Chai, Highways & an FZ-S: Getting My Blue Boy Tour-Ready
Alright, listen up. My ride? A 2017 Yamaha FZ-S, blue, the one they call the “Streetfighter.” It’s got 65,000 km of India on it, from Coorg’s mists to Goa’s beaches. Friends ask, “Is this 150cc enough for travel?” I say, the rider matters more than the CC. But yaavaglu, before you chase a sunset, you gotta prep your steed. This isn’t a checklist; it’s my ritual.
First, The Mindset Shift:
Your bike isn’t just for office commute anymore. It’s now your ghar, your partner, your luggage mule. You have to trust it with your life. So, preparation is puja, not a chore.
The Sacred Pre-Ride “TAP” Check (Do This, Always)
I do this the night before any trip longer than 300km. Call it superstition.
T - Tyres & Tension
Pressure: 32 PSI front, 36 PSI rear (loaded). Not the petrol pump gauge—get a digital one. Soft tyres on hot tarmac are a puncture begging to happen.
Tread: Run your hand over it. If the centre looks balder than my uncle’s head, don’t tour. Replace. I switched to MRF Masseters ages ago—better grip in rain.
Tension: Chain slack. Two fingers of play at the midpoint. A tight chain on a 6-hour ride will murder your sprockets.
A - All the Fluids
Engine Oil: If you’re within 500km of a change, just do it. Fresh oil is cheap peace of mind. I use Yamalube, but Shell Advance is also solid.
Coolant: The FZ-S has a tiny window. Should be between the lines. Top up with distilled water if low, but for a long tour, a full flush is better.
Brake Fluid: Check the reservoir. If it’s dark brown like old chai, it needs changing. Spongy brakes in Ghats are not an experience you want.
P - Podu (Loose) Parts
Grab every bolt you can see—footpegs, handlebar clamps, mirrors, crash guard. A loose bolt on a highway vibrates into another dimension. A basic toolkit with Allen keys and spanners is mandatory.
The “Carry or Cry” Kit
This lives under my seat or in a tail bag:
Puncture Kit: Not just a puncture plug kit. A small, portable 12V compressor. Plug it into the bike’s socket. Fixing a puncture is useless if you can’t fill air in the middle of nowhere.
The Toolkit: The bike’s toolkit is a joke. I have my own: Allen key set, 8-14 spanners, a multi-bit screwdriver, pliers, and a small adjustable spanner.
Spares: One headlight bulb (H4), one indicator bulb, and a clutch cable. A broken clutch cable in a town with no mechanic means you learn to ride without a clutch real fast.
Zip Ties & Duct Tape: The juggad kings. Can hold a broken indicator, a wobbly panel, or a torn bag together for another 200 km.
Packing Like a Pro (The FZ-S is Skinny, Remember?)
Rule 1: Weight high up is your enemy. Keep heavy stuff low in the saddlebags or tank bag.
Rule 2: Waterproof everything. Even if the sky is clear. I use large polythene covers inside my bags. Cheap, 100% effective.
Rule 3: Tank bag for essentials—phone, wallet, power bank, chana. Things you need without stopping.
Rule 4: Bungee cords with hooks. Not ropes. They’re faster, stronger, and won’t slip.
The Human Element (You Are Part of the Machine)
Earplugs: This is my #1 tip nobody talks about. Wind noise at 80kmph for hours will fatigue you faster than the riding. Cheap foam ones are a lifesaver.
Hydration: A hydration pack or a bottle in a tank bag. Sip every 30 minutes. Dehydration leads to bad decisions.
Posture: The FZ-S is sporty. Your wrists and back will talk to you. Every 90 minutes, STOP. Get off. Stretch. Drink water. Look at a tree. This is non-negotiable.
The Real Talk - FZ-S as a Tourer
It’s Brilliant At:
Agility: Filtering through chaotic city traffic to get out of town is a breeze.
Mileage: A consistent 45 kmpl means your wallet doesn’t cry, and you can take detours.
Reliability: It’s a Yamaha. It just works. I’ve never been left stranded.
It’s Not So Brilliant At:
High-Speed Cruising: It’s a vibey affair above 95 kmph. The sweet spot is 70-85 kmph.
Wind Blast: No fairing means you take the wind on your chest. It’s tiring. A small windshield is a worthy investment.
Pillion Comfort: For long tours, your friend will hate you. It’s a single-seat tourer in spirit.
Final Vibe Check
Prepping the FZ-S isn’t about making it something it’s not. It’s about honouring what it is: a brilliantly reliable, fun-sized machine that can take you anywhere a road (and a few non-roads) go, as long as you listen to it.
The connection you build when you check its bolts, clean its chain, and pack its bags—that’s what turns a bike from metal into a companion. You learn its language. A new rattle, a slight pull, a change in engine note.
So, before you pin the throttle towards the horizon, spend an evening with your bike. Have a chai. Go over the TAP check. Pack your kit. That ritual is the first mile of your journey.
Then, just ride. The FZ-S was built for this. And so were you.
Safe kilometres, brother. See you on the road.
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Rahul Sharma 1 month ago
Sir, if every customer followed your TAP, my job would be 50% less. The chain tension is the biggest culprit. People tour with it tight as a drum, then come back with worn sprockets and a howling gearbox. The coolant check is often ignored until the bike overheats in traffic. And the toolkit point—yes! The stock toolkit can't even remove the rear wheel. Your custom kit is what we recommend. You've written the manual Yamaha should provide.
Temjen Ao 1 month ago
Here, the roads are either perfect or don't exist. The FZ's suspension is its limit. I carry a small bottle of fork oil and seal savers in my kit—for those 'non-road' moments. The 'spare bulb' advice is vital. At night, in our hills, a dead headlight is a death sentence. I also carry a small, powerful flashlight. Not for the bike, for me—to see while fixing the bike. And you're right, it's not the CC, it's the rider. I've seen REs struggle where my FZ just tiptoes through.
Shrinivas Reddy 1 month ago
Bhai, the 'sacred pre-ride' ritual is so true. I do mine with a beer. Makes it less chore, more bonding. Your packing rules saved my last trip to Matheran. Kept the heavy toolkit low, used polythene bags—monsoon hit, but my clothes were dry. The 'human element' is everything. I now stop every 90 minutes at a dhaba, not for chai, but to do five minutes of stretches. Game-changer. The wind blast on the Expressway is real; I fitted a Puig windscreen. Looks odd, feels like a blessing.
Amit Saxena 1 month ago
TAP check is gold. I call it 'Nanna Check'—Tyre, Anna (oil), Parts. The earplug advice is divine. After Bengaluru to Goa, my ears would ring for hours until I started using them. And the spare clutch cable! I once snapped one near Chitradurga at sunset. Fixed it under a streetlight with my toolkit. Reached home. That cable in your bag isn't a spare; it's your ticket home. Your point about the FZ not being a highway missile is correct. It's a wise old donkey—steady, reliable, not flashy.