FZ-07, FZ-09, XSR 900

[Stichill_imp]

Hey gang, dormant member here come back to haunt you. I almost bought a '14 DLX in the spring of '15, but Honda pulled the plug on the model before I could complete a transaction. All the inventory was gone. I moved on to a BMW F800GT and have been having a lot of fun with it (pushing 15,000 miles in 12 months)...but I still think the CB1100 DLX is a great bike and would someday like to add one to the stable.

Anyway, with the forecast calling for pop-up thunderstorms, high humidity with moderate heat, and given that I was slabbing it in a direction known for straight, congested roads...I caged it from northern Kentucky to the same Yamaha demo event on the east side of Cincinnati.

Upon arrival at the dealership, I spied a CB1100 DLX with fork gaiters...



and RLETs...



I said to myself, "I think that guy is internet famous."

So...I met The ferret! It was a pleasure...you're a fun guy Mickey!

Each participant was only supposed to get rides on three bikes, but due to gaps in filling all the time slots for all bikes, I somehow finagled five rides: Bolt-R, FJR1300, FJ-09, XSR900, FZ-07. I was disappointed that I couldn't ride an R3 or SR400. The R3s are on hold due to a safety recall (clutch) and the SR400, being kick-start only, is perceived as a hassle/hazard on a group demo ride if someone stalls in traffic and can't get it started again.



I thought the Bolt engine was a dog. Some torque but no powerband that I could tell. I had a hard time keeping up with the triples. The FJR is unbelievable...an exercise in smooth precision. However, being inseam challenged, I could only get one toe tip down at a time due to the excessive width at the front of the saddle...untenable.

The FJ-09 (MT-09) could be a serious competitor to my F800GT...the engine is a marvel and the ergos are great. Ride modes...meh, I'd probably leave it in B "rain" mode most of the time. No difference in full-throttle power, just twist ratio. Don't need a quick throttle in the first 10 degrees of twist. Overall, really couldn't find fault with the FJ-09/MT-09, other than the chain drive...and...it's not pretty.



I thought the gearing on the XSR900 felt short...need to look that up...felt like I was always in a higher gear than expected. It was very cool-looking and had great handling. It seemed like the engine was well-sorted and had a smooth character. To be honest, I felt like the XSR engine should be in the FJ/MT and vice-versa. The FJ/MT variant seemed to have a lot more character and charisma that would be a good match for the looks and style of the XSR. As it was, I felt surprised by the sterility of the riding experience on the XSR, mainly due to the character of the engine.

I thought the FZ-07 was an absolute rascal...torquey and grunty, the engine has loads of character and wants to play. The chassis felt well-sorted and the handling was extremely nimble. I thought it had a very well-appointed dash for the price category with digital bar tach, fuel gauge, digital speedo, separate left/right indicators, and more. Bear in mind, I also have a CBR250R so I appreciate a precocious, over-achieving small bike.