2023 Yamaha FZ-X Review

It was the first ‘crossover’ attempt from Yamaha in the premium commuter segment, it had its quirks, especially with regards to its design and it has been updated for 2023. We are talking about the Yamaha FZ-X, which now gets few extra features and a new colour.

2023 Yamaha FZ-X Updates

We rode the motorcycle in the royal and majestic city of Jaipur! Now by the look of it, the motorcycle doesn’t seem to get too many updates and that’s because most of the updates are under the skin! So, we will tell you how the motorcycle rides and what are the updates!

(The Dark Matte Blue, with Gold rims is new for 2023)

So, let us quickly tell you about the changes that the 2023 Yamaha FZ-X gets. To begin with colour that you see here, Dark Matte Blue with gold rims, it is brand new and it definitely stands out! Plus, the indicator lamps are now LED, which means the bike gets full LED lighting. Lastly, there’s also switchable traction control offered as standard.

(Traction control now offered as standard with the FZ-X. It is a rudimentary system though)

The big question is whether a 150 cc motorcycle needs traction control or not? For such a bike with a frugal power and torque output, which will be mostly used as a daily runabout on city roads, it may be an overkill. A better option would have been to provide dual-channel ABS instead. The traction control system itself is rudimentary, considering there is no ride-by-wire. It works with the help of a sensor that looks very similar to an ABS sensor, on the rear wheel.

(The traction control works on the rear wheel with the help of a sensor. ABS only on the front wheel)

2023 Yamaha FZ-X Performance

The engine on the motorcycle is RDE compliant, so it meets the latest emission norms and the urban chaos, that’s where the FZ-X thrives. The specs may not make for the best of reading, it may not be the best in the segment, but the urban chaos, the intra-city dashes, your daily commutes, the FZ-X takes care of all of that really, really nicely. 

(Engine is now E20 and RDE compliant. Specifications stay the same as before)

The ergonomics are really comfortable and there is enough performance and enough juice in the engine for daily commutes, for tacking all that heavy duty traffic and most importantly, the ride quality is comfortable even over broken patches of road. As far as its handling is concerned, the FZ-X feels light and nimble and can be easily navigated in all sorts of urban situations.

(The motorcycle offers decent performance and can easily take on the urban chaos)

But there are a couple of negatives! Firstly, the instrument cluster does not have a gear position indicator and secondly, the sweet spot of this motorcycle is between 75 to 80 kmph. After that the engine starts getting really, really, vibey. That means the motorcycle is perfect for urban commutes but if you want to take the motorcycle on long highway rides, it is not the best idea that you will have. 

2023 Yamaha FZ-X Design & Features

(Design stays the same as before)

In terms of design, the FZ-X stays the same as before, with no changes at all. The neo-retro style, coupled with a dash of scrambler-like elements and a hint of ADV flavouring is unique, but it still divides opinion. That said, the audience may have a divided opinion, but the bike does have a lot of takers.

(Indicator lamps are now LED, which means the bike gets now gets full LED lighting)

The bike does get Yamaha’s Y-Connect app which offers features like missed call alerts, SMS alerts, but doesn't offer turn-by-turn navigation. Other features on the app include parking locator, fuel consumption figures, battery health and malfunction alerts, as well as service reminders. 

2023 Yamaha FZ-X Verdict

(Pricing sits between 150 and 200 cc motorcycles. Buyers can be tempted to pay just a little bit more and get a 200 cc model)

At Rs. 1.37 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the FZ-X, with its price, sits between 150 and 200 cc models, with the former being more affordable and the latter being more performance oriented. So, the FZ-X may not be the first option you look at when you are considering a 150-200 cc bike. but having said that if you are looking for a good, solid commuter with a bit of character and uniqueness, look no further than the Yamaha FZ-X.