YAMAHA FZ8 (2010 - on) Review

At a glance

Owners' reliability rating: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Annual servicing cost: £170
Power: 106 bhp
Seat height: Medium (32.1 in / 815 mm)
Weight: Medium (465 lbs / 211 kg)

Prices

New £6,999
Used £3,800 - £4,500

Overall rating

Next up: Ride & brakes
4 out of 5 (4/5)

Yamaha’s original FZS600 Fazer and later models always represented value for money workhorses – the sort of bike you could commute and have fun on anytime, anywhere. But now the XJ6 and Diversion fills the cheap and cheerful slot left by the death of the FZ6 S2 and FZ6 Fazer. The replacement machine is the new FZ8 (and half-faired FZ8 Fazer). Along with its capacity increase (now 779cc), the FZ8 has gone up market – more performance biased – through the use of a cast ally frame and swingarm and a not so cheap price tag.
Although aimed squarely at mainland European motorcyclists, where the Kawasaki’s Z750 rules the naked bike sales table, it is a good machine in its own right. It isn’t as intimidating to ride as the monstrous FZ1 1000cc, which means anybody can jump straight on to ride away and have a good time. It deserves an overall rating of 4, but priced at £7920 leaves a big opening for cheaper competitors including Kawasaki’s Z750, Triumph Street Triple etc.

Ride quality & brakes

Next up: Engine
3 out of 5 (3/5)

Given that the FZ8 has a ‘race’ inspired chassis of ally frame and swingarm for sporty riding, it’s a puzzle why Yamaha saw fit to prop the FZ8 with non-adjustable front suspension and preload-only at the rear. Yamaha’s answer is the greater majority of its extensive customers do not adjust suspension – this is no defence in our book. As it is the front is compliant bordering on soft, which is really noticeable on the brakes. And there’s not a lot of feedback from the front Bridgestone BT021. The rear isn’t so bad.
Suspension aside, the FZ8 is endowed with an easy to ride nature that belies the FZ1-based chassis. It’s a happy rider who cuts through town traffic like a needle through tissue and the FZ8 is a god tool for such use. It’s forte is fast flowing roads. The same can be applied to the FZ8 Fazer.

Engine

Next up: Reliability
4 out of 5 (4/5)

The FZ8 shares crankcases with the 1000cc FZ1 but features a lightened crankshaft for quicker engine response, and the cylinder bores are reduced in size for the capacity decrease. However, the same stroke length leaves the FZ8 with a wide band of easily accessible drive, underlined by faultless fuelling. A claimed 106bhp and 60ftlb of torque doesn’t sound much by today’s standards, but if you want more power then walk towards the 150bhp FZ1. On the other hand if you want a continuous smile and to keep your licence fairly healthy, walk back towards the FZ8.

Reliability & build quality

Next up: Value
4 out of 5 (4/5)

Compact, tidy assembly and the FZ series comes with a reliability record only surpassed by the arrival of spring. Saying that, it is a new bike (despite the parts bin assembly) and there is always the chance of something not lasting. It’ll be a slim chance, but it’s the sort of chance you accept with any new bike, car, computer, dishwasher etc…

Value vs rivals

Next up: Equipment
3 out of 5 (3/5)

Hmmm. Ok, cutting to the chase here. At £7920 the FZ8 is overpriced. The evidence is the vast array of bikes that will match and exceed what the FZ8 delivers and all for less money – Suzuki Bandit 1250 at £6099, Aprilia Shiver £6150, to name but a few. Find a Yamaha FZ8 for sale.

Equipment

2 out of 5 (2/5)

The aluminium frame and swingarm are good to shout about down the pub – most of its competitors run with steel tube frames and box-section swingarms. The rest of the bike is fairly standard stuff, literally. It’s easy to say the FZ8 is a ‘parts bin’ special because… erm, it is: FZ1 engine cases, FZ1 rear light, XJ front wheel, XJ6 headlight, FZ clocks (new background display though), ye olde R1 front brakes and so on. New technology comes with the length of the of inlet stacks 2 and 3 cylinders are long, 1 and 4 are shorter, again for improved midrange drive. Shock, horror, but the in-line four FZ8 doesn’t even have an Exup exhaust valve. Instead the downpipes are thin and the longest on any Yamaha to date.
The FZ8 Fazer gets the obligatory half-fairing that does a damn fine job of prolonged high speed riding light work, which is particularly useful for commuting. The UK Fazer will be the only model that comes with ABS as standard. Compare and buy parts for the FZ8 in the MCN Shop.

Specs

Engine size 779cc
Engine type Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16v four-stroke in-line four. Six gears
Frame type Cast ally beam frame and swingarm
Fuel capacity 17 litres
Seat height 815mm
Bike weight 211kg
Front suspension Non-adjustable
Rear suspension Adjustable for preload only
Front brake 310mm discs with 4-piston caliper
Rear brake 267mm disc with single-piston caliper
Front tyre size 120/70 x 17
Rear tyre size 180/55 x 17

Mpg, costs & insurance

Average fuel consumption 39 mpg
Annual road tax £117
Annual service cost £170
New price £6,999
Used price £3,800 - £4,500
Insurance group 16 of 17
How much to insure?
Warranty term Two year unlimited mileage

Top speed & performance

Max power 106 bhp
Max torque 60 ft-lb
Top speed 146 mph
1/4 mile acceleration -
Tank range 147 miles

Model history & versions

Model history

1998-2004: FZS600 Fazer
2000-2001: FZS600-S Fazer (special edition paintwork)
2003-2007: FZ6 Fazer
2004-2007: FZ6
2007-2010: FZ6 S2
2007-2010: FZ6 Fazer S2

Other versions

FZ8 Fazer: half faired, ABS version version of FZ8 (£8999)

Owners' reviews for the YAMAHA FZ8 (2010 - on)

14 owners have reviewed their YAMAHA FZ8 (2010 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your YAMAHA FZ8 (2010 - on)

Summary of owners' reviews

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 (4.5/5)
Ride quality & brakes: 4.4 out of 5 (4.4/5)
Engine: 4.6 out of 5 (4.6/5)
Reliability & build quality: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Value vs rivals: 4.6 out of 5 (4.6/5)
Equipment: 4 out of 5 (4/5)
Annual servicing cost: £170
4 out of 5 Great, fast bike for the money.
06 September 2024 by Adam B.

Version: N

Year: 2013

Annual servicing cost: £350

Fantastic inline 4 for the money, still looks good today.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Can ha dle two up really well, but the stock shock could handle only up to another 160kg combined rider and passenger before squatting too much on some bumpier highways sections. With braided steel brake hoses, the old R1 calipers are incredible. I consciously have to use the rear brake to wear it a bit, otherwise I could even break the lever off.

Engine 4 out of 5

More rev happy than the150hp FZ1 and quite more enjoyable on the roads. I had more powerful bikes before but this engine is a joy to ride. Great noise with the stock exhaust from 7k and above, and non exuberant under. Win win.

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

The rotor magnets decided to call it a day at 25K miles, which is the only typical problem. Once that's changed you are good to go for another 25K.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

It's a bulettproof Yamaha, only weak point is having to change the rotor before magnets will fall off. Yamaha used an epoxy glue that will eventually get old enough.

Equipment 4 out of 5

I have the non abs but I never had abs bikes. You get a fuel gauge which is good.

Buying experience: Got it from a dealership.

3 out of 5
27 November 2023 by Andy

Version: Anniversary

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £100

Good, but not great. A little soft and heavy for my liking.

Ride quality & brakes 3 out of 5

Brakes were excellent after fitting braided lines and better pads, but the suspension was soggy and lacked any sort of adjustment. Way too little rebound on the front end, so when you open the throttle, the bike unloads the forks and it starts to wobble. Had this happen a few times, really takes away your confidence. Comfy though, but push it hard and it wallows. Pilly seat very slippery, but not too difficult to fix with a cover.

Engine 3 out of 5

Lacks power bellow 6500 rpm to the point where it felt slow. This is partly down to the excessive weight. Good above 6.5k though, sounded better with a slip on.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Fit and finish was excellent. No rust or corrosion after 10 years, nice deep finish on the paint. Looked new after 20k miles.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Serviced it myself, very easy to work on. Cheap to insure, and plenty of parts from other Yamahas will fit too.

Equipment 3 out of 5

No gear position indicator, my 06 Daytona has one, but the lack of adjustment on the suspension was the biggest problem.

Buying experience: Bought from private dealer, good price.

5 out of 5 Looks great and does it all
12 April 2023 by Stuart

Year: 2012

I use mine for trackdays, tours around France and city commuting. How many bikes can tick all those boxes for this price? Beautiful engine which is more than fast enough for the road, mines got R1 rear shock and upgraded fork springs, handles superbly with strong brakes. I'll be keeping this bike for a long, long time.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5

Love it! Super smooth, no flat spots, sounds lovely and takes off at 7k revs

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

Sidestand and a few bolts showing corrosion after a few winter rides. Forgot to put the ACF50 on! Apart from that everything feels top quality, easily up there with all Hondas I've owned

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

About 45mpg on average

Equipment 4 out of 5

Basic but everything you need. I much prefer analogue rev counters and love the clocks on this

Buying experience: Bought privately second hand with all sorts of upgrades for £3100 including Yoshi pipe, Dyno tuned power commander, R1 rear shock, upgraded front springs, radiator cover, belly pan......Bargain! 😁

5 out of 5 FZ8N a bike that can everything you ask.
09 January 2023 by Carl.

Version: FZ8 N

Year: 2014

Annual servicing cost: £150

Bike still in excellent condition, absolutely no corrosion, performance and handling as new. Expensive when new compared to z750 etc, however the quality of finsh shows.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Ride quality is good. Seat quality is good with plenty of leg room for a 6ft 2" rider. Ergonomic triangle between footpegs, handlebars and seat is good.Slim seat front allows shorter riders to easily reach the ground too.

Engine 5 out of 5

Plenty of smooth, linear power to make good progress on the road. In the real world of speed cameras and congestion on most roads, 105 hp will keep up with almost all but the suicide boys.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Absolutely no corrosion anywhere.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Service is £150 a year.

Equipment 4 out of 5

A decent bikini fairing, heated grips, tank grips, decent end can and tail tidy will give the bike a practical refresh, along with decent levers, bellypan and rear seat cowl and you have a practical but smart street bike.

Buying experience: Got my bike from Fasttrack Motorcycles in Melton Mowbray as a p/ex for my existing Harley-Davidson 1200 and cash. The bike was 8 years old but 3500 miles and as new.

4 out of 5 Fun and reliable sub 1,000 all rounder when compared to its competition at same price
02 September 2020 by Nando

Version: FZ8 Fazer

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £150

Very good and reliable sub 1,000cc all rounder, especially if you are early in your biking career. It’s powerful enough so that you can push hard and keep up fairly well with friends on their sports bikes. Reliable, cheap ish to ensure and service means it’s a good all rounder. Mine did track days, drag racing and weekend trips. Note that I have upgraded to a FZ1 and am very happy now, but appreciate my learning time on the FZ8

Ride quality & brakes 3 out of 5

Suspension struggled at Drag Racing events and when pushing hard... It’s a great bike if you do a bit of hard riding or are learning the ropes and even with the comment above I owned two of them over the years! So they are good, but are limited by their cheaper suspension and ok brakes.

Engine 5 out of 5

For an 800cc and when compared to something like a BMW F800, it’s 5 stars. When compared to my FZ1 with its 150hp then off course it doesn’t feel as good. But comparing it to other 800s and adding an Akra can, oh I did thoroughly enjoy it

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Can’t fault it. Cheap and easy to service, with nothing going wrong no matter what we did together. Typical workhorse reliability. Left it in the garage for 4 months when I was away for work. Started first time when I came back!!!

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Second hand you get a lot of bike for the money from an all rounder point of view. I would not have bought it brand new but was very happy with the 2nd hand purchase, especially as it had so many extras (heated grips, Akra can etc)

Equipment 3 out of 5

ABS, ok brakes and suspension. Not much as standard. But 5 out of 5 on the amount of reasonably priced extras we can all buy. Get heated grips, Akra can, levers and a host of other items at very reasonable prices on eBay

Buying experience: Bought privately once and then from a dealer second time. Nonissue to report with either.

5 out of 5 FZ8N mods
14 March 2020 by Matt G

Year: 2011

Love my FZ8N and will be keeping her for years yet.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

I say 5 of 5 because I’ve done the Ohio’s suspension upgrade. Stock suspenders just don’t cut if you are going to use the bike for commute touring and runs through the twisties with the guys on the weekend. Best upgrade I’ve ever done. Different machine all round

Engine 5 out of 5

No issues, easy servicing. Although have dropped in a power commander K&N titanium plugs etc. love that mid range and large torque curve. Never really need to red line unless going crackers. Also GYTR headers and carbon muffler. Much better note than stock.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Bought mine at 15k old have used it as a daily runner and a weekend fun bike. No major issues as yet but have done a lot of upgrades from stock.

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

Well priced parts. Easy servicing and nil major issues

Equipment 4 out of 5

As we say a few Yam parts bin parts from other models but it all works well as a package

Buying experience: bought second hand no issues

5 out of 5
30 December 2019 by Ben Dover

Year: 2014

Good solid bike

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Work well although I have a non abs version

Engine 5 out of 5

Lovely and smooth go past 5k and it's like warp speed 70mph on the motorway it's at 5000 rpm

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Had no problems in the year so far

Equipment 5 out of 5

It has lights does that count ?

4 out of 5 Loud pipes save lives
01 January 2018 by Christopher Cox

Version: Fz8s fully faired

Year: 2014

Annual servicing cost: £100

I bought mine back in April 2017 it's the fully faired version with full touring kit, it originally had a little over 2k miles on it iv now added 4k to that. As others have mentioned exhaust tone was terrible and made bike very quiet leaving me feeling uncomfortable while over taking i.e. loud pipes save lives lol, overall the bike is a great all round bike

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

Its decent in all aspects iv used it as a commuter (50-60miles) a general weekend ride 3-4hrs and short touring 2-300 miles and iv happily spent upto 2hrs in seat with no real problems

Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

The bike generally seems well built however i have had to remove and re powder coat the lower fairing brackets after finding them Heavily corroded and as usual iv noticed a number of fairing bolts have started to show a little rust

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

Iv recently had a full liquid service inc oil and filter, brake fluid and coolant before packing it away for the winter

Equipment 4 out of 5

Definitely needed an after market exhaust to allow u to get best out of it I've also fitted Pirelli pilot road 4's

Buying experience: I bought mine from yamaha in wigan online without seeing it they delivered while i was working away and overall the service was amazing id deff buy from them again

5 out of 5 Great bike
01 May 2016 by Gary

Year: 2015

I traded my 10yr old XJR 1300 for my FZ8 back in February for £5999 from Tamworth Yamaha, great service great bike easy around town and fun on the open road, I needed to change the exhaust though for an aftermarket version the original sounded a little tinny for me.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

Heavy breaking the ABS kicks in and it makes you feel a little uneasy until you get used to it.

Engine 5 out of 5

Perky, good delivery

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5
4 out of 5 Yamaha Fazer 800 - Brilliant all rounder
02 February 2016 by Kermit800

Year: 2014

Excellent all rounder and brilliant fun when giving it some. Have ridden to IOM and was extremely comfy on the way their, 250+ miles, and still able to enjoy myself around the course.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Has never missed a beat, the build quality is good. Even after crashing into the side of a van the front fairings and all the small clips were in one bit. Paint quality is good, after 25000 miles and no significant scratching or swirls.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5

OEM tyres could be better. I went for a set of Bridgestone BT023, made a huge difference. Wish it didn't have only one headlamp as dipped beam. (Fazer version only)

5 out of 5 mr fz8
24 June 2015 by thug81

Version: naked

Year: 2012

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5

a little sluggish at low revs but once your in the range its like a rocket

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 3 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5

not a bike to get your shopping on but i find the loops under the back seat great, there quick and easy to use and strong

5 out of 5 Superb Naked
22 April 2012 by darron66

I've just purchased a new 12 plate FZ8 from Arnold's Motorcycles in Leicester and at £6799 with 0% finance I am a very happy camper (ok, biker hehe) and the service from Arnold's was second to none. I got a very good trade-in price for my 1999 Triumph Daytona 955i against the new FZ8. I test rode the XJ6 Diversion and wasn't overly impressed although the bike did handle very well and once on the dual carriageway was a swift mover indeed if a little high revving, but that's 600's for you. Anyway, I picked up the XJ from Arnold's in Leicester and rode up to their head office branch in Loughborough to pick up the demo FZ8 taking in the A6 for most of the 10 or so miles to get there, once there , quick loo break and the guys had the demo bike out the back ready for me to ride. As I walked out of the back door of the showroom I was greeted by the black curves of the 12 plate demo FZ8 and instantly a huge grin was upon my chops, even better the sun was shining and I was in just the right mood for riding back to my house near Oadby and then finally back the 3 or 4 miles into Leicester to return the bike to Arnold's. The entire ride was a joy, nothing aching, nothing hurting like it did on the Daytona and after an hour I arrived back at Arnold's with a smile that said just start the finance application I want one !! Reluctantly handing over the keys to Ian the sales guy and before I knew it my finance application had been accepted, a great p/x on my 13 yr old Triumph had been offered and I was asked when did I want to collect my new bike, how about the following day I replied.......the bike is awesome, so easy to ride, still running the engine in so cannot comment on top speed but I just love riding it, did 400 miles this weekend and got off it as refreshed as when I got on , seems pretty good on fuel too with it's 17 litre tank, 3 of which is reserve, I clocked nearly 170 miles on a full tank costing around £18 quid or just over, not bad for a naked and the fact it has to carry a lump of a bloke, my old Daytona used to give me around 150 miles to it's 18 litre tank which considering it's a 150cc bigger than the FZ is pretty good going. Anyway, to summarise, a great bike, easy to ride, fantastic styling and comfort and at present Yamaha have a 0% finance deal on the FZ8 plus a selected few others in the Yam range. My only slight negative is when pulling away, the bike is probably a little too light in weight and you tend to sway from side to side as you get going, other than that, perfectamundo ! Buy one you won't regret it !

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 3 out of 5
5 out of 5 VERY impressed
01 February 2012 by tamlin23

This is my new favourite bike - bar none! And that is a bold statement, as I trade bikes. This bike is very confidence inspiring and very easy and fun to ride. Everything does what it should, just like the XJ6, only with the FZ8, you get considerably more power. The way that power is delivered is smooth and predictable, building from low down, pulling strongly. The torque vs bhp is bang on for the road. This bike is without doubt the one I would pick for any road ride! There are comments re the price, but you must remember that Yamaha have superb engineering and build quality, I rate it over the coveted Honda quality, as every Yamaha model I have had has never failed to impress me, with attention to detail, fit and finish. Buy one of these and keep it for ever, you won't need or want for anything else...

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
4 out of 5 Fazer 800
17 October 2010 by philthewindsurfer

I used to have an XJR1300 and Street Triple. I part ex'd both for the Fazer 800 as I wanted a comfy sports tourer with some wind protection. I've had it 3 months and have done 4000 miles now. I'm very pleased with it. It might not have the same grunt as the XJR as you would expect, but there is plenty. Acceleration is good enough for what I want. I thought about getting the Fazer1000 but the 800 has a bigger fairing, and everyone I spoke to who had the 1000 said fuel consumption wasn't that good, a maximum of 130 miles till the light comes on. I get 45-55 mpg on mine. MCN dont mention the dip in torque at 5,000 rpm. Its quite noticable, and if you want to overtake quickly at lower speeds you need it at 6000. 5000 in 4th and it takes a while to pull through to 6000. I guess its all down to reducing emissions to pass the tests. The can seems to get a lot of stick in reviews, but its not huge and doesn't look as bad as other cans you see these days. The Street Triple has 2 great lumps of metal next to the pillion seat. There are some bungy points to tie luggage to. I wish the pillion grab handles were 2 inches longer at the back to tie straps to though. The suspension is great on bumpy roads, I prefer to go the scenic routes so often the road surface is often less than perfect. Whacking the rear pre-load up helps to stop some of the initial soggyness. It would be nice to have fully adjustable suspension, but I probably wouldn't adjust it that far from what it is now for my riding. I dont do track days anymore. The other bikes I considered were a Tiger or new CBF1000. I didn't like the service costs of the Triumph, valve checks every 12000 miles. Long term the Yamaha will work out cheaper, my local dealer 1.5 miles away are very reasonable, hence the higher value mark than you might think. Also the extras I got were well under RRP which helped. The new CBF looks a lot better than the older one, but still doesn't have the looks, and after talking to a friend it didn't sound sporty enough.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
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