Riding is believing for FJ-09
Affordable Yamaha offers comfort, versatility and amazing power
Life is full of surprises, isn’t it? It’s too bad not all of them are of the good variety, but hopefully you have your fair share. Luckily, I had a very nice surprise just recently when I picked up the new Yamaha FJ-09.
To be honest, this is a bike that was just not on my radar; its Transformer-like looks, with body bits hanging all over the place, are just a bit too modern for my taste. But like that proverbial book that can’t be judged by its cover, the real attraction of the FJ-09 starts as soon as you throw a leg over the seat.
Wow, comfortable; the handlebars are wide, like a motocross, and the pegs are so low it almost feels like you’re standing up. The seat is adjustable from 33.3 inches to 33.9 inches, so most riders above 5-foot7 or so will be able to find a suitable height. Overall, the seating position is ideal for a long haul in the saddle — which, unfortunately, is the only thing that can inhibit a big trip, it having as much cushion as a sheet of plywood. After an hour’s worth of riding, my backside was so sore I had to stop every so often to loosen up; luckily, Yamaha offers an optional softer seat, which I highly recommend.
Flick the switch and the 850-cc three-cylinder engine fires to life; I’m quickly becoming a fan of the smoothness of three-cylinder bikes, and this Yamaha version is just as good as any, if not better. Nary a vibration at any rpm, the 850 has loads of torque even at low speed, with a max of 64.3 lb.-ft. at 8,500 rpm. Yamaha doesn’t offer horsepower figures, but the three cylinder bangs out over 100 hp. The power goes through a six-speed gearbox complete with a slipper clutch.
And with a ride-by-wire throttle, Yamaha has given this bike not one, but three completely different riding characteristics with its riding modes — A, Standard and B. The last two offer a gentle, relaxed throttle response, with B meant for rain and having an even softer touch. But switch it to A and the FJ is a completely different animal — and a vicious one at that. It’s almost an on-off throttle, and a rider had better know what to expect with a twist of their right wrist.
The difference between riding modes is really quite amazing, as it gives a choice between a track-ready supersport or a leisurely commuting bike.
Luckily, the suspension is up to whatever mode — and mood — you might be in. The front inverted forks — now with progressive-rate springs — and the rear shock are adjustable for both damping and preload, and offer both controlled handling and a decently soft ride, no matter the speed. Again, perfect for those long hauls.
On the road, the bike feels balanced and much lighter than its 210 kilogram weight would suggest; combine that with a shorter wheelbase at 1,440 millimetres, and the FJ-09 makes itself an ideal commuter bike, winding around city traffic just as easily as it does carve up lonely country roads.
Of course, it’s not perfect; even if you can get beyond the styling and the hard seat, the thin tank (which actually holds a generous 18 litres of fuel) doesn’t offer enough grip for a rider’s knees in full hoon mode, limiting the full-sport, extreme lean-angle fun. But really, that’s it; for just $11,299, what you do get is all the niceness listed above plus standard ABS and traction control, a centre stand, and the versatility of a multi-character motorcycle.
For those of us who can afford to have just one bike in the garage, you get an awful lot of versatility with the Yamaha FJ-09.