Yamaha announced today that it will be importing its sporty FZ8 naked sportster to the U.S. for 2011.
The fuel-injected, 779cc, alloy perimeter-framed four-cylinder has been on sale in Europe since last year, and it's being touted as a compromise between the less-powerful 600cc middleweights and the bigger literbikes like Yamaha's R1-based FZ1 and Kawasaki's Z1000.
The FZ8 actually has much in common with the FZ1. Its engine – six-point mounted as a stressed, chassis-reinforcing member – shares the same 53.6mm stroke, but its bore size is 9mm smaller, at 68mm, instead of 77mm as found on the FZ1.
The FZ8's 464-lb curb weight comes in at mere 23 lbs under its 487-lb liter-sized big brother. Part of the weight savings is nothing more than a slight loss of fuel capacity, as its 4.5 gallon fuel capacity is about one quart less than the FZ1's.
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2011 Yamaha FZ8 coming to the U.S. on Motorcycle.com
2011 Yamaha FZ8 coming to the U.S.
