Yamaha FZ-09 Review

During my Review I discovered the 2014 Yamaha FZ-09 to be a good motorcycle, with a great engine, and at $7999 US / $8999 CND an outstanding value.

Simply put, dollar for dollar, there is nothing on the market that even comes close to this motorcycle.Yamaha is going to sell a ton of these gems.

First let me say that Yamaha fixed the twitchiness of the throttle that Alex noticed when during his initial review of the FZ-09 10 months ago. With the new ‟2015 fuel map” there is no longer any of the abrupt throttle response that hampered the joy of this fantastic motor before.

You can check it out his full review here

Of the three riding modes - A, STD, and B - I rode most of the time in standard mode. It was the perfect combination of power and smoothness. I like to call A mode ‟Aggressive" and B mode ‟Because it's raining. ”Whether in A or STD mode the FZ-09 is fast. By the time you hit redline in second gear, you'll be going 150 kms/hr or 93 mph.

If you plan on riding that fast you may want to add a small fairing to help minimize the wind blast and review your local laws. Here in Ontario 50 km/h over the speed limit will get you a roadside suspension, hefty fines and an impounded vehicle. Not the best way to enjoy your new FZ-09.

Yamaha Perfection?

Does that mean for my review I think the FZ-09 is perfect? No I don't.

In an age of 160 hp naked bikes and 190 hp super bikes it's easy to look at the numbers and say that the FZ-09 only has 115 hp and 64.5 ft - lb. of torque. But those numbers are almost an exact match of one of the most desirable super bikes ever built - the 1994 Ducati 916 it has 114 hp and 65 ft - lb. of torque. So when Yamaha says ‟this is not a motorcycle for beginners” they are telling you the truth.

Now it's my turn to tell you the truth. The stock suspension has no place on a motorcycle this powerful. I had read in many of the reviews on the Yamaha about how the suspension keeps the FZ-09 from realizing its full potential. But what happens when you unleash this motorcycle down the straights and enter the twisties? Sure the engine and chassis are willing but the suspension is not… in a butt clenching way.

The minute I started riding the bike, it felt like I was riding a 115 hp pogo stick. I knew the stock suspension was under-sprung and lacked dampening but this was ridiculous. I needed answers on what could be done, what couldn't be done, and how much it would cost if I had just purchased the FZ-09 for myself.

This Yamaha needs a specialist.

Since I picked the FZ-09 for review up at Yamaha Canada in Markham, Ontario, I headed over to Speedworxs / Racer 5 which was less than 15 minutes away. They run a racing school but they also service street and track motorcycles. If anybody could tell me what to do, it would be these guys.

A quick look at the suspension and they find the first problem. The preload on the forks was backed out almost the whole way, most likely from the last person to review the Yamaha FZ-09. They must have weighed 110 pounds for that setting to work for them - given that I weigh twice that this was a problem. A quick wrench and the preload on the front forks and rear shock were set to maximum which would help make the motorcycle comfortable enough to ride but would still be under-sprung for riders who are over 170 pounds in their gear or ride aggressively.

The other problem with the factory suspension I would be limited to only one other adjustment. A single dampening screw on one leg of the forks. With this setup I would never have the confidence to push this bike and take advantage of the 51 degree lean angle Yamaha says the FZ-09 is capable of.

‟The average rider is limited by what you can do, not what the bike can do.” Fawaz, the owner of Speedworxs/Racer 5 informs me. ‟For most riders you'd be better off taking your money and investing it into a rider school. It will make you a safer better rider where you can actually enjoy the bike for what it was designed for…but in this case I'll make an exception.”

So how much should you expect to spend?

Start with the fact that the 2014 FZ-09 retails for $8999 CND. If you use the 2014 Triumph Street Triple $9999 CND / Street Triple R $11,199 CND as the benchmark, that would would give you a of $1000 - $2199 CND for upgrades to equal the MSRP price of Triumph. Which means if that was your budget, your Yamaha would end up with a with a bigger engine, the suspension set up for your weight and riding style but no ABS compared to the Triumph. Call it a FZ-09R.

Depending on your situation here are three ways that you can upgrade the suspension.

When you buy your New FZ-09 have the Yamaha dealer add the cost of the fork and shock upgrade to your purchase contract and finance total amount and have them install the parts.

Second is to order the parts locally or online and install them yourself. which is not as easy as it sounds but can be done. It can save you 20-50% if you already have the right tools and know how. Stoltecmoto in Pennsylvania is a good place to start if you live in the U.S. Also FZ-09.org forums are a great source of information if this is the route you are going to take.

The third is to find a local suspension specialist and talk with them for the best solution within your budget. Here is a review of the solutions available over at Speedworxs-Racer5. A great option if you live near Toronto - all parts are Ohlins, in Canadian Dollars and do not include tax.

Stage 0.5 : The bare minimum to set up the FZ09 suspension $617.50 CND

• Thicker Fork Oil, Bigger Fork Spring - matched for your weight and riding style
• Rear Spring matched to your weight and riding style
• Labour

Stage 1: $1019.50 CND

• Fork Valve kit
• Thicker Fork Oil
• Bigger Fork Spring*
• matched for your weight and riding style
• Rear Spring - matched to your weight and riding style
• Labour

Stage 1.5: Recommended $1632.50 CND

• Ohlins adjustable and rebuildable rear shock - spring matched to your weight and riding style
• Fork Valve kit
• Thicker Fork Oil,
• Bigger Fork Spring - matched for your weight and riding style
• Labour

Stage 2: Best - Race quality suspension $2830 CND

• Ohlins Fork Cartridge Kit - PENDING -fully adjustable with matching spring
• Ohlins Rear shock - adjustable and rebuildable matching spring
• Labour

Now that you have the biggest problem fixed, the suspension, let's talk about the biggest FLAW with the Yamaha FZ-09.

This bike has an identity crisis. It doesn't know if it is a Sportbike, a Naked bike or an Adventure bike. The wheels, tires and seating position scream sportbike. One look at its exposed sculptured frame and motor, you know its a naked bike. But the close handlebars, upright seating and long forks belong on an adventure motorcycle.

Flaw or Perfect Opportunity?

Sportbike - One of the ways Yamaha made the FZ-09 an ‟Urban Sportbike” was by giving it sportbike handling. The steering geometry is light and quick no doubt helped by Dunlop Sportmax D214 - 120/70/17 front and 180/55/17 rear tires and a narrow slanted seat. Unfortunately a review of same soft sticky tires after 5557 kms and you will see that middle has nearly worn out.

So Unless Yamaha reads this review and decides to start equipping the FZ-09 with a longer lasting tires, when your rear tire wears out, I recommend upgrading both tires with dual compound sport or sport-touring rubber from Michelin, Pirelli, Meltzer, Dunlop, or Bridgestone. It will cost you a bit more than just replacing the rear, but by tripling your tire life to around 16,000 kms or 10,000 miles, they will pay for themselves in no time.

One last suggestion about tires, before you actually need new tires, shop around. You'd be surprised how a 20 minutes of online searching can save you hundreds of dollars when it comes time to replace your tires. If you live near Markham Ontario give Speedworxs a call. They can hook you up with new set of Michelin Pilot Power3 dual compound tires size 120/70/17 and 180/55/17 installed for $371 plus tax.

Another decision Yamaha made that makes the FZ-09 feel like a sportbike is the seat, more specifically the slant of the seat. For my review I rode from Toronto to Niagara Falls and back finding as many twisties and scenic roads as I could along the route. By the end of a 10 hour trip the only thing I was trying to find was a comfortable position.

My back was nearly vertical due to the close upright handlebars. I kept sliding down the slanted seat towards the gas tank on my tail bone. If I leaned forward over the bars to relieve the pressure, the bars were under my chest and the front suspension was quickly overwhelmed in the turns. If I tried to push my butt back then the motorcycle would pull wheelies down the straights.

When I had picked up the bike, Matt at Yamaha informed me that the bike had the Yamaha ‟comfort seat” installed so I can only imagine what the original seat would have felt like. I am not the first to take issue with the seat and Seat Concepts in California has already come up with a solution. For $159 US they will sell you new foam and cover that solves the problem.

Naked Bike - Just one look at the FZ-09 and you know it's a naked bike and put it side by side with the naked bikes from Ducati, Triumph, MV Agusta, KTM and there is no mistaking it for anything else. It is not surprising that this where most people will think it belongs. Except……those long forks and high close handle bars!

Naked bikes are usually based on sportbikes which means that the head stock and triple clamps are low which makes it possible for the forks to be swapped. There are many Suzuki SV650's that have higher quality GSX-R forks on them, but you will never see a FZ-09 with R6 forks simply because the R6 forks are too short.

As far as the handlebars go, replacing them with a set that is lower and further forward is pretty simple. Again the FZ09.org forum is a great place to find out what other handlebars FZ09 owners are using on their bikes.

Adventure Bike - The high headstock on the FZ-09 requires the body of the forks to be extra long compared to other naked bikes and sportbikes. The forks look a lot like what is on the Yamaha Super Ténéré adventure bike. As do the handlebars which create an upright nearly vertical, seating position.

I have no doubt that with a bigger gas tank, more relaxed rake and trail on the triple clamps, some wind protection, a higher flatter seat and that is exactly what you would have. An 847cc middle weight adventure bike. It worked for Triumph and is rumoured to be in the works for MV Agusta.

Maybe this is what Yamaha had in mind all along when they designed a new motorcycle from scratch in the midst of a recession. Developing a new bike costs tens of millions of dollars and for just $8999 CND / $7999 US. Yamaha is not trying to get the tooling and development costs from just this one model or the price would be much higher. Obviously those capital costs will have to be recouped elsewhere.

I would bet that the FZ-09 is just the beginning for this awesome engine and chassis. Maybe in the near future we will see the bike find three separate identities: a sportbike, a naked bike, and an adventure bike. Even if that day never comes, I would still highly recommend this motorcycle for anyone who wants an outstanding value and is willing to invest some time and money to turn a good bike into a Great Bike! Thank you Yamaha for offering up a such great option in the FZ-09.

The FZ-09 was supplied by Yamaha Canada. They neither reviewed nor approved this review.