2012 Yamaha Fazer 8 Motorcycle Review

This liquid cooled 799cc in line four is basically the half fared twin headlight cousin to Yamaha’s slightly sportier totally naked all rounder the FZ8. At the heart of Fazer 8 is a super smooth fuel injected block the utilizes a pile of components found on its big brother the FZ1. Designed from the ground up to elevate this category from it’s previous incarnation bench marked by the FZ6 this bike’s been tuned for more low-end and mid-ranged torque. Meanwhile in the chassis department .. the gravity cast aluminum frame is again FZ1 spec while the 43 milimeter inverted fork sporting duel 310 floating discs with 4 piston mono block calipers may not be the absolute ultra trick race ready gear but they certainly look the part and do a terrific job in the stopping department. All in all the Fazer 8 was designed to take the average rider from daily commutes to longer over night weekenders while the integrated passenger grab rails can easily take a rider from solo piloting to two up fun. But as always you don’t have to take my word for it here, here now is this weeks guest road tester, Tamara Morin.

David Hatch
So what did you think when we pulled it out o the garage this morning and you got your eyes on it for the first time.

Tamara Morin
It was a little deceptive to me because looking at it for the first time I thought it was pretty bulky. You know, I thought it was more than I was reading about, but on it, totally different experience.

David Hatch
Right.

Tamara Morin
I thoroughly enjoyed the riding position. You’re tucked right into this bike and it makes it so maneuverable.

David Hatch
Yeah. So you were a little nervous at first. It looked a bit heavy a bit big for you.

Tamara Morin
It did, it did, Even reading … four seventy-six I believe is what the literature said, it doesn’t even feel heavy. It doesn’t feel heavy at all. My feet firmly planted on the ground. Very easy to handle.

David Hatch
So let’s talk about it. You threw a leg over, you fired it up, what did you think of the motor. I…for me I was surprised, wow it’s smooth.

Tamara Morin
Smooth, peppy…it had a lot of grip right off. In the first gear it already wants to go. So it was really really peppy right off the top and then smooth shifting right through all the gears. You can feel them go into every gear, you know you’re going. It doesn’t have the gear shift indicator but it does have the neutral finder. So at least you know where you are there.

David Hatch
How did you like the sound? Because you sounded pretty nice flying away from us on the camera.

Tamara Morin
I loved it actually it’s got a…even though it’s an inline four it’s got a throatier sound than I’m used to hearing in inline fours. It does rev a little high but the sound out of the back end was good.

David Hatch
Transmission – it’s a brand new bike. What was the transmission like?

Tamara Morin
Um picks up really well. Every time you’re shifting your gears you had power in every gear, again, shorter ratios at the beginning give a lot more even kind of torquey feel to it but gets you going really quick.

David Hatch
What about the handling of the bike?

Tamara Morin
Again I think the center of gravity is very low on this bike so it actually handled very well. Considering again the imposing size. When I first walked up to it, this beefy area…it really did handle really well. Corners were good. Everything was fast and easy.

David Hatch
Nice. So what about the riding position. I found that the pegs, the foot pegs were just little higher than I expected but everything else was good for me. But what about you?

Tamara Morin
Actually, to your point, the pegs are a little higher. I could feel them on my legs at some points if I was standing. Not paying any particular attention. But definitely the firm foot position. I felt comfortable on it. I was in a great riding position, very comfortable. The split seat will give solo or passenger accommodation where everyone’s comfortable. You have your had grip as well. SO I think this riding position is the best of all worlds.

David Hatch
There’s some really interesting cast pieces on here but everything is sort of a matte black. What did you think of the fit and finish – the paint, the fasteners, just the overall production finish?

Tamara Morin
Well I’m used to the naked bike. So I’m not sure about the half faring that they’ve got here. Maybe it’s just me, but other than that everything else is a really. It’s a great looking bike.

David Hatch
Yeah. Who would you think the bike would appeal to? Who would you suggest take a look at this.

Tamara Morin
Well given it’s an eight hundred. In the literature I was reading I what really hit home with me was that a lot of push towards 600 to 1000 when you’re coming off your 125, 250. Your skills grow, you’re getting confident. You want to go to larger bikes…eight hundreds don’t normally come to mind as quickly. As well, there haven’t been many options. I think this is a great niche category for any rider who’s going up.

David Hatch
Right okay.

Tamara Morin
Building their confidence level, they want a little more power, they still like the maneuverability of having that nimble action. I think that’s a key market.

David Hatch
What would you say is the lasting impression. The one thing that sort of really stands out in your mind about this bike?

Tamara Morin
Power versus size. I think this bike has it all. When you talk about getting a sporty bike that’s a little massive but nimble maneuverable and powerful.

David Hatch
You really like the 800 eh?

Tamara Morin
I love the 800.

David Hatch
haha It’s her favourite number. Good job.

Tamara Morin
Thanks.

David Hatch
Thanks Tamara.