FJ-09 First Review

[greg the pole]

Nobody builds a good functional skid-plate yet... my FJ belly is currently bare and I would like something along the lines of the Super Altrider plate. The SW Motech belly pan is a bit like a bug spoiler.

very true. It's mostly for show, and case mounted.

 

[Big Blu]

Yamaha calls the FJ 09 a Supersport tourer, not a dirt bike or adventurer. Sure, any bike can be ridden in almost any environment but single track or hard dual sport is not it's intended use. The available skid plates should be adequate for the Supersport tourer with occasional gravel road excursions. Other bike are best suit a more challenging environment so rather then a more robust skid plate maybe add a DR or something similar to the stable.

Paul

 

[troll]

Other bike are best suit a more challenging environment so rather then a more robust skid plate maybe add a DR or something similar to the stable.

Paul

You should ride in the north for a few seasons... If you want to get off the Alaska Hwy at all it is valuable to have a functional skid plate. Our secondary roads can be pretty rough at times... a bit more than occasional gravel roads. I use a little 300lb trail bike for off road. ::26:: ::26::

 

[SAL]

I've test ridden the FJ-09 and I've got to say I really liked it. The engine was great, acceleration felt very linear regardless of the mode, the suspension was adequate ... not great but adequate (just like my old WeeStrom) and the ergonomics were really excellent. For my long legs (34" inseam) it was almost identical to my 2006 Wee and much better than the new VeeStrom.

My only negative comment, and it solely a matter of preference, is that it is chain drive. Which is what I hated about the Wee. But I need something in the garage to keep my S10 company and keep waffling between it and another Wee or Vee ... with a peg lowering kit to bring the angles almost back to the older models.

But man I do love triples. If only it was belt drive like the BMW F800GT. I would own it right now.

 

[Donk]

I've test ridden the FJ-09 and I've got to say I really liked it. The engine was great, acceleration felt very linear regardless of the mode, the suspension was adequate ... not great but adequate (just like my old WeeStrom) and the ergonomics were really excellent. For my long legs (34" inseam) it was almost identical to my 2006 Wee and much better than the new VeeStrom.

My only negative comment, and it solely a matter of preference, is that it is chain drive. Which is what I hated about the Wee. But I need something in the garage to keep my S10 company and keep waffling between it and another Wee or Vee ... with a peg lowering kit to bring the angles almost back to the older models.

But man I do love triples. If only it was belt drive like the BMW F800GT. I would own it right now.

Don't sweat it, modern chains are hassle free and if you use the right chain lube things stay pretty clean.

 

[JRE]

I'm finally going to get to test ride one of these in a few weeks when the Yamaha demo truck is here in town. At some point, I'm probably going to get a second bike and this is a candidate. As much as I love the Tenere, sometimes I miss the hard acceleration of a more sport oriented bike.

 

[VRODE]

Demo'd one. Suspension wasn't terrible. Ergonomics were similar to my Gen1 FZ1(w/bar risers). Great, great motor. Fueling was excellent I thought. Light and very sweet handling. And I believe it's a great value at the price.
But in the end it's just too much like what I have now to make me want to pull the trigger. The Tenere I demo'd was the comfy, competent ride I'm looking for. And I was happy enough with the torquey motor.

 

[groundhog]

I bought one new back in March and a month later took it back (losing money) and got my S10. The FJ/MT09 has a great motor and a lovely sound, particularly with the Akropovic, but I found the suspension very harsh, the fuelling was bad and the seat felt like a plank of wood. All a matter of opinion of course but overall I didn't like it. It was trying to be too many things. In comparison I found the S10 does exactly what it's designed for and does it fantastically well !

 

[greg the pole]

my $.02 and my only.

Yamaha has fixed the fuelling and suspension problems first noticed on the FZ09 (their words).

My take. The price is right, but...it feels a bit rough around the edges. The tenere display was made for the tenere, not an fz/fj09.
the rear passenger handles look like they are made out of pig iron, ugly as sin.

Yes it will be plenty fast, and will handle ok (the lack of full adjustment is worrying,
Yamaha stated that they increased spring pre load, and added more rebound or some such thing)
The slightly bigger tank will give you more than 200km before you're pushing (ask me how I know)

But after seeing one at the show, and sitting on it, it basically feels like a tenere, except you can't take it off road. the motor is stupendous (again ask)
but it would not be the bike for me. It's like having two tenere's. One with a Super Sport switch, that can't go off road, and a proper tenere.

for me..a tenere and an FZ07 is the anwser.

well apparently a tenere and an FJ-09 is the anwser. ::025::
After ownign the little 7 for less than a year, I traded it in on the FJ09.
Fantastic motor, and the intake howl on A mode...magic.
Suspension and fuelling are worlds better than the FZ/MT-09, and the fairing makes this bike ridable for more than 250km in one go.
Oh, fuel tank...is great. 300km in town, and I'm pushing, far better than 200km and pushing.

only 1500km so far. will report back in detail over winter.