Yamaha FZ25 Long Term Review
Long Term Test No. 146
The Yamaha FZ25 is very torque friendly, a worthy quarter-litre motorcycle for India
If you follow me on social media, I recently bought a Honda CBR250R as I needed a motorcycle with decent power and good touring capabilities. A 250, in my opinion, feels just right and so does the Yamaha FZ25. We had the first ride last year in Goa and then we got the new Yamaha Fazer 25 for road test in Mumbai. I was pretty impressed with Yamaha’s 250cc engine. A few months back, we got the FZ25 for a long term review and I was very eager to ride it and understand its capabilities even more.
The Yamaha FZ25 is frugal and a good tank range means you can go places
As I went to pick up the motorcycle, it was not in its best condition as it desperately needed a service. Rode it back home in the same condition and I immediately got in sync with the performance of the engine. Although the bike was running a little rough, it was still performing decently well. I rode it to quite a few places before getting the service done and noticed that the brakes were completely worn out and seemed like the FI or the air filter had a few issues. I highlighted these issues to the Yamaha team and got its service done within the next week. This Yamaha was now ready to roll.
The 250cc mill has abundant torque for every situation
Riding in higher gears with lower RPMs and the engine doesn’t even knock, the Yamaha FZ25 is tuned really well
New brakes, new air filter and a serviced FZ25! What more do I need? A weekend to ride this one for a long distance. But as it was Monday and a whole week ahead of me, I got myself ready to assess this one on my daily commute. One more week went by and Mumbai welcomed its first rains. I could see this Yamaha has been one of the most traffic-friendly motorcycles. Manoeuvring through traffic and avoiding potholes have been a piece of cake for this Yamaha.
Cruising a little below the ton is a happy place for the Yamaha FZ25
Highway riding and long distance touring have been a breeze as well. As the weekend arrived, I took the FZ25 for over a 400 km ride and to my surprise, I wasn’t disappointed at all. The best part was that I came back home with fuel left in the tank. Whilst I got a mileage close to 35 km/l, I was riding most of the stretches at 80 km/hr or slightly above. Windblast was a little troublesome but the riding posture was very comfortable and yet engaging. My legs felt a little cramped by the end but it was fine.
The seat is very comfortable, for the pillion as well
The exhaust note is quite bassy and it gets loud and engaging as you rev hard
Riding it regularly for a whole month, the Yamaha FZ25 definitely has a few browny points but has it has a fair share of not-so-appealing things too. Like the brakes perform decently well but they end up locking the tyres under hard braking. It is not much of a trouble but the fact that the FZ25 needs ABS is pretty obvious. However, on daily riding conditions, the braking feedback is just about adequate. Sane riding and you might not complain about the need for ABS but it’s a necessity in our Indian riding conditions, especially in the rains.
Better tyre options would be even more confidence inspiring
The tyres on the other hand act in a distinctive manner. They grip really well in the dry and go berserk in the wet or even with a little muck or gravel. The 100 section front is pretty good considering it handles all the braking, the rear, however, is a slide ready tyre as soon as you hit the dirt. Although the tyres have been fairly supportive, having stickier rubber is always a better option. The life of these tyres has been commendable, the tread wear hasn’t been drastic which is really good.
LED lights look good but don’t lit the road as much
Yamaha FZ25 Service Details
1. Free Service Schedule – (whichever is earlier)
* 1st Free Service – 1000 kms/60 days
* 2nd Free Service – 5000 kms/180 days
* 3rd Free Service – 10000 kms/360 days
2. Paid Service Schedule – 5000 kms/180 days (whichever is earlier)
* Yamaha offers bonus service after every paid service for regular checkups.
3. Cost of Spares –
* Engine Oil Per Service – Rs. 440/- (1.3-litres)
* Air Filter – Rs. 411/-
* Oil Filter – Rs. 159/-
* Brake Pads (Front) – Rs. 803/-
* Brake Pads (Rear) – Rs. 1301/-
* Chain Lube – Rs. 200/-
* Consumables – Rs. 50/-
(all costs above are inclusive of taxes)
Perfect size handlebar and a muscular tank, a rider POV of the FZ25
The suspension setup is also compliant for Indian roads and yes, it’s very well tuned for handling bumps and irregular surfaces. But in the first month itself, I felt that the suspension is more suited only for a single rider. With a pillion, it gets a little too soft and bouncy when it comes to riding over rumblers or multiple speed-breakers. In regular intervals, I have got myself a pillion on the FZ25. Someone either from my family or from the MotorBeam team and they have never complained about comfort, ever!
Rear suspension is very well suited for solo riding
It’s been just four months and there are a few issues that the FZ25 has like the LED headlight is not strong enough and the brakes and tyres need better options. But it has its own set of perks, like the seating comfort and ergonomics are spot on. Engine performance is adequate enough for a 250cc motorcycle and the mileage is surprisingly good with a decent tank range too. This Yamaha is a durable and dependable motorcycle to ride.
Tyre hugger is right there but the tyre splashes all over your back
What’s Cool
* The 250cc engine – fun, frugal and fantastic
* Ergonomics are spot on, pillion stays comfortable too
* Manoeuvring through traffic is a breeze, handlebar feels really light
* The FZ25 gets a decent tank range which is capable for mile-munching
What’s Not So Cool
* Stock tyres don’t do justice to the motorcycle
* LED headlight doesn’t illuminate just as good
* Switchgear quality isn’t the best, becomes unresponsive during heavy rains
* Brakes are decent but ABS is lacking and thoroughly missed in rainy conditions
Testers’ Note:
Further Reading –
Yamaha FZ25 Road Test Review
Duke 250 vs Yamaha FZ25 vs Apache 200 vs Pulsar NS 200 – Shootout