Is this the ultimate sport touring bike?
New FJ shares smaller FZ’s engine and frame but adds everything that was missing
Eighteen months ago, at the press launch of Yamaha’s all-new threecylinder FZ-09, I said, “If Yamaha put a bigger fuel tank on this thing, along with a half fairing, bags, a more upright riding position and a wider, more comfortable seat, it might just be the ideal sport tourer.
Geez, maybe I should be in marketing, because Yamaha just stopped my incessant whining with the $10,999 FJ-09, complete with larger fuel tank, a half fairing, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Thankfully, Yamaha didn’t just stick a windscreen on the new bike and call it a day. The FJ shares the FZ’s 847-cc, three-cylinder engine, aluminum frame and swingarm, but that’s about it. A new rear subframe accommodates the roomier and plusher twopiece saddle, passenger grab handles and mounts for the optional side bags, so the FJ is 75 millimetres longer overall, at 2,160 millimetres, although the wheelbase is the same at 1,440 millimetres.
The FJ is also taller, with a seat that adjusts to either 845 or 860 millimetres, compared to the FZ’s 815millimetre perch. Being six-foot-three with storklike inseams, I was quite comfortable with the FJ’s seat on the tallest position. The tubular handlebars are 40 millimetres wider and 22.8 millimetres higher than the FZ’s clip-ons, making for a much more relaxed, upright riding position.
It’s also a bit heavier, due to the new subframe, centrest and and bodywork, at 207 kilograms compared to 188 kilograms of the FZ09. Still, it’s relatively spry when compared to the competition.
The only difference in the engine is the mapping of the three power modes for a less abrupt initial delivery; it’s much smoother throughout the range. Inside, we have the usual four valves per cylinder, DOHC and EFI and a respectable 113 horsepower with 64 lb.-ft. of torque.
The power band is quite flat and with the abundant torque, I often found myself burbling around town in sixth gear.
The triple has character by the metric tonne and a wonderful, throaty growl when winding it up through the gears. The FJ also has traction control, which the rider can turn off if desired, although I can’t think of why anyone would.
Yamaha significantly improved the damping qualities of the forks and shock. The 41-millimetre male slider front forks are adjustable for preload and rebound damping with a generous 137 millimetres of travel, while the single rear shock has preload and rebound adjustment with 129 millimetres of travel.
Turn-in is light and easy. The rigid, confidence-inspiring chassis re- sponds well to countersteering and trailbraking, the FJ bending precisely into corners, effortlessly holding its line unless the rider wants to deviate.
The FJ-09 has standard ABS, something not offered on the FZ even as an option. The FJ also has a centrestand, something I consider essential on a chain-driven sport tourer, as it makes lubing and adjusting the chain at the end of a long day a snap.
The multi-function LCD instrument pod is similar to the ones on the FJR1300 and Super Tenere, displays an amazing amount of information, including gear position, ambient temperature, engine temperature, trip meter, fuel consumption, etc., accessed by an index-finger-operated trigger on the left switchpod.
The main gauge has the sweeping LCD tach, a large digital speedometer, time and the fuel gauge down low. Even in bright sun, it was easily readable.
The screen is manually adjustable, via two knobs in the fairing and requires two hands, so no adjusting while you’re riding. Wind protection was fairly decent, although on the highway, when following other vehicles, there was a fair bit of buffeting around the helmet.
During one almost 600-kilometre day covering an hour of freeway and a lot of my favourite back roads, the FJ averaged a surprising 4.7 L/100 km, so the 18-litre fuel tank will yield an easy 300 kilometres before you have to start looking for a gas station. At the end of that day, my only disappointment was the somewhat hard and forward-sloping seat.
Around town, I preferred the “B” power mode for its smooth, progressive throttle response; “Standard” was good for steady cruising and, when it’s “yee-haw time," dial in “A” for, um, sport.
I also would’ve liked to play around with the suspension, as even with my 200 pounds aboard, it was still a little stiff over frost heaves and patchy pavement.
The FJ is styled in the popular Adventure Touring theme, à la the Super Tenere and BMW GS-series, but, to my mind, any motorcycle with 17-inch wheels front and back has about as much business tooling around off-road as does a Cadillac Escalade. Keep your adventures paved and you’ll be much happier.
Yamaha is already offering several factory accessories, including hard bags, a lower seat, heated grips, touring windscreen and (yay) a “comfort” seat.
So is it the ideal sport tourer? The FJ-09 strikes an excellent balance between sportbike and a versatile sport tourer at thousands less than its competition. With a few tweaks (hint: seat), it’d be close. Darned close. Freelance writer Steve Bond is a regular contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. The motorcycle tested was provided by the manufacturer. To reach Wheels Editor Norris McDonald: nmcdonald@thestar.ca.