Yamaha FZ25: Pros, Cons And Should You Buy It?

We help you find out what works and what doesn’t work in favour of the Yamaha FZ25

It seems like ages since Yamaha launched the FZ25. The motorcycle was pitched as a step-up from the 150cc sporty commuter motorcycles like the FZ-S Fi. When launched, it only had to deal with the KTM 250 Duke but both motorcycles catered to different audiences. Three years into its existence, the FZ25 continues to be a strong player in the 250cc class. So should you still go for the bike considering that it has more exotic and sportier rivals now?  

Pros:

Comfortable ergonomics:

When it comes to everyday usability, the FZ25 outperforms its rivals by a fair margin. The FZ25 has a seat height of 795mm, making it easy for shorter riders to plant their feet on the ground at standstill. The seat is flat and wide making quite easy for the riders to remain in the saddle for a long time. 

It has a strong mid-range:

The Yamaha FZ25 is powered by a 249cc air-cooled motor, which belts out 20.9PS and 20Nm of torque, which is the lowest when compared to its rivals. But the FZ has a strong, meaty mid-range, which helps it give a slight edge over its rivals. In our roll-on acceleration test, the FZ25 did 40kmph to 80kmph in 4th gear in 5.93 seconds, which is 0.16 seconds faster than the KTM 250 Duke! Even in our fuel efficiency test, the FZ25 outperformed its rivals by a significant margin. It returned 45.6kmpl in the city, which is around 4kmpl more than the Gixxer 250 and the KTM 250 Duke.

Solid braking performance: 

One of the highlights on the FZ25 has to be its braking setup. Disc brakes at both the ends do a great job of stopping this 152kg motorcycle. And even in our braking test of the non-ABS version, the FZ25 outshines its competitors by a huge margin. The FZ25 did the 80kmph-0 test in just 30.02m. In comparison, the KTM 250 Duke did the same test in 33.95m and the Gixxer 250 at 36.91m. 

Cons:

Engine runs out of breath very quickly:

The FZ25’s motor produces a significantly less power compared to its rivals; it’s 4.9PS less than the Gixxer 250 and a whopping 9PS less compared to the KTM 250 Duke. This motor’s main focus is to extract more fuel efficiency than its competitors rather than being punchy. The lack of better top-end grunt and the fact that it has no 6th gear makes it quite difficult for the FZ25 to gather speed.  

It offers poor illumination:

Although the FZ25 comes equipped with an LED headlamp, it isn’t the best unit out there. It lacks intensity as well as spread, forcing you to strain your eyes in low light situations. 

Build quality:

There’s a huge difference in quality compared to the current crop of Yamahas and what the company used to produce a couple of years ago. It seems like in a quest to cut down costs, the build quality of the FZ25 has taken a massive hit. 

Should you buy one: Maybe

If you are upgrading from a 150cc motorcycle and wish that you do not lose out too much on practicality and sensibility, then the FZ25 makes good sense. Its punchy motor and upright ergos mean you will have no complaints from your commutes. Also, it will save you a lot of money if you are planning on running it only in the city. Add weekend thrills as well as highway functionality into the mix and the FZ25 falters. You would be better off spending a bit more and buying the Suzuki Gixxer 250.