FJ-09 First Review

fredz43

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Reveille said:
Fred, that bike is sure sweet! Enjoy it, once the temps get above 0 at least.... Brrrr it's cold now!
Hi Reveille,

I am looking forward to taking it for a ride, as it is the dealer's demo, but don't plan on adding to the fleet right now. Hmmmm......perhaps I SHOULDN'T take it for a ride? :)
 

fredz43

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Here are some more pics of Niehaus Cycle Sales' FJ09 demo. They have added the optional hard bags and tall screen. I like the bags, but the tall screen looks a bit funky to me. It may provide better wind protection, though. I imagine that the aftermarket will come up with some that are effective, but a bit better looking. I hope to be able to take it for a demo ride later this week, as it is supposed to warm up a bit. Right now it is 24 degrees with some icy patches on the back roads.

Also, here is an interesting article in Dealer News today:
http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/article/fj-09-all-purpose-all-season-class-busting-performance
 

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Ron15S10

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I really like the stance of this bike along with the bags but.................that windshield is hideous. Seems like an afterthought. I sat on this bike at my local dealer and at 5' 8" almost flat footed. Has a narrow girth.

Thanks for posting the pics. Would like to hear your ride report.
 

gunny

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Cal Sci already have an aftermarket screen that is much more attractive than either OEM screen (and probably a lot better for wind management as well). Within a month or two, all the usual suspects (National Cycle, Parabellum, Cee Bailey's, Mad Stad, etc) will have them.
 

big dave

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RonH said:
Looks like a nice machine, but who in the world wants chain drive in this day and age? Never again for me. Yes cheaper, more power, no shaft jacking, yada, yada. Chain drive goes with points ignition and carbs for me. I lived through that faze of my riding career back in the 70s and don't care to remember those motorcycle days. They can sell for $500 and if chain drive, I won't be buying. Bring in the FJ09 shaft drive, maybe.
Ron , my TDM 900 is chain drive and currently on 39,000 miles with original chain and sprocket.

Use a scottoiler or similar and modern o-ring chains need less maintenance the a shaft drive.
 

Donk

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It is interesting comparing the Yamaha and Triumph triples. I am only talking about the engines not the bikes. Having owned a bunch of modern Triumph triples and having ridden the FZ-09 I can tell you 2 things. 1)Triumph has the mapping down better but I expect that Yamaha will sort that pretty quick. 2) The Yamaha engine just blows the Triumph away. It is SO much smoother, quieter, stronger and overall better. Got to give it to Yamaha, they know how to build an engine.
 

Big Blu

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Donk said:
It is interesting comparing the Yamaha and Triumph triples. I am only talking about the engines not the bikes. Having owned a bunch of modern Triumph triples and having ridden the FZ-09 I can tell you 2 things. 1)Triumph has the mapping down better but I expect that Yamaha will sort that pretty quick. 2) The Yamaha engine just blows the Triumph away. It is SO much smoother, quieter, stronger and overall better. Got to give it to Yamaha, they know how to build an engine.
The '15 FZ-09 I demo'd a few months ago had no fuelling issues, seem they fixed that on the '15's and offer upgraded maps to owners of earlier models. I to liked the Yamaha motor over the Triumphs I've owned, a Dayton 675 for street and track, and a Tiger 800XC/ABS. The timing chain whine and the heat on my thighs during hot humid Florida summer weather was bothersome for me but I thought both were excellent handling bikes. It'll be interesting to see how the updated '15 Tigers fare.... fly by wire throttle, cruise control, better fuel economy (15% is the claim), and improved noise and heat management, it all sounds very good to me.

Sooo many good bikes in the marketplace today, it's a great time to be a rider!! ::012::

Paul

Paul
 

Donk

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Big Blu said:
The '15 FZ-09 I demo'd a few months ago had no fuelling issues, seem they fixed that on the '15's and offer upgraded maps to owners of earlier models. I to liked the Yamaha motor over the Triumphs I've owned, a Dayton 675 for street and track, and a Tiger 800XC/ABS. The timing chain whine and the heat on my thighs during hot humid Florida summer weather was bothersome for me but I thought both were excellent handling bikes. It'll be interesting to see how the updated '15 Tigers fare.... fly by wire throttle, cruise control, better fuel economy (15% is the claim), and improved noise and heat management, it all sounds very good to me.

Sooo many good bikes in the marketplace today, it's a great time to be a rider!! ::012::

I had heard the fixed the fuel mapping on the '15s. Got to give Yamaha credit. They have been addressing issues in a very timely manner.


Paul

Paul
Not sure I want to own another Triumph, I don't think the Explorer is the same quality as other Triumphs I've owned. That's what made me try the S10 and BOY, I"M GLAD I DID!! I'm loving the Super Tenere and have been so impressed with it that I've bought a couple of more Yamahas to go with it.
 

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I popped into my local dealers today and had a good look at the new Tracer (as we call the FJ09 in the UK). What a proper bit of kit it is ! All the right bits in all the right places and it appears to be finished to quite a high standard. My local dealer says he has shifted a few already and it's winter ! Could be that Yamaha has hit the jackpot with this one.
 

greg the pole

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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.
 

Andylaser

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My dealer lent me one of these for the day while the big girl was undergoing her 6K service.

Very impressive bike. The engine is amazing. Absolute ton of torque in the mid range, pulls like a steam train. Also throttle action seemed a good bit livelier than the XT does. Also a lovely engine growl and burble. Much more fun to ride than the Triumph 800 Tiger. :) Only downside was seat comfort and padding which seemed a bit sparse.

I might need to try and arrange another test ride somewhere else. Lots of fun. ;D ;D
 

Bushyar15

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Once again, I have my opinion or thought process changed... When I first saw this thread I thought, The FJ is for street only. You'd lose the ability to go off-road. Then i see this and it changed my thinking and what is and is not doable with a motorcycle...


troll said:
I traded my Super for one and I like it. This is after 3600km in Alaska and Yukon including the D2D. Over 400km of rough gravel, summer only roads.
 

TheHelios

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Bushyar15 said:
Once again, I have my opinion or thought process changed... When I first saw this thread I thought, The FJ is for street only. You'd lose the ability to go off-road. Then i see this and it changed my thinking and what is and is not doable with a motorcycle...
It's really similar to the VStrom 1000 where it's a sport touring bike that actually does pretty decently on off-road. The really low height of the exhaust piping hurts its ability to go over really rocky terrain but how many of us are actually doing that? :D
 

troll

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Off-road is a relative term... ::014:: The FJ09 does everything I was doing on my Super Tenere and it is about 125lb lighter and has more horsepower. The suspension is definitely shorter and sharper and ground clearance is something to be considered. The FJ is a smaller bike all around and is not the big cushy two-up machine that the Super is (although my partner likes riding pillion on the FJ better).
 

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Bushyar15

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Fortunately, or Unfortunately, here in Colorado, rocks can be a huge issue. Even on the Tenere in places around the Rollins Pass area, its a rock mine field. I can't count the number of times I've heard rocks bouncing of the skid plate......
 

greg the pole

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