Faults:

The exhaust valve becomes coked up and seizes, triggering warning lights on the dashboard.

Filters and airbox are prone to choking if the airbox or injectors become dirty.

The stator broke because the rotor magnets came loose, requiring a complete replacement.

Minor oil leaks on the rear shock absorber.

General Comments:

In addition to being a sports bike, and rightly so, it also possesses the capabilities of a sport-tourer and an urban bike, with a distinctive touch of a "muscle bike" and a machine designed to turn heads.

The suspension, combined with the wide handlebars, ensures an exciting riding experience. It is hard to find fault with the Fazer; it corners with ease and handles well, provided it is fitted with the right tires.

It also features excellent brakes and absorbs bumps smoothly.

The engine is everything I expected and more. It has incredible power above 5,000 rpm, becoming explosive past 8,000 rpm.

There is a bit of a flat spot around 3,000–4,000 rpm and a slight jerk when quickly opening and closing the throttle above 5,000 rpm, but you get used to it, and it’s no worse than on other bikes I’ve ridden. The lower gears are short, allowing for rapid acceleration if you aren't careful (you can easily hit high speeds before you realize it) but then again, this is a 1,000cc bike. Overall, I’m happy with the performance and don’t feel the need for anything more for daily riding.

I haven't had a single problem since I bought it. Yamaha's build quality is excellent; even for its age, it looks like a brand-new showroom model.

As for reliability, issues with this bike are very rare; damage from an accident or theft is more likely to occur.

A downside worth noting is that the brackets and screws wear out very quickly.

The seat isn't all that comfortable, and the reduced range doesn't help its long-distance capability. Nevertheless, it remains a comfortable and well-equipped motorcycle. There are many official Yamaha accessories available, such as hard side cases, crash protectors, an immobilizer system, lower fairings, and a belly pan.

Overall, I’d say it’s a fantastic bike in every respect, even though it consumes quite a bit of fuel.

It’s fast and fun; it might not have a lot of features, but if I wanted that, I’d be better off buying a touring bike.

Faults:

Fell over into the gas pump while dismounting, because I did not make sure the side stand was down, as the spring had pulled it back up. The side stand is small, and is at times difficult to find until you become used to it. I always check it now before dismounting.

General Comments:

Fit and finish, looks, and overall appearance give the impression that this is a machine with bolts and nuts, not a toy wrapped in plastic parts.

My father once said, keep the wind at your back, and with this bike my response is simply that, I AM the wind.

It is an older man's sports bike, in that it pulls, yet you are not going to need corrective surgery on your back and wrists.

The bars are very responsive, and the bike handles much like something much smaller.

Probably one of the more versatile bikes you can buy, and the lower price than that of full on sport bikes gives it more appeal to those on a budget.

I have an aftermarket gel seat, and this has aided in increasing the touring range due to discomfort experienced on the stock seat after 200 kms or so.

The motor is smooth, and the power is there, no matter where the needle in the tach is pointed, quite linear in its delivery.

Acceleration is there, just merging onto a highway from a ramp I have often found myself at foolhardy speeds without realizing just how fast I was going. So I don't recommend this bike to a first time or novice rider.