Yamaha FZ16 V3 SPIED testing: Launch soon! [Video]

Yamaha had updated its popular R15 bike some time back and since then, we have been expecting the company to update the FZ too. The muscular naked 150 cc FZ range was a good seller but due to rising competition, has lost some of its sheen. The current generation model was updated about in 2014, which is about four years from now. Now for the first time, the third generation of the motorcycle was spotted testing by YouTuber Saurabh_Vlog.

The video below reveals the changes and updates made on the bike and gives a good picture of how the production ready version will look.

As for the visual changes,  we can see a new muscular tank along with redesigned air scoops. The new FZ, in all probability, will sport a LED headlamp unit. Talking of which, the headlamp unit now seems to be placed lower as is the norm with the current lot of naked bikes. The headlamps will sport a similar housing as found on the bigger FZ25. However, some changes like a pilot lamp among others are evident on the bike from its bigger sibling. The instrument cluster will also be updated and will be larger than the sleek unit found on the outgoing model. Other changes which match their profile with the FZ25 are the exhaust canister along with the silver heat shield on it.

The rear design seems to be the same as on the outgoing model, though the final production version may carry some changes. The large tyre hugger along with pointed tail light are the same as found on the current FZ. Then there are a set of new alloy wheels which seem to have been taken from the new R15 (V3). There is a rear disc brake on the test mule and the bike will be equipped with ABS upfront, however, it is not yet confirmed whether it will be a dual channel system or a single channel one. Going by the current market trend of equipping less displacement bikes with single channel ABS, the FZ will also probably get a single channel unit.

The FZ is a very sweet handling bike with an able chassis. However, one of the major improvement buyers wanted was a slight bump in power, which would make the bike a much better product. With this update, we expect the company to do the same and also tune power delivery. About the launch, there is no specific date as of yet confirmed by the company. However, word has it that Yamaha can launch the new FZ in the second half of January next year. If that is true, then Yamaha fans are in for another good bike by the Japanese manufacturer.