hp @ 10000 rpm
Max Torque:
82.0 Nm / 8.4 kg-fm @ 8000 rpm
Clutch:
Wet,multiple-disc coil spring
Transmission :
6 Speed
Final Drive:
Chain
Gear Ratio:
1st gear 2.692(35/13) / 2nd gear
2.063(33/16) / 3rd gear 1.762(37/21) / 4th gear
1.522(35/23) / 5th gear 1.350(27/20) / 6th gear
1.208(29/24)
Frame:
Diamond frame
Front Suspension:
Telescopic fork
Front Wheel Travel:
130 mm / 5.1 in
Rear Suspension:
Swingarm link suspension.
Rear Wheel Travel:
130 mm / 5.1 in
Rear Brakes:
2x 310mm disc
Front Brakes:
Single 267mm disc
Front Tyre:
120/70 ZR17
Rear Tyre:
180/55 ZR17
Caster Angle:
25º
Trail:
109 mm / 4.2 in
Dimensions:
Height 1064 mm / 41.9 in
Length 2141 mm / 84.3 in
Width 770 mm / 30.3 in
Wheelbase:
1461 mm / 57.5 in
Seat Height:
815 mm / 32.1 in
Ground Clearance:
140 mm / 5.5 in
Wet Weight:
211 kg / 465 lbs – ABS 216 kg / 476 lbs
Fuel Capacity:
17 liters
/ 3.7 gal
Standing 0 – 100km:
3.9 sec
Standing 0 – 140km:
6.5 sec
Standing 0 – 200km:
14.7 sec
Acceleration
60-100 km/h :
4.5 sec
Acceleration
60-140 km/h :
9.8 sec
Acceleration
100-140 km/h :
5.3 sec
Acceleration
140-180 km/h :
5.6 sec
Top Speed:
215 km/h / 133.5 mph