Yamaha Motors had us flummoxed for some time now. While most manufacturers have been churning out model after model, Yamaha did not seem to be making any significant move. Until now. Yamaha Fazer 250cc, which was unveiled at the Auto Expo, is to get an early July launch. This is one gutsy move from the company for despite the Libero not receiving much applause for its futuristic styling, they have sculpted the even more adventurous looking Fazer. This bike makes no bones about shrieking a presence. Internationally, this particular insect-like styling trend is doing the rounds and that's just where the goggle-eyed snout of the Fazer comes from.
Yamaha Fazer 250cc is possibly ahead of its day in the nascent motorcycle market, though full marks are due to YMI for bringing modern trends. The Fazer is surely not a design every one of us will swoon over but it's best left described as distinctive. Attention to detail and fit-finish, however; should be evident even to the blind and is stunning, with any amount of praise to these being an understatement. The twin-head light 'fly'-screen sticking out in front is unique with more than a semblance to that particular insect. There's an aluminium triple-clamp and twin-pod instrumentation housing a rev-gauge, speedometer and all the usual idiot lights.
The large tank of Yamaha Fazer 250cc is highlighted with scoops flowing into its functional knee-recesses. The filler is the cute bowler-hat design from the Libero. The tank runs down into bubbled side-panels and reverses into a trick-looking integrated rear-end. The 727mm seat is well padded, ending in a striking alloy grab-rail, also playing bodyguard to the tail- cluster. A smoothened aluminium sub-frame section mounts the pillion foot-pegs below to which the chopped cruiser-like silencer adds its bit.
The four-stroke two-valve engine is enhanced in many ways over previous Yamaha units here. It meets stringent Indian 2005 emission norms, assisted by pumping oxygen into the exhaust port to burn any unburned mixture. This unburned air is drawn directly from the air-filter box, bypassing the carburettor and intake while a reed-valve prevents the return of waste gases via the same path. Exhaust gases are further cleaned by a catalytic converter within the silencer.
The carburettor is a Mikuni Constant Velocity unit with butter fly and employs a unique valve that reads increased cylinder-suction and compensates by automatically adjusting the mixture.
This provides smoothness no matter how bad the riding situation, surely a boon for the daily stop-and-go conditions prevalent in our gullies. Then there's YTPS, abbreviation for Yamaha Throttle Position Sensor, which functions to boost economy. Yes, ignition timing varies in sync with engine-rpm for the Yamaha Fazer 250cc, but now the throttle position also factors in adjusting this critical burn period.
Our brief sojourn with the Yamaha Fazer 250cc showed the engine to have a pleasing nature and wide, evenly spaced ratios. Make no mistake, we too argue in favour of that useful fifth gear if on no other grounds, then simply because the competition does offer them. When riding the Yamaha Fazer, one quickly recognises it as a well-mannered machine, though the short mileage and limited terrain we were allowed to use made it impossible to truly push the bike and analyse it for its handling capabilities. The frame is the conventional single down-tube diamond-type metal, with a box section swinging-arm. This Yam feels nimble and sturdy, with ride quality as good as can be expected.
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