Friday I took a demo ride on one of the FJ-09. Spent over an hour and put over fifty miles on the demo. First off, it is not my 1200 but I don't want another 93. If you went to buy a new car to replace your twenty plus year old one and the salesperson showed you the same car you were replacing how happy would you be? Twenty plus years and no changes or improvements? The 09 doesn't look like, ride like or feel like my 1200. It handles better, is effortless to ride and feels so light. You sit in a more upright position, I find this very comfortable. This is a bike I can ride for hours comfortably. It is deceptively fast, has torque that needs to experienced. I still love my 1200 and I don't think the 09 could ever replace it. Having said this the 09 would make a great addition to anybody's collection. I strongly believe that 09 carries the FJ name well. It doesn't detract from our beloved 1100/1200 but brings the FJ label in to the 21st century. I have now ridden one over 250 miles and the more I get to know it the more I like the FJ-09. Having said all this, now there are two FJs in my garage. WARNING test riding could affect your finances!!!!!!!!
Kurt
Wow! so you bought it. Nice! I've got to say it would be great to have and own a current tech bike like that, while still keeping the FJ of course. Sounds like you will certainly enjoy it.
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh551/yamahafjrider/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/20150213_155602.jpg)
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh551/yamahafjrider/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/20150213_155611.jpg)
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh551/yamahafjrider/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/20150214_140601.jpg)
Had to have this picture. On the right side of the display, the zero is for zero miles.
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh551/yamahafjrider/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/20150215_143702.jpg)
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh551/yamahafjrider/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/20150215_143718.jpg)
I could not get this to post to save my life. It is good to be married to the person who handles the IT for the SLC division of the corporation she works for.
Kurt
They ARE a nice bike, and they're a bargain for what you get. I expect Yamaha to sell a good number of them.
I wouldn't doubt it if your 93 starts collecting a coating of dust.
Have fun!
Beautiful Bike! :good:
Congratulations, Kurt!
Keep updating and let us know how your relationship grows. :mail1:
Jeff
I really want to test ride one of these things!
Hey, what's this that I'm reading online about the NA'n FJ-09 being limited to 115MPH?
Does Yamaha think that the aging motorcyclists who they're targeting, and who don't want to go the cruiser route, also don't want to go fast anymore!?!?!? :sarcastic:
Quote from: FJ1100mjk on February 16, 2015, 09:24:10 AM
Hey, what's this that I'm reading online about the NA'n FJ-09 being limited to 115MPH?
Does Yamaha think that the aging motorcyclists who they're targeting, and who don't want to go the cruiser route, also don't want to go fast anymore!?!?!? :sarcastic:
The single biggest complaint on the FJ-09 forums. They are already trying to find someone who will remap the ECU for a higher top end. Looks like Yamaha blew it there along with limiting the 2013 FJR cruise control to 80mph which they corrected on the 2014 FJR. The second biggest complaint is no cruise control. The FJ-09 people hope this will happen on the next years model. To add insult to injury the cruise control spaces on the handgrip have been covered as it is the same grip used on the Super Tenere with cruise control. Give me a good paint color and cruise control I might be interested. Dave
Kurt, did you also get the side cases?
The FZ09 forum will be a great resource. You've got to understand these FJ09 and FZ09's are sold at bargain prices. Lots of things you can do to customize them to your individual needs.
115mph limit? I wonder their (Yamaha's) reasoning. I know the coefficient of drag plays a big part on bikes running in the triple digit zone.
I know my FJ's are rock stable at 160mph....the front end just squats down, unlike other bikes I've ridden where the front end starts floating..
The FJ09 looks like a tall bike....Perhaps the body work or suspension (or both) was not designed for high speed?
At this stage of my riding career 115mph sounds reasonable to me....sometimes....ok, most of the time...
Congratulations on the new FJ. :hi:
Great looking in the grey. I like the last photo. The New FJ and the old FJ mirrored in the glass :good:
Fred
Quote from: Pat Conlon link=topic=13314.msg133972#
The FJ09 looks like a tall bike....Perhaps the body work or suspension (or both) was not designed for high speed?
At this stage of my riding career 115mph sounds reasonable to me....sometimes....ok, most of the time...
Pat,
I think you have probably hit the nail on the head. A tall, draggy bike is not going to set any top end records anywhere safely. I was drooling over a red FJ 09 last week at our local Yamaha shop. I could see one of them being a lot of fun.
Joe
Quote from: FJ1100mjk on February 16, 2015, 09:24:10 AM
Hey, what's this that I'm reading online about the NA'n FJ-09 being limited to 115MPH?
Does Yamaha think that the aging motorcyclists who they're targeting, and who don't want to go the cruiser route, also don't want to go fast anymore!?!?!? :sarcastic:
I read that also but it was not a deal breaker. The demo get to 110 mph with ease. I was on the 09 forum and they are all ready working on reprogramming the ECU. This will void the warranty, next year for that mod. I will test the 115 limit after some more miles. Also need to check in all three modes. Just ridding 60 to 70 mpg no problem as per the display and confirmed by the first fill up.
Kurt
Quote from: Pat Conlon on February 16, 2015, 09:59:18 AM
Kurt, did you also get the side cases?
No, but will soon. Just wanted to get the bike for now. Also Yamaha is out of the graphite color, more to come. I bought it now to get the best price.
Kurt
Kurt, after break in....what's the intervals between valve adjustments?
Quote from: Pat Conlon on February 16, 2015, 10:57:11 AM
Kurt, after break in....what's the intervals between valve adjustments?
Owners manual doesn't list an initial valve adjustment, only says every 26,600 mi or 42,000 km. During delivery the tech said "first service was change the oil and synchronize the throttle bodies". I just confirmed this with my dealer.
The 09 has under bucket shims. Valve adjustment will not be fun.
Kurt
I did not know about the shim under bucket design...sounds like the cams have to come out to replace any shims...
What's the RPM redline?
Still...26.6k mile intervals is pretty good in my book...
Quote from: Pat Conlon on February 16, 2015, 12:14:07 PM
I did not know about the shim under bucket design...sounds like the cams have to come out to replace any shims...
What's the RPM redline?
I do not know what exact red line is but owners manual calls 11,250 to 13,000 "high rpm zone". Maybe I can find something on an FZ-09 forum that will tell me. Yesterday 75mph, 6th gear, 5,000 rpm. With just over 250 miles I have not gotten it into the high rpm zone yet.
Cams may need to be removed to change shims. This will be a good time degree the cams. I am thinking winter project.
Modius has begun. Yesterday put on a cramp buster. I need to keep a list of this stuff, can't remember everything that I have done to my 1200 anymore. Twenty plus years of mods too much to remember.
Kurt
Quote from: yamaha fj rider on February 16, 2015, 05:15:31 PM
Modius has begun. Yesterday put on a cramp buster. I need to keep a list of this stuff, can't remember everything that I have done to my 1200 anymore. Twenty plus years of mods too much to remember.
No...Don't do that...you don't want to know. Trust me. Just do it.
If SWMBO finds your list....well, you're screwed. When SWMBO asks (not if, but when) your response should always be the same...."Honey, this is a safety upgrade..." "You want me safe...right?"
Practice this response until it becomes automatic.....kinda like practicing your threshold braking skills.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on February 16, 2015, 05:31:58 PM
"Honey, this is a safety upgrade..."
I'd only add that it helps to have just a little data on your fingertips to drive the point over the goal... "Safety upgrade that prevents 60% of..." followed with some detail on the gruesome results expected if SWMBO rains on the party.
I'm really happy Diane never looks at this website...
Frank
I do have one advantage, I owned my 1200 for over a year before meeting my wife. "I did that before meet" or "before we got married". Sunday she was telling me things I should do to the 09. She thinks that I should change the licence plate holder and remove the passenger grab handles. Flush mount front turn signals and smaller rear signals up near the top of my list.
Pat, Fred keeps telling me to bring both the rally's. Like Scot did last year. I was thinking about riding, close enough. About eight hours each way since I am in the middle. Chainus and will decide as it gets closer. Ride or trailer.
Kurt
Quote from: yamaha fj rider on February 17, 2015, 07:55:55 AM
I do have one advantage, I owned my 1200 for over a year before meeting my wife. "I did that before meet" or "before we got married". Sunday she was telling me things I should do to the 09. She thinks that I should change the licence plate holder and remove the passenger grab handles. Flush mount front turn signals and smaller rear signals up near the top of my list.
Pat, Fred keeps telling me to bring both the rally's. Like Scot did last year. I was thinking about riding, close enough. About eight hours each way since I am in the middle. Chainus and will decide as it gets closer. Ride or trailer.
Kurt
Do every one of her suggestions. She is only trying to make a great looking bike better looking. Dave
Quote from: Pat Conlon on February 16, 2015, 12:14:07 PM
I did not know about the shim under bucket design...sounds like the cams have to come out to replace any shims...
What's the RPM redline?
Still...26.6k mile intervals is pretty good in my book...
The Shim Under Bucket bike's I've worked on all required removal of the cams to swap shims. Bit more complex, but not as bad as you would think. The shims are quite small.
I agree with Garth.
Over Thanksgiving I did a valve adjustment on an FZ1. With the cam drive on the right side of the motor, I was able to use tie-wraps on the cam sprockets and crank drive to "freeze" the cam timing at the exact removal/install position. Cam removal was easy. I adjusted about 12 valves. None were out of spec, but these 12 were approaching the lower limit. I was able to swap shims around and only replaced 4.
Installation was a snap. Putting everything back together took only a fraction of the time required for teardown. The cams bolted back to the sprockets exactly where they needed to be.
Quote from: yamaha fj rider on February 17, 2015, 07:55:55 AM
I do have one advantage, I owned my 1200 for over a year before meeting my wife. "I did that before meet" or "before we got married". Sunday she was telling me things I should do to the 09. She thinks that I should change the licence plate holder and remove the passenger grab handles. Flush mount front turn signals and smaller rear signals up near the top of my list.
Kurt
I applaud you for having the good sense to marry well. :good: You have a keeper there.
I myself have a similar situation with 30 years of marriage .. She used to ride herself and understands all things FJ.
Quote from: Mark Olson on February 17, 2015, 03:20:43 PM
I applaud you for having the good sense to marry well. :good: You have a keeper there.
I myself have a similar situation with 30 years of marriage ....
There's an interesting topic.
My wife encourages my riding. I think as long as my mistress has two wheels and not two legs and keeps me broke, she figures I don't have the time and can't afford to get up to any mischief.
Noel
Quote from: ribbert on February 18, 2015, 08:03:38 AM
Quote from: Mark Olson on February 17, 2015, 03:20:43 PM
I applaud you for having the good sense to marry well. :good: You have a keeper there.
I myself have a similar situation with 30 years of marriage ....
There's an interesting topic.
My wife encourages my riding. I think as long as my mistress has two wheels and not two legs and keeps me broke, she figures I don't have the time and can't afford to get up to any mischief.
Noel
Same with mine.....................
She knows, as long as it involves cars,guns,bikes,or jeeps I won't have any money leftover to get into trouble. :drinks:
Sat on one at the bike show in January. Really liked it. Its just a bit tall for me, but that can probably be fixed with a Corbin seat. Have that on the FJR. And the FJ-09 uses the same sidebags as the FJR, with the Euro slim city lids.
I could see one in my future, someday. But the FJR only has 96k miles on her. So there should be a good used market when Im ready.
Sat on one last week at the dealers. Nice looking bike with more leg room. I can see one in my future if Yamaha would equip them with cruise control. It is already throttle by wire and uses the S10 controls with the cruise switches blocked off so it would not be much trouble. Maybe next year. Dave
Electronic cruise control. Is near the top of of list for accessories.
Kurt