Yamaha Fazer 250 spied ahead of launch

The Fazer 250 revealed in a walk-around video on YouTube appears to simply be a semi-faired version of its naked streetfighter sibling, the FZ25. In the revealed guise, the Fazer seems to be using the same LED headlamp as the FZ as well. However, the fairing and windscreen surrounding the lamp lend it a beefy look from the front and sides, while the rear of the two models is indistinguishable from each other.

Unlike the smaller cousins, wherein the Fazer 150 received twin headlamps and the FZ16 received a single sharp inverted triangle lamp, the 250 siblings will have the same headlamp. This formula has worked well for the Suzuki Gixxer and Gixxer SF bikes, but the beauty of the Yamaha Fazer 250's face is subjective. We feel that the fairing could benefit from better integration with the rest of the bodywork, and twin headlamps would definitely have upped the oomph factor.

The Fazer also gets DRLs integrated into the fairing, like blades on either side of the lower part of the headlamp. Above these are faux air vents serving no purpose. The spied motorcycle has a two-tone blue and grey paint job. Unlike the FZ25's black, the front mudguard on this Fazer is blue.

The telescopic front forks still carry the white 'Yamaha' lettering. The Fazer also has black alloy wheels with tubeless tyres and, just like the FZ, doesn't appear to have radials. Moving to the side, the bottom of the fairing ends in a cowl of the same blue colour as the mudguard. The fairing does not cover the entire engine.

Surrounded by the fairing and windscreen, we see the same all-digital meter console from the FZ. However, the mirrors have been changed and are fold-out pieces on either side of the windscreen. These could be a useful feature while parking as they seem to protrude out to the sides a fair bit.

The split seats themselves are borrowed from the smaller FZ while the side panels and grab rail are new. The tail lamp is an LED unit and has a split design. The exhaust is a new iteration of the FZ16 and is the same piece as seen on the FZ25.

Engine

The Fazer 250 will get the same fuel-injected engine as the FZ25. Yamaha makes this engine here and this explains the aggressive pricing for the 250cc naked. The long stroke engine uses a single overhead cam and two valves to breathe.

It makes 20.9PS/20Nm and transfers the power via a 5-speed box. During our tests, the FZ25 featuring the same engine had impressed us with a brisk 0-100kmph time of 10.2s, two seconds quicker than the RTR 200 FI. In fact, the FZ was within half a second of the time set by the considerably more powerful Bajaj RS200. While the top speed of the engine should remain in the 130-135kmph range, the wind blast that was apparent on the naked will be mitigated by the windscreen and fairing on the Fazer. Hence, the latter may prove more useful for high-speed runs.

Features

The front (282mm) and rear (220mm) disc brakes that bring the motorcycle to a halt may feature ABS, unlike the FZ25. The motorcycle also comes with Always On Headlamp or AHO. When you first turn the ignition key, the yellow pilot lamp comes on. Once you start the motorcycle, the full LED main headlamp unit comes on. The rear tyre hugger and saree guard are integrated units and do not stick out like in the R15 or FZ16.

Competition

Given the price range that the Yamaha Fazer 250 is expected to compete in, it will go up against the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, its own stablemate the YZF-R15, and the Bajaj Pulsar 200NS and RS. For about Rs 15,000 more, the Bajaj Dominar 400 also comes into the picture as competition.