Yamaha FZ1

It's a great idea: Take the powerplant and lessons from the most-successful semi-production racer in recent years - Yamaha's R1 - and turn it into a streetbike with attitude.

The FZ1 may turn out to be a non-event in sales, though we at AllMoto hope it succeeds. Why? Because it adds up to a sports motorcycle that is both user and track-friendly.

It doesn't have the monster grunt that the one-litre powerplant designation would imply, and is a bit ordinary in the low-to-middle-range power stakes. The engine reveals its racer heritage by being best towards the upper third of the rev-range, when it really gets up and fires.

Where it works, though, is as a naked - or semi-naked - sport bike with far better than average tarmac manners. Steering is sharp, cornering clearance beyond criticism, and suspension response far beyond the norm. Then there's the brakes - the four-piston 'monobloc' set that's been on hi-po Yams for a while now - which are among the best in the business. Very good feel with lots of power.

The handlebar/control set is well thought-out, as is the tiny fairing which does a lot more to relieve high-speed wind-blast than looks would suggest.

Tall people will find they're sacrificing legroom for cornering clearance - which is fine - while the seat feels as though it will test your patience on long rides. Forget carrying a pillion long-term, it's simply not set up for it.

Finish is okay, but nothing to write home about. Buy it as a clever and super-fast sports bike that doesn't require a racer stance to be effective.

Story: Guy Allen