Motorcycle Sport

Yamaha’s latest sport/adventure crossover bike, the FJ-09, offers lots of fun and competency at an inexpensive value. whereas it finished third in our comparison check with the Kawasaki Versys a thousandLT and Suzuki V-Strom 1000, those bikes area unit alittle larger and additional money. The FJ-09 is fast and comfy, however was hampered within the corners and around city by its weak rear shock, mediocre stock tires and abrupt throttle response. each it and also the FZ-09 upon that the FJ-09 is predicated have improved fuel mapping for 2015, however the FJ still desires a gradual throttle hand or to be ridden in reduced-power B mode (vs. full-power Std or A modes) to stop the herky-jerkies at low speeds and in corners.

At this writing we've got however to search out associate off-the-peg replacement rear shock at a value that’s in tune with the FJ-09’s budget intent, however there's a collection of Dunlop Roadsmart II tires within the search prepared for the stock rear tire to wear out, and it’s terribly shut once simply a pair of,847 miles. we tend to had the chance to do the 6-inch taller and wider Yamaha road screen ($187.99) for the FJ-09, and whereas it works quite well, it's rather odd. National Cycle tells America it'll even have a screen for the FJ-09 someday in late spring.

At 2,189 miles Yamaha issued a recall for the FJ-09 to switch the shift cam section stopper within the transmission, that the distributor performed on our bike and came back to America an equivalent day. we tend to didn’t notice a difficulty with the tranny before or any distinction once, however it's a no-ride recall and will be taken seriously.

Overall, the FJ-09 remains a fun, nimble sport tourer at an excellent value. If we are able to droop onto it a bit longer we’ll get the Dunlops on that and have another report in a difficulty or 2. greenback for greenback and ml for ml, the 847cc in-line triple within the Yamaha FJ-09 and FZ-09 is one in every of the foremost exciting motorbike engines in production. I challenge anyone to hop aboard either Oh-Nine, goose the throttle and not feel your nerve endings combust, from your toes to your nose. the fun is instant, like sticking out your finger in a very light-weight socket (but abundant less foolish).

Nothing in life is free, of course, and also the value of the FJ’s joy is vibration, that sets the grips, pegs and seat noisy and will increase with revs. Also, as summer het up and that we changed to mesh attire, we’ve felt additional engine heat on our lower legs. On the and facet, with additional miles we’ve custom-made to the FJ-09’s throttle abruptness.

The original Dunlop Sportmax D222 Roadsmart II rear tire was done for once but three,000 miles, thus we tend to levered on a replacement set of Roadsmart IIs. Despite having an equivalent name, the stock tires lack the Multi-Tread twin compound and Intuitive Response Profile of the replacements. The new rubber has improved handling and can possible last for much longer than the OE tires.

To improve wind protection, we tend to latched on Yamaha’s road screen ($187.99), that is vi inches taller and up to a pair of inches wider than the stock screen because of its additional rectangular (and peculiar) form. The kick-up at the highest pushes air over the rider and reduces bump, tho' the screen flutters within the wind at speed.