Who has an FJ-09.? Have Q's

[the_undecider_imp]

The_undecider talked a lot about getting one, and I thought I recalled a member with both a CB and an FJ-09, but I can't find him—it was a him.

I was very close to pulling the trigger, but would have required selling both my CB and V-strom. Now, I'm looking at trading the V-strom on a BMW 1200GS (and keeping the CB ). Maybe I ought to bring home the FJ09, instead. They don't call me Undecider for nothing, ha!

[the Ferret]

I have the FZ09, have for two years, dunno if that helps any.

love, LOVE the motor.

Jazzman assume you are a member of the FZ/FJ forum. Anything popping up on these things my son should be aware of? I have cruised the forums a couple times and like redbirds said cam chain tensioners and it seems most want to upgrade forks and rear shocks which the FJ already has I think.

Un[decider...you are a hoot. BTW my buddy with the BMW I posted the pic of sold it yesterday. Says he is quitting riding (again)

[CIP57_imp]

Mickey, not sure if you read this comp or not.

http://www.cycleworld.com/2015/07/13/kaw...ifications

[the Ferret]

had not read that Steve. Thanks.

I took a 64 mile test ride on an FJ-09 this morning. All I can say is I love my CB lol.

The FJ was really tall (probably good for a tall guy but I'm under 5'6".. my son is 5'9")
Exhaust note was awesome..the 3 cylinder does make music
Brakes were very good
Ergos were very good

and that's the end of my compliments

my complaints:

The FJ has low frequency vibrations (feels like a growl) and a high frequency vibration (feels like a buzz). You think CB's have a buzz? HA the FJ's puts the CB's buzz to shame. The CB is glass smooth throughout the rev range I ride in comparison. The FJ is only smooth sitting at a stop light blipping the throttle (so you can hear the triple..it does sound good)

Seat..it's hard. I have a tuff butt. I can ride all day every day on my ST or CB. Have ridden 500 mile days 11 days in a row on the ST. 9 hour days 7 days in a row on the CB multiple times. No problem. 45 miles on the FJ and my butt hurt. After 65 miles it was screaming so I stopped and got off for 15 minutes. Didn't think there was a seat I couldn't handle. FOUND ONE!

Suspension.. it's stiff. Little things on the road jolted my spine. As long as the road was smooth, no prob, but any irregularities just jolted and hurt. CB feels like it's riding on a cloud in comparison.

Transmission ... on the FJ it was clunk clunk clunk where my CB goes clunk (1st to second) then snick snick snick. The CB's transmission is more refined (must be a Yamaha trait..my 01 & 04 FZ1's had a clunky trans)

Power delivery .. the FJ seemed to wind up fast requiring a lot of quick shifting whereas the CB is slower to rev, more gentlemanly if you will. The CB is just easier for me to ride.

After climbing off the FJ and riding my CB home two things were apparent, my CB felt small...but it felt great. I made the right choice.

My son however is a little younger, can put up with things more than I can. His other bikes are an FZ1 and a Ducati Monster. He has had the hots for an FJ 09 for a couple of years now. I don't want to influence his decision so I haven't told him mine. The dealer is a friend and I'm sure he would give him a good deal.

It's up to him now.

[4 Paws_imp]

Local Greensboro NC BMW dealer took one in on trade recently if you want to comparison shop.
I could be talked into helping deliver

[jazzmans_imp]

The Cam Chain Tensioner is an easy fix, the latest revision should 'just work' or you can go with the manual adjust 'ape' tensioner, but I just had mine open at 16k to check valves (exhaust were all tighter then spec, we are thinking it comes too tight from the factory) and the cam chain was perfect, clutch plates looked brand new, and everything was golden except exhaust valves.

the chain comes stupid tight from the factory, loosen it before riding it home

the fueling isn't as plush as the CB, there is no doubt, but it's adaptable, and there are excellent aftermarket flashes (I have the Vcyclenut flash on mine)

I changed the suspension front and rear, as stock (on my first gen first year FZ) was downright dangerous. (think seventies and early eighties sport bikes before we moved to monoshocks and much more rigid frames) Yamaha has addressed this, but to my (fat) arse, the XSR is still too soft. I suspect that you just need to soften up (reduce preload) on the bike you rode, stiff is NOT a word I'd use for the stock suspension.

I changed the seat Pronto on the FZ, it was a torture device. in comparision, the CB stock seat is a joy. I'm not one who usually changes seats, until the FZ I've never found a bike seat I couldn't live with.

The Transmission gets a whole lot better after breaking in, however, it'll never match the silky smoothness of the CB. That being said, I love the tranny on the FZ.

Rev's quickly? Of course it does! That's its beauty. Remember, it revs to 10.5 before approaching redline, and has all its torque at around 3k, so since there isn't the 'rush' of power one is used to with an inline four as the revs get high, so it's easy to not notice and bounce off te rev limiter. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE my CB with the FZ motor. the FZ just has more grunt everywhere, and revs much higher, plus six speed. The FZ lives at higher RPMS then the CB everywhere. (Did I mention i LOVE the FZ motor?) I truly plan on building a traditional chopper using an FZ09 motor in the next few years, a rigid frame and a Sugar Bear Springer would be Awesome!

That being said, I find it easy as pie to run around anywhere from 20-80+ in third.

Love the brakes,

Put PR4's on the FJ.

(quick edit to add) buzziness, It's not buzzy at all, the CB is far, far buzzier to me then the FZ, but it seems everyone's view of what is and what is not buzzy is different.
any more questions, just ask, of course I don't know exactly how many of these translate to the heavier, slightly differently suspended fj.

[the Ferret]

Jazzman you know I test rode one last summer and didn't remember the vibes so I looked up what I said about it then in a report here called Free Test Rides, and here's what I said

First the FJ09
Tall drink of water
Good power in std mode (and my son said REALLY good power in A mode. I didn't switch modes just rode it on std defaults)
Transmission good
front brakes excellent
rear brake poor
handlebars wide
seat hard
suspension hard
windshield ok (I would shorten it a couple of inches)
hate tachs that are moving bar graphs
Gear indicator was nice
would pull 6th down to 3000 rpms and pull away cleanly
wound up quickly in 1st
Pretty exciting exhaust/motor noise when accelerating
Would actually make a decent solo touring bike I think..my son now wants one badly

no mention of the vibes. I did remark about the vibes on the FZ07 which I also rode, so maybe just this one that I rode today had the issue???? The one I test rode last summer also had a poor rear brake and the one I rode today had a pretty good rear brake.

[CIP57_imp]

Nothing like a good honest ride report from someone not being paid. I've ridden all the metric brands V's Str. 4's Honda seems to be the smoothest in the newer market. Since FI has come to the market my CBR1000RR, XX, ST1300 and CB have had the smoothest power delivery and less vibes than others. My N1K isn't bad but my 1000RR was a more enjoyable liter bike, I never though about vibration when I was riding. I'm not sure why manufactures can balance and dampen these motors to be smooth.

Why do you get off some bikes after 100MI with pins a needles in your hands, ( i have a pretty high tolerance) for me its unacceptable. I try and think back to the 70's and can't remember having these issues and certainly don't when riding my 83 GS1100.

[the_undecider_imp]

The FJ09's buzziness is a common complaint I read and hear. That engine has so much power, I wonder if going up 1 tooth on the counter sprocket would tune some of that out.

[the Ferret]

My son came over for dinner last night with his boys, and we discussed this even though I really didn't want to prior to him taking an extended test ride himself.

He mentioned that he had read articles saying the bike could be vibey, more vibey that the Kawasaki tourer (which is funny because I've heard about complaints from owners of the Kawi's being vibey) so I told him the FZ-09 I rode was vibey but didn't remember that being the case on the one we test rode last year, but that I did remember the vibes on the FZ07 we test rode. He said he remembered the FZ07 as being smooth lol, So yes I do think people feel vibes differently. Maybe it's 65 year old body vs 37 year old body?

Weather here sucks until next week, so he won't be test riding it for awhile.

Dealer offered him a great price on the new FJ taking his Gen 1 FZ-1 (which is now 12 years old) in trade, so I'm thinking it's probably a done deal pending a satisfactory test ride.

Not sure anyone could put up with that stock seat though lol.