Yamaha FZ1 - Best Used Bikes

Years sold: 2001-present

MSRP new: $8499 (1999)

Blue Book retail value: $4100

Basic specs: An everyday-comfortable machine with standard-bike ergonomics and a stylish quarter-fairing. It's powered by a 998cc, liquid-cooled, dohc inline-Four engine sourced from the mighty YZF-R1, though slightly retuned for sharper midrange performance. On the CW dyno, it managed an impressive 125 hp at 9800 rpm and screamed down the quarter-mile at 10.62 seconds and 130 mph.

Why it won: Yamaha didn't just hit a home run with the FZ1, it socked a grand slam! For once, a manufacturer built a standard-style model around a sportbike engine and didn't dumb it down by sapping most of its exciting performance. That resulted in the FZ1 being about as entertaining as two wheels and an engine can get. So much so, in fact, that although the "Fizzy One" easily could have won the Best Standard category in 2001, we gave it the props it deserved and voted it Best Open-Class Streetbike.

From the Ten Best story: "If you insist on using the term 'standard' to define the FZ1, make sure it's in reference to the new ones it sets."

Useful resources: Lots of information regarding these bikes is available on the Internet, not the least of which is a site for the FZ1 Owners Association (www.yamahafz1oa.com). Worldwide, the FZ1 (called the Fazer in most other markets) is very popular, which has given rise to countless sites devoted to the sales, service and modification of these fast, fun machines.