Yamaha FZ-09 Performance and Capability

Yamaha powers the FZ-09 with its 847 cc, Crossplane Crankshaft Concept CP3 engine. In response to critics of the too-abrupt throttle changes of the previous gen, Yamaha repurposed the FJ-09 fuel map for use with the FZ's ride-by-wire throttle control.

The result is a much tamer, less abrupt response that retains only a fraction of its former snappiness, much to the benefit of the handling. The previous setup was widely regarded as being far too sensitive to even minor changes in throttle-grip position.

Yammy's proprietary D-mode allows the rider to further tune power delivery according to riding style and conditions. You can mix and match D-mode and traction control settings to suit whatever kind of rider you identify as on any given day.

The magic continues into the innards with fracture-split big-ends on the connecting rods, and a cylinder-to-block offset purported to reduce friction. Staggered intake-funnel lengths help broaden the powerband on this water-cooled three-banger, mainly downward, so the Yamaha FZ-09 produces 64.5 pound-feet of torque at 8,500 rpm. That's plenty for some fun, especially given the light curb weight.

A slip-and-assist clutch added in 2017 gives the left hand a break with a lighter pull. It adds to the overall contact-patch integrity by limiting backtorque through the six-speed transmission on particularly aggressive downshifts.

Not only does all this rectify past mistakes, it makes the FZ-09 a friendlier bike for inexperienced riders and a safer bike for saltier ones. The Yamaha FZ-09 top speed is 130 mph.

Engine & Drivetrain

Engine:

847cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, inline 3-cylinder; 12 valves

Bore x Stroke:

78.0 mm x 59.1 mm

Compression Ratio:

11.5:1

Fuel Delivery:

Fuel injection with YCC-T

Ignition:

TCI: Transistor Controlled Ignition

Transmission:

6-speed; multiplate assist and slipper wet clutch

Final Drive:

O-ring chain


Design

Yamaha moved away from the cyclops headlight of the previous models with a dual LED headlight setup. It brings with it a wide, but flat, headlight housing for a completely different look up front.

Beefier cheek fairings and small side covers add some visual weight to the front. Not only do the side covers enclose and protect the ends of the radiator, but they also serve as a handy spot to mount the front turn signals to get them off the headlight housing.

This does clean up the front end nicely, even though it places the turn signals in a more vulnerable position. It makes it look more like its big brother, the FZ-10.

Yamaga cleaned up the rear end as well with taillight and turn signals mounted up under the subframe and moved the plate holder down to the single-arm, hugger-style rear fender. I gotta say, I never was much of a fan of the mudguard-style fender that stuck out from the subframe. The hugger really cleans it all up quite nicely.

Blackout treatment around the bike gives it a nice, custom flair. It adds seriously sinister undertones to go with its sleek new physique.

You can pencil me in as not a fan of the headlight arrangement -- it's a little too Power Ranger monster for my taste -- but overall, this is a much cooler-looking ride than last year's model. The clean rear end and radiator plates, though minor, seem to make all the difference in the world.

Yamaha FZ-09 Specs

L x W x H:

81.7 in x 32.1 in x 44.7 in

Seat Height:

32.3 in

Wheelbase:

56.7 in

Maximum Ground Clearance:

5.3 in

Fuel Capacity:

3.7 gal

Fuel Economy:

44 mpg

Wet Weight:

425 lb


Chassis

Yamaha builds the FZ-09 on a cast-aluminum frame to keep the overall weight low. At 425 pounds soaking wet, we can call that mission accomplished.

Wheelbase length measures 56.7 inches and the 26-degree steering head gives the bike a 4.1-inch trail. The results: balanced handling that corners and reverses well while retaining some tracking stability.

Improved handling over the previous model results from the new-for-2017 suspension components. They include the fully adjustable, 41 mm, usd front forks and the motocross-style monoshock that comes with tunable preload and rebound damping. Not only is the rear shock tucked away out of sight of the casual observer, but the positioning allows for a narrower frame that furthers the slimming effort on this version.

Wheel travel measures out at 5.4-inches front and 5.1-inches rear for enough range to handle most conditions. A pair of 298 mm discs and four-pot calipers slow the front wheel, and the rear wheel makes do with 245 mm disc.

Both ends benefit from the new-for-2017 ABS feature that bumps up the safety factor considerably. It also adds some of the electronic yummy-goodness that fans of the Tuning Fork brand were clamoring for.

Chassis & Suspension

Suspension / Front:

41 mm inverted fork, fully adjustable; 5.4-in travel

Suspension / Rear:

Single shock, adjustable preload and rebound damping; 5.1-in travel

Rake (Castor Angle):

25.0°

Trail:

4.1 in

Brakes / Front:

Dual hydraulic disc, 298 mm; ABS

Brakes / Rear:

Hydraulic disc, 245 mm; ABS

Tires / Front:

120/70ZR17

Tires / Rear:

180/55ZR17


Yamaha FZ-09 Price and Availability

All the extra goodies naturally add to the sticker. The Yamaha FZ-09 costs $8,999, which is about what you'd expect for the money, while the previous version was a bit overpriced for what you got at $8,190.

Pricing

Warranty:

1-year limited factory warranty)

Colors:

Candy Red, Matte Silver, Intensity White

Price:

$8,999


Competitors

There's no shortage of mid-size naked bikes out there right now, and it seems that all of the Big Four brands are getting in on the action. I decided to see how Kawasaki's Z800 stacks up against the new-and-improved FZ-09.

Kawasaki Z800

Right off the bat, I gotta say that although the new FZ headlight housing isn't my favorite thing in the world, at least it isn't as fugly as the Z800's lamp can. Kawi leaves the turn signals mounted on the headlight housing, and follows that up with cheek fairings that don't quite cover the edges of the radiator. This all leaves the front looking a little busy and cluttered.

Flylines are similar with both bikes. They carry an abundance of angles with just enough curvature to soften the look.

One thing that Yamaha definitely got right is the rear end. Kawi's offering carries the same tired and old subframe-mount mudguard that Yamaha left behind with the neat-and-clean hugger arrangement on the current FZ-09. I know it's a matter of personal taste, but I really prefer the looks of the Yamaha product overall.

Kawi runs similar suspension components,. Without a compression damping adjustment, it falls a bit short of the full trifecta of front-fork flexibility.

Dual, 277 mm discs are a trifle smaller than the FZ's discs, but that's minor. Both bikes benefit from ABS protection so neither one gains an advantage here.

Riders will likely find the 24-degree rake and 3.9-inch trail makes the Z800 a little more agile than the FZ-09. The trade-off comes at the cost of straight-line stability.

The vast majority of these bikes will never see the inside of a racetrack. Both increased comfort over a long commute and decreased rider fatigue with the slightly slower steering of the Yammy.

Kawasaki pits an 806 cc four-banger against Yamaha's 847 cc triple. Both engines hit pretty hard. The difference in configuration and a handful of cubes leaves the Kawi a bit light in torque with 61 pound-feet against the FZ-09's 64.5 pounds o' grunt.

While Kawi has ABS as standard equipment, finer things like rider modes and traction control are entirely absent. Yamaha beats the pants off the Z800 that was such a close match to the previous year's FZ-09.

Yamaha comes off the prouder with its $8,999 sticker versus the $8,399 tag on the Kawi. Those six extra Franklins, however, buy a lot of bike, and pound-for-pound, the FZ-09 is more bike for the buck.

He Said

“It sure looks like Yamaha tightened up in all the right places this time around. The FZ-09 was a disappointment to many, and to the factory's credit, it didn't mess around about addressing the issues. While this bodes well for the immediate future of the line, the rest of the market is stepping up its game as well, and this is just the next weapon in the unending arms race in yet another sub-category.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, "Up until this update, the FZ-09 has been widely regarded as having fallen short of its potential. The suspension was insufficient, throttle too abrupt, and a lack of electronic goodies made it a little too simple for the price and current competition.”

“Yamaha saw the error of its ways and set about the business of correcting past mistakes with a significant re-design for 2017 that improves in all the most-criticized areas on its predecessor. The new FZ-09 comes out swinging and seems to address the complaints of the previous model year. The throttle response is a whole lot nicer and the slipper clutch is a welcome addition."