Reviews

Gone Riding: Yamaha FZ-10

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Hello from The Tail of the Dragon, one of the USA’s most famous motorcycling roads, which happens to be situated in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. I’m out here for a press launch with Yamaha USA, riding the 2017 Yamaha FZ-10.

Our route will see us riding some of the local roads, including The Tail of the Dragon (something I’ve long wanted to do), which should be happy hunting grounds for Yamaha’s new streetfighter…I just hope it doesn’t scare the locals with its Transformers-inspired face and neon accents.

Truthfully though, the Yamaha FZ-10 looks better in person, and it is even starting to grow on me visually. What I’m really interested to see though is how this “retuned” R1 handles the street. I’m hoping it has as much crazy between the handlebars as its avant-garde attire suggests.

While I’m out riding, I will try and give you a live assessment of the machine, and answer any questions you might have. So, here’s your chance to learn what it’s like to ride the 2017 Yamaha FZ-10, before even my own proper review is posted.

Cellphone reception is pretty spotty here in the mountains (read: non-existent), but we’ve got pretty good wifi at the hotel, so I will attempt to answer any questions you post here in the comments and on social media.

As always, if I don’t know an answer, I will try to get a response from the Yamaha personnel that are here with me in North Carolina. So, pepper away.

You can follow our thoughts on the bike live via FacebookTwitter, and Instagram. You can also try searching for the hashtags: #Yamaha #FZ10 #FZFirstRide for the thoughts of my colleagues as well.

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2017-Yamaha-FZ-10-USA-43

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Spec-Sheet Comparison of Liter-Bike Streetfighter Motorcycles:

Yamaha FZ-10 Kawasaki Z1000 ABS Suzuki GSX-S1000 ABS Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR ABS BMW S1000R
Displacement 998cc 1,043cc 999cc 1,077cc 999cc
Engine Crossplane Inline-Four Inline-Four Inline-Four 65° V4 Inline-Four
Power 160 hp 140 hp 145 hp 175 hp 160 hp
Torque 81.9 lbs•ft 81.9 lbs•ft 78.2 lbs•ft 88.5 lbs•ft 83 lbs•ft
Electronics Basic ABS Basic Advanced Basic
Wet Weight 463 lbs 487 lbs 461 lbs 475 lbs 456 lbs
Price $12,999 $11,999 $10,499 $14,799 $13,495

Photos: Yamaha USA

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