FJ 09/FJR

[gumby302ho]

  My daughter and I went to the spring motorcycle show in Toronto, we were looking for safety gear this year, better gloves and overpants were top of the list. Walking around checking out the booths and the areas where the bikes were on display, we came across the tall looking FJ-09. I climbed aboard to see how it fit, nice, leaned over each way trying to feel the weight of it, I had a good laugh, this thing feels like a 500cc dirt bike and could not believe how much it felt like a feather weight. I can only imagine how much fun this modern FJ would be. Next bike up was the FJR, sitting on it felt fairly good and it seemed really light as well when leaning it over but to me it had no teeth, it felt more toyish to me then a big sport tour machine, I know this is only a butt test but when I sit on my 86 FJ I can feel the potential and scariness come through the bars, I cant really explain, the FJR felt like a docile comfortable toy and not a machine that requires a major dose of respect. Please this is only an opinion and maybe I should not compare apples to oranges but they do carry the FJ flag. 

[Pat Conlon]

Product lines evolve....I'm a fan of the Yamaha triples. A 1200cc triple would be tastey in a 420lb bike...for my riding style it's all about torque....less about high rpm hp output.

Kurt has the FJ09 and he speaks highly about it....I hope he brings it to the rally.

[aviationfred]

From my understanding, the new FJ-09 is sneaky fast up to the 115 mph preset speed limit, and has the torque to lift the front wheel in 3rd gear.

Similar things can be said of the FJR. Fully dressed and civilized looking with all the new farkles and gizmos. Like our FJ's, get the rpm's up and the FJR turns into an arm straightening snarling beast.

Fred

[FJ1100mjk]

for my riding style it's all about torque....less about high rpm hp output.

Says the rider who's chasing down the gremlin(s) of an "intermittent studder" above 7.5k RPM! 

[Pat Conlon]

Ha!  Very true Marty.....when I do visit the kookaloo zone, things have to be perfect.
Still chasing the gremlin.... I have had a house full of company for the last few weeks. Things should settle down after next weekend when everyone goes home from spring break.

Still, there's something to be said about having 90+ ft.lbs of torque available from 4-6k. Rather enjoyable.

[fj johnnie]

 Last summer I was invited to a Yamaha VIP ride. I test rode the new FJR with the electronic suspension. It is a deceptively fast, very nice riding machine.  Adjustable suspension is cool but I suspect it would be set to a certain point and left until a passenger is aboard. After the ride I hopped back on my FJ. The FJR just didn't seem to be a $15,000.00 better bike. It is awesome, smooth comfortable etc. Just not that much better to tempt me to find a used one. I will stick with the FJ. Best compromise I can think of. Now to test ride that GTS and see how it is.

[yamaha fj rider]

Product lines evolve....I'm a fan of the Yamaha triples. A 1200cc triple would be tastey in a 420lb bike...for my riding style it's all about torque....less about high rpm hp output.

Kurt has the FJ09 and he speaks highly about it....I hope he brings it to the rally.

Yes, the plan is, to bring the 09 to WCR. For the Dakota rally I am unsure of what we are bringing. Since my wife is coming. She get's a say in the which bike goes to South Dakota. The one she is more comfortable sitting on is the winner.

We are undecided on trailer or ride to WCR. We meaning Kai "chainus" and I. There is highway 50 in Nevada called the "loneliest road in America" running from Wadworth NV, into Utah, through a town called Delta. Connecting to I-15 for a bit and onto I-70. What I have ridden or driven of this is awesome. Hoping this will be the ride home. All are welcome on the ride. Small truck and trailer to SD.

500cc dirt bike YES!! 0 to 100 the FJ-09 is a rocket. Why did Yamaha put traction control on this bike? They had to! 1/8 of a mile almost nothing can keep up. This in a 1200 might be too much. Handles well also, 1 or 2 up. I have done almost 300 miles in a day without any problems on the 09. 500 to 600 miles should be no big deal for me. 0 miles Feb 14, today 1,624.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the rallys.

Kurt

[andyoutandabout]

Offering test rides?

[yamaha fj rider]

Yamaha is offering test rides, and giving an extended warranty as a incentive. Warning test rides, can be draining on your finances.

Kurt

[Charlie-brm]

I think the sensation of "intimidation" is just the unrefined feeling of the older machines. The more mechanical they are, the more I feel connected to them. I felt more a part of the machinery on my 1979 triple XS750 than I do on the FJ, though I know the FJ gives me a pucker factor I never got with the XS750 unless I did something really stupid.

From a seating vantage point the FJR could leave you feeling isolated from what it's really capable of.
You go on a ride with someone who has grown up riding twenty kinds of sport bikes and at age 55 gets an FJR, they are still going to get that thing to hustle scary fast in the twisties. I see it every few Sundays on the local poutine ride.

I think a '69 Hemi looks scarier and faster than a new Hellcat. You sit in the old one and hit the gas, you get an instant buzz. But it's only really scarier at any given matching speed or an attempt at cornering or hoping it's got brakes.

[gumby302ho]

Product lines evolve....I'm a fan of the Yamaha triples. A 1200cc triple would be tastey in a 420lb bike...for my riding style it's all about torque....less about high rpm hp output.

Kurt has the FJ09 and he speaks highly about it....I hope he brings it to the rally.

Yes, the plan is, to bring the 09 to WCR. For the Dakota rally I am unsure of what we are bringing. Since my wife is coming. She get's a say in the which bike goes to South Dakota. The one she is more comfortable sitting on is the winner.

We are undecided on trailer or ride to WCR. We meaning Kai "chainus" and I. There is highway 50 in Nevada called the "loneliest road in America" running from Wadworth NV, into Utah, through a town called Delta. Connecting to I-15 for a bit and onto I-70. What I have ridden or driven of this is awesome. Hoping this will be the ride home. All are welcome on the ride. Small truck and trailer to SD.

500cc dirt bike YES!! 0 to 100 the FJ-09 is a rocket. Why did Yamaha put traction control on this bike? They had to! 1/8 of a mile almost nothing can keep up. This in a 1200 might be too much. Handles well also, 1 or 2 up. I have done almost 300 miles in a day without any problems on the 09. 500 to 600 miles should be no big deal for me. 0 miles Feb 14, today 1,624.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the rallys.

Kurt


Your a lucky man Kurt, it had a fairly funky exhaust on it also, I wonder if aftermarket will try to better the triple fuelie!!! I dont normally look to close at the new stuff but I remember when there was no such thing as mountain bikes! I like it, I would consider this new age machine, price point is really reasonable. Thanks for the input from all, great hearing perspective, still to muddy for me to open up the stable, if I had an FJ-09 I'm not sure if that would matter!!!

[giantkiller]

My bro just bought a 2009? Fjr very fast very comfy. The supersonic sofa.