Early Release 2016 Yamahas and Stars | FIRST LOOK

Yamaha and Star Motorcycles have announced early release information on three bikes selling so well that it's time for the 2016s already. Put simply, the elemental Star Bolt, super-cute Yamaha FZ-07, and genre-busting FZ-09 are returning next year with new colors but no change in price.

Star’s 942cc Bolt—in standard and slightly upmarket R-Spec—return with no mechanical changes but wearing new colors. Dubbed the “urban performance bobber,” the basic Bolt will be available in Raven and Deep Blue for the same $7,990 as the ’15 model. Adding reservoir shocks and altered graphics, the R-Spec will be available in Stone Gray and Rapid Red. MSRP remains $8,390. Both will begin arriving in August.

Yamaha’s two hot-selling naked bikes, the FZ-09 and FZ-07, remain in the lineup as 2016 models—as you’d well expect, considering they were the second- and forth-best selling bikes in Yamaha’s lineup last year. In fact, Yamaha’s spokesman pointed out that the FZ-07’s ranking was doubly impressive considering it wasn’t even on sale for the full year. It’s expected to overhaul the FZ-09 for the number-two ranking in sales. (And number one? The YZF-R6.)

No mechanical changes for the FZs, just new colors. An 847cc triple continues to enliven the FZ-09, benefitting from updated fueling for the ’15 model year, while the 07 continues on with its charismatic, 270-degree-crank 689cc parallel twin. As before, the 09 gets a pressure-cast aluminum frame while the smaller bike rolls on a steel-tube backbone. The 07 gets Raven or Matte Silver (with a purplish blue frame segment and wheels) for the same $6,990. Impact Blue and Raven are the color choices for the 2016 FZ-09, carrying an MSRP of $8,190. The FZ-07 will be available beginning in August and the FZ-09 will hit showrooms beginning in September.

Although we half expected to see the FZs offered with optional ABS for 2016, that has yet to be announced. What’s more, details on the 2016 Bolt C-Spec will be released this fall. We also don’t know which of Yamaha’s more, ah, mature models—like the FZ1 and FZ6R—will live to see 2016.