Yamaha FZ8/FAZER8 Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the Yamaha FZ8, also known as the FAZER8 in some markets. It was made between 2010 and 2013, and marketed up to 2015, at which point it was no longer sold.
The Yamaha FZ8 took over from the Yamaha FZ6 and FZ6 FAZER. It comes in a couple of forms — the FZ8N as the naked bike, and the FZ8S as a faired bike. Maintenance is the same for both.
The Yamaha FZ8 is powered by a 779 cc inline four-cylinder engine that makes 79 kW (106 hp) @ 10000 rpm, and 58 Nm (78 lb-ft) of torque at 8000 rpm. So it’s a moderately high-revving bike, but not anywhere near as high a screamer as the previous FZ6.
Because the FZ8’s motor was specifically designed for a naked bike, it has a bit of different character to what you’d get in a full-on four-cylinder sportbike.
The FZ8 was eventually replaced by the three-cylinder Yamaha MT-09.
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Yamaha FZ8 Service Intervals
The service intervals for the Yamaha FZ8 are every 4000 miles or 6 months (US manual) or 10000 km / 12 months (Europe / APAC manuals).
At every service, change the oil and filter, and do a full multi-point inspection check for leaks, lubrication, and general condition of wearable parts.
Change the spark plugs every second service, and do a valve service every 26600 miles (US) / 40000 km (Europe / APAC).
Along the way, keep your fluids (brake fluid, coolant) fresh every 2 years.
Yamaha FZ8 Maintenance Schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Yamaha FZ8.
The maintenance schedule for the Yamaha FZ8 has the same contents as the manul, but it has been reformatted to be more easily read, with some items re-ordered (e.g. oil changes brought to the top).
Notes on the maintenance schedule:
- At the end of the maintenance schedule, keep following it in the pattern shown.
- The break-in service is no longer relevant and has been omitted.
- The US maintenance schedule has 4000 mile intervals, and the European manual shows much the same items with 10000 km intervals. See here for more discussion on how US and European maintenance schedules for Yamaha manuals differ.
Yamaha FZ8 — US maintenance schedule
Below is the US maintenance schedule for the Yamaha FZ-8. It has 4000-mile service intervals.
| Miles x 1000 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | Every |
| Change engine oil — use Yamalube 10W-40 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Replace engine oil filter — use HF204RC | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Check condition of spark plugs Adjust gap and clean. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Replace spark plugs (NGK CR9E) | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Check and adjust valve clearance when engine is cold | 26 600 mi | |||||
| Replace air filter. (YA-1006) | 24 000 mi, or more often if riding in dust/wet. | |||||
| Check fuel hoses for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check crankcase breather hose for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check and adjust engine idle speed and throttle body synchronization. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check exhaust system for leakage. Tighten and / or replace gasket(s) if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check evaporative control system for damage Replace if necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Check the air induction cut-off valve, reed valve, and hose for damage. Replace any damaged parts. | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Check clutch operation. Adjust or replace cable. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check front brake operation, fluid level, and for leaks. Replace brake pads if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check rear brake operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. Replace brake pads if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check brake hoses for cracks or damage. Check for correct routing and clamping. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Change brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4) and all rubber parts of brake master cylinder and calipers | 2 years | |||||
| Replace brake hoses | 4 years | |||||
| Check wheel runout and for damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check tyre tread depth and for damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check wheel bearings for smooth operation. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check swingarm pivot bearing assemblies for looseness. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check drive chain slack/ alignment and condition. Adjust and lubricate chain (Motul chain paste) | 500 mi, or after riding in wet | |||||
| Check steering bearing assemblies for looseness. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Moderately repack steering bearings with lithium-soap-based grease. | ✓ | |||||
| Check all chassis fittings and fasteners. Correct if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lubricate brake lever pivot shaft with silicone grease lightly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lubricate brake pedal, clutch lever, and shift pedal pivot shafts with lithium soap-based grease lightly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check sidestand pivot operation. Apply lithium soap-based grease lightly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check sidestand switch operation and replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check front fork operation and for oil leakage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check shock absorber operation and for oil leakage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check rear suspension link pivot operation. Correct if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Check cooling system hoses for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Change coolant with ethylene glycol-based coolant | 2 years | |||||
| Check front and rear brake switch operation. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lubricate control cables thoroughly (use Protect All Cable Life) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check throttle grip operation. Check throttle grip free play, and adjust if necessary. Lubricate cable and grip housing. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check lights, signals, and switches operation. * Adjust headlight beam. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Yamaha FZ8 — Europe/Australia/NZ/Asia maintenance schedule (km)
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Yamaha FZ8 seen in manuals in Asia, Europe, and Australia/NZ. It’s in kilometers, and intervals are a little different.
| Km x 1000 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | Every |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change engine oil — use Yamalube 10W-40 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Replace engine oil filter — use HF204RC | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Check condition of spark plugs. Adjust gap and clean. | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Replace spark plugs (NGK CR9E) | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Check and adjust valve clearance when engine is cold | ✓ | 40000 km | |||
| Replace air filter (YA-1006) | ✓ | 40000 km, or more often if riding in dust/wet. | |||
| Check fuel hoses for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check and adjust engine idle speed and synchronization. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check muffler screw clamps for looseness. Tighten as necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the air induction cut-off valve, reed valve, and hose for damage. Replace any damaged parts. | ✓ | ||||
| Check clutch operation. Adjust or replace cable. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check front brake operation, fluid level, and for leaks. Replace brake pads if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check rear brake operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. Replace brake pads if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check brake hoses for cracks or damage. Check for correct routing and clamping. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Change brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4) and all rubber parts of brake master cylinder and calipers | 2 years | ||||
| Replace brake hoses | 4 years | ||||
| Check wheel runout and for damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check tyre tread depth and for damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check wheel bearings for smooth operation. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check swingarm pivot bearing assemblies for looseness. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check drive chain slack/ alignment and condition. Adjust and lubricate chain (Motul chain paste) | 1000 km, or after riding in wet or washing bike | ||||
| Check steering bearing assemblies for looseness. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Moderately repack steering bearings with lithium-soap-based grease. | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Check all chassis fittings and fasteners. Correct if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Lubricate brake lever pivot shaft with silicone grease lightly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Lubricate brake pedal, clutch lever, and shift pedal pivot shafts with lithium soap-based grease lightly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check sidestand pivot operation. Apply lithium soap-based grease lightly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check sidestand switch operation and replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check front fork operation and for oil leakage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check shock absorber operation and for oil leakage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check rear suspension link pivot operation. Correct if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Check cooling system hoses for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Change coolant with ethylene glycol-based coolant | 3 years | ||||
| Check front and rear brake switch operation. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Lubricate moving parts and cables (use Protect All Cable Life) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check throttle grip operation. Check throttle grip free play, and adjust if necessary. Lubricate cable and grip housing. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check lights, signals, and switches operation. Adjust headlight beam. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
About the Yamaha FZ8
The Yamaha FZ8 or FAZER8 is one of Yamaha’s series of standard sportbikes, powered by four-cylinder (or in later years three-cylinder, with the FZ-09) engines.
The Yamaha FZ8 is a more powerful but also heavier replacement for the Yamaha FZ6, which was based on a YZF-R6 engine. The FZ8’s engine never appeared in a fairing-clad sportbike.
The FZ8 was Yamaha’s first answer to the question: how can we build a middleweight motorcycle that’s fun to ride and doesn’t feel like a superbike motor (even if “detuned”) in an upright chassis?
Unlike the FZ6, which has an R6 engine tuned for street use, the FZ8 has an engine from the already-in-production FZ1, but with reduced bore, bringing capacity down to 779cc. The aluminium frame and swingarm are also from the FZ1.
The result is a lower-power FZ1 but with a chassis and engine that’s much the same weight. The second-generation fuel-injected FZ1 weighs 220kg, and the Yamaha FZ8 weighs 212 kg (both wet). So it left a lot of reviewers asking: why?
Well, the answer is because the FZ8 is still a lot of motorcycle for most people. Reviewers got it from 0-100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds — which is faster than most supercars, and as fast as most mid-capacity bikes.
Additionally, because the Yamaha FZ8 is more tuned for midrange torque rather than top-end power (of which it still has plenty!), the FZ8 is just a lot more suitable for riding in that sweet spot of fun between 60 and 160 km/h, where most people live (and rarely even at the top end of that).
The FZ8 came with optional ABS, and the FAZER8 came with it standard.
The FZ8 got an update in its chassis in 2013 that means that frankly, if you have a choice, the 2013+ FZ8 is a much better proposition.
The 2010-2012 Yamaha FZ8 had non-adjustable front forks, and rear suspension that was only preload adjustable. But in 2013 (in most markets, though not all), the FZ8 got an adjustable front fork (letting you set preload, rebound damping, and compression damping), and a better exhaust can to boot, plus a preload and compression damping adjustable rear shock which also came with a stiffer spring.
The Yamaha FZ8 sold reasonably well, though nowhere near as well as the inline triple that replaced it in the Yamaha FZ-09 or MT-09.
Manual for the Yamaha FZ8
The above information was gleaned from the owner’s manual for the Yamaha FZ8.
You can download it from Yamaha’s website here.
