FZ09 in the flesh.

[greg the pole]

so I went down to the local dealer today, to have a look at a red fz09.
The new owner was there, so had a quick look around at the bike.

It looks better in person than on the pictures. Nicely finished, the swing arm, the muffler, and the headlight unit is well done.
no real apparent cost cutting measures.

I swung a leg over the bike...and...It feels light, very light, great leg room, and a very decent reach to the bars. Feels natural.
One thing...the front end feels squidgy, and will need looking into if ridden as intended. Right leg has rebound dampening, and preload. Left leg has preload, and not sure about the compression dampening at the bottom (didn't look)

I honestly think this will give triumph a run for its money. It looks good, comfortable, and will go like the clappers.
But seriously....why no ABS as an option? The French get theirs, bare bones, or for $300 euros you can have it with ABS.

So let's hear from the proud new FZ09 owners...

 

[JaimeV]

My dealer has a demo one.
I was looking at it in the shop and as you say it's nicer than in the pictures. I will try it as it seems this could be the engine for a new adventure bike.
My only concern is the bottom engine looks very wide for an off road bike, but at least the oil filter is in a better place than in the ST1200.

 

[hANNAbONE]

paging pHILLIPPE' - to the white courtesy phone in the lobby.

 

[Yamaguy55]

I posted up in the Stoltec thread. The FZ-09 looks to be a real winner. I want to see what gets relased this week at AIMExpo.

 

[Rasher]

The FZ-09 looks to be a real winner.

Getting good first reviews in UK press, but.....

No weather protection and a tiny tank will rule it out for anyone other than weekend warriors who rarely get beyond their own post (zip) code.

Give it longer travel suspension, a bigger tank and some weather protection (top fairing plus screen) and you have the basis of a great do-it-all bike in the mould of the TDM, and I would be very interested in one as the "Mrs" next bike

For proper off-road I would still want a single / twin as this (like the Triumph) packs peak power up around 10,000 rpm, I can't see milder cams and different mapping turning making the required difference, IMO if they want to stick to the triple format they need to build a longer stroke version for an ADV bike, there is certainly a place in the market for an 800GS competitor, but it needs to be built for the job, rather than created by a Yamaha trainee rummaging through parts bins.

 

[NittanyXT]

Ive had mine for a little over a week now and have 700 miles on it. Make no mistake, this is a certified hooligan bike! Fells like a motard with normal streetbike suspension travel. Gobs of torque at any rpm, wheelies on demand easily,a threat to my DL. Brings out the 18 year old in me. Got this for a day tripper, back road scratcher. It will need some suspension work as anything above 7/10s pace it gets a little squirrely, but that was expected at this price point. Planned mods are few, looking forward to what Stoltec comes up with. Effective range is 110-125 miles before reserve depending on right wrist, I tend to be on the low side! >

 

[avc8130]

Ive had mine for a little over a week now and have 700 miles on it. Make no mistake, this is a certified hooligan bike! Fells like a motard with normal streetbike suspension travel. Gobs of torque at any rpm, wheelies on demand easily,a threat to my DL. Brings out the 18 year old in me. Got this for a day tripper, back road scratcher. It will need some suspension work as anything above 7/10s pace it gets a little squirrely, but that was expected at this price point. Planned mods are few, looking forward to what Stoltec comes up with. Effective range is 110-125 miles before reserve depending on right wrist, I tend to be on the low side! >

I had a very similar opinion when I rode Stoltec's development mule.

You know where to go for that suspension...


ac

 

[NittanyXT]

Nick will get more of my money! His work on the Tenere totally transformed the bike. Just have wait on Penske!

 

[greg the pole]

Ive had mine for a little over a week now and have 700 miles on it. Make no mistake, this is a certified hooligan bike! Fells like a motard with normal streetbike suspension travel. Gobs of torque at any rpm, wheelies on demand easily,a threat to my DL. Brings out the 18 year old in me. Got this for a day tripper, back road scratcher. It will need some suspension work as anything above 7/10s pace it gets a little squirrely, but that was expected at this price point. Planned mods are few, looking forward to what Stoltec comes up with. Effective range is 110-125 miles before reserve depending on right wrist, I tend to be on the low side! >

MOAR pictures please!!
This is the exact same color I would spring for. How is the wind management (or lack of) I know it's a naked, and I only sat on a stationary one, so cannot comment.
Did the dealer basically sell it to you for msrp plus taxes? I'm asking, since Yamaha Canada has offered a $200 discount on all FZ9's.
Regarding the suspension...If I do buy it (very likely) I will spend a season riding it, and see what it needs, then get a hold of Nick.

waiting for pictures

 

[NittanyXT]

Greg, Wind management is typical naked, clean air around helmet, at 85+mph it gets a bit much. I look at it as a built in speed limiter! I have a VERY good relationship with my local dealer, he ordered mine without a deposit, we never talked price, and I was OTD with taxes and tags under MSRP. Happy camper indeed! I suspect the suspension will suffice for 70% of riders, however if you like to push it in the curves you'll find it undersprung and underdamped, typical budget suspension bits. I feel the basic chassis is good, needs a little more load on the front which an adj. ride height shock should take care of. As far as top end speed goes I rarely reach 100mph but the 09 will get there at the top of 2nd gear! I'm more of a rail the corners, blast out and roll off kind of rider. This thing LAUNCHES out of corners if the revs are above 6K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and sometimes 4th will carry the front on exit. Tremendous fun!

 

[pqsqac]

I like the 09 but I would love a new V Max man what a ride.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[greg the pole]

Greg, Wind management is typical naked, clean air around helmet, at 85+mph it gets a bit much. I look at it as a built in speed limiter! I have a VERY good relationship with my local dealer, he ordered mine without a deposit, we never talked price, and I was OTD with taxes and tags under MSRP. Happy camper indeed! I suspect the suspension will suffice for 70% of riders, however if you like to push it in the curves you'll find it undersprung and underdamped, typical budget suspension bits. I feel the basic chassis is good, needs a little more load on the front which an adj. ride height shock should take care of. As far as top end speed goes I rarely reach 100mph but the 09 will get there at the top of 2nd gear! I'm more of a rail the corners, blast out and roll off kind of rider. This thing LAUNCHES out of corners if the revs are above 6K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and sometimes 4th will carry the front on exit. Tremendous fun!

Nice!
thanks for that. I'm not that interested in top speed, but rather how the bike works around town, and on involving roads.
Since winter is damn near upon us, I think it would be a waste to order one now. I'm going to let the dust settle, have a proper look at it at the bike show, and probably buy one mid January, for a march delivery. that way it will give me some time to fit my heated grips, plug in for radar detector.

sooooo ::006::

 

[NittanyXT]

Another view, have to wait for some more sunny weather for more!

 

[greg the pole]

sweet! love it.

since you have a good relationship with your dealer, mind asking him if the US market will be getting the ABS model?
both the English, and Frenchists have them available (as I'm guessing the rest of the civilized world)

It wouldn't be a deal breaker, but for an extra $500 I would spring for ABS.

 

[Yamaguy55]

Another view, have to wait for some more sunny weather for more!

Still have your Tenere? We need to meet up again one of these days.

 

[Ramseybella]

How much did you shell out for this baby?

 

[NittanyXT]

Yamaguy, still have the Tenere,its not going anywhere. I did add a DRz400 to the stable along with the FZ. How ya been? Ramsey, OTD under MSRP.

 

[Yamaguy55]

I took today off to spend some time narrowing down my vibration issues with the Tenere, and rode down to my dealer. I picked the destination to also test ride the FZ09. Since they know me, I got in a nice 45 minute solo ride of my choice, in an area I know well.
- It is one very skinny bike. The front end almost doesn't seem like it is there. The engine is everything everyone says it is, maybe more. On the way back, it dawned on me what it reminded me of: one of the 70s era RD350s. It sort of has the same flavor to it, and around 4K, it even somewhat sounds like a two stroke in the intake honk. Very minimalist bike, sort of a super, super motard. the feathery feel is extremely obvious when you ride in on a Tenere, and ride back out on one. There's very little flywheel inertia, so after hopping off the Tenere, it took a bit to adjust to the power delivery. Very nice bike. I can see what they mean about the suspension. It is obvious that they didn't fit Ohlins. However, no matter how much some people watch MotoGP, I'd say it is enough bike for 95% of the riders out there. It is very good on narrow twisty back roads unless they are very rough. When I left to head home on my bike, I took some of the same roads. The same rough sections were handled with ease by the Tenere. I also hopped on the interstate for a few sections to get home quicker. For that kind of riding, the Tenere easily beats the FZ: the wind blast from staying away from trucks would have been very unpleasant on the FZ. It is a back road/suburban commando/city bike and certainly meets those requirements with a wide margin to spare.

All in all, I'd say it is easily worth the price.
I'm waiting to see what comes out in Orlando. The dealership owner was down there and said there are some interesting things he can't reveal yet.

 

[greg the pole]

geez...so we have to wait till the 14th before we drop some money..
When is this Orlando thing happening?

Mind you, from what you wrote, the FZ would fit for what I need it for.
The ST stays, no matter what they come out with...unless its a 900 tenere triple with shaft drive!

 

[Yamaguy55]

geez...so we have to wait till the 14th before we drop some money..
When is this Orlando thing happening?

Mind you, from what you wrote, the FZ would fit for what I need it for.
The ST stays, no matter what they come out with...unless its a 900 tenere triple with shaft drive!

The AIMExpo is going on today through Sunday. Dealers and industry was only until Friday evening, when they let us plebes in. I was going to attend until I found that out.

That new twin with the possible VCT is the one I'm looking for. Kevin Cameron of Cycle World did a photo essay a few months back. At this point, all we know is about 900cc, a twin, and a big bulge in the cam cover at the exhaust cam sprocket location. Could just be auto compression release, but our bikes have that and the cover has no bulge. Maybe they're going to offer a Mini-Me after all, to go up against the BMW 800s.

Time will tell.