Yama Fz-09

Anyone have any first hand experience riding one?  Looks like a fun bike for the money though it's rather upright in the riding position.  

Just wondered how it is in real life.  Looks like it could have some potential with a sport shield on it.  

I demo'd it at the IMS in 2013.

No joke, my favorite bike I'd ridden up to that point (since supplanted by the KTM 1190 Adventure).

Suspension is pretty much garbage (especially if you're on the beefier side) and the ride-by-wire was a little raw at that time. I didn't buy then because I wanted ABS, which wasn't available. If I were buying a naked it'd still be my pick.

I went through this recently because I wanted a lighter and upright naked bike. Absolutely hate the seating position. It's VERY dirtbike like to me. Think Ducati Hypermotard with you jammed up against the tank with the bars just inches away with this ultra forward sloped hard seat. The Corbin looks like it might resolve this issue, but I have not sat on one with a Corbin on it. The Aprilia Shiver, Ducati Monster, Yamaha FZ-07, and Suzuki SFV650 (Gladius) were much better,  but I ultimately settled on a 2013 Honda CB500F. I went this way due to the low price and incredible deal I got on mine in particular. It also fit me very well and I am 6'4" and 220lbs. Also, the 200+ mile tank range is awesome. Incredible little bike in the mountains and in urban areas, it is out of its element on the interstate but who really rides a naked on the interstate?  :beer:

-PRB

Anyone have any first hand experience riding one?  Looks like a fun bike for the money though it's rather upright in the riding position.  

Just wondered how it is in real life.  Looks like it could have some potential with a sport shield on it.  

Hey stranger!  Are you looking to get back in?  Hope you've been well.

I spent a week on one last year in the Eifel Forrest in Germany.  I loved the bike.  The engine is one for the books. GREAT ENGINE !

BUT (A big but)  The fueling was a deal breaker.  I realize there are power commanders and factory fixes and such, but the one I had was on the verge of dangerous.  Re-applying the throttle after an apex was taking your life into your hands.  I don't know if it was the throttle by wire or the fuel injection, but it ruined what was a fantastic bike.  They say it has been fixed, and if it had been, then this is a do it all, great bike.  Comfy, flickable, fast, torque and FUN. 

from then

http://www.vfrdiscus...-turkish-pizza/

Anyone have any first hand experience riding one?  Looks like a fun bike for the money though it's rather upright in the riding position.  

Just wondered how it is in real life.  Looks like it could have some potential with a sport shield on it.  

Hey stranger!  Are you looking to get back in?  Hope you've been well.

Been well, thanks.  I would love to be back in and have had my eye on this bike for a while.  If done right, it should have some potential.  The fly by wire throttle does concern me as does the riding position.  The new Interceptor just should have been improved more IMO plus the price is a little ridiculous to me.  I looked at new bikes the other day and was amazed at how much they've changed in just a few years.  Maybe I need that 240hp Yamaha liter bike......not! 

I don't know if I'll get back in.  I've been super busy and looks like it will stay that way for a while.  

Hey Jim, I want an FZ09 myself, they make a I think is an FJ09 as well that's more ST.

I also here the FZ07 is also a scream. 

Do it.

The FJ-09 (the FZ-09's big brother) is on my short list as an N+1 if I should run into some kind of a cash windfall. 

As far as the bike's faults:  The seating is pretty easy to fix by reshaping/re-stuffing the foam and trimming the rubber bumpers on the seat base or swapping on an after-market seat.  The FZ-09 suspension is pretty weak, even for 130lbs riders, but is useless for anyone over 180lbs.  The FJ-09 suspension is better, but not great, or even good.  Both bikes need a better rear shock, and the FZ needs a complete rework of both forks.  Both bikes have only one valved fork, the other just has a spring and fluid.  AK20 cartridges up front and a Penski 8983 shock are the hot ticket for making the bikes right, but that is pretty pricey.  There is a factory Yamaha reflash for the FZ to improve the fueling (the FJ already has it), but the real fix is a $350 after market reflash by 2wheeldynoworks. They even offer free reflashes if you change exhaust, intake, etc. 

Doing these mod to an FZ or FJ makes for a seriously well balanced bike, and an ear-to-ear grin inducing wheelie machine!  I would have a ball commuting on either bike, or using it for weekend hooligan activities.  That tripple is a very sweet power plant.

These things are something that I would consider necessary on nearly any stock bike.  Look at how many of us have redone the suspension, added a power commander or reflashed the ECU, and swapped or worked on the seat or our VFRs.  (Or put a R/R from a Yamaha on our bike, or added a VFRness.)

I have one. Well, on my second one after a car pulled out in front of me and wrote of the first one. Just under 30,000ks  on both bikes.

Absolutely brilliant bike. It's my company bike, i ride it every day, rain hail or shine.

I'm 90kgs without gear, and OEM suspension is rubbish. I have a rear penske (but  a zx10/6 also fits) and new springs/shims in the front. 

A few other mods as well, but its an effing awesome bike.

seriously.

And even though its a small tank, you can get 300ks out of it as long as its mostly open road, and less stop start traffic light drag races.

To clarify...I did really like it. I just couldn't see how Yamaha let it out of the door with that ruinous throttle.

The engine is top 5 best ever. Fueling notwithstanding, it really is that good.