Hi, folks. I've been lurking for a bit as I toss around the idea of acquiring an FZ-09. A little background… I'm 40 years old and I've been riding for nearly 20 years. I've purchased new and used and have owned around a dozen street bikes. I've had everything from 1900cc cruisers to 250cc sport bikes to a Harley V-Rod to a Hayabusa and a ZX-14. Sprinkled in there were a number of other bikes. I would consider myself "good" for an average rider or "very average" for a good rider. I've learned what works for me and what doesn't. I've crashed a bike at a fairly high speed, and I've laid a couple down at low speed. I've ridden in rain and sun and wind and darkness and temps from 30 degrees on up to 105 degrees. Basically what I'm saying is that I'm a fairly "average" with skills that are based more on simple time and experience rather than any sort of special skill. I'm not a track star by any stretch. I'm also not a small guy… 6'2" and about 235 lbs.
I see a lot of conversation that is going back and forth here on the forum. Some people bash the bike has having terrible suspension and twitchy fueling. Others love the bike and think it can do no wrong. As I don't currently own the bike, I'd like to give my unbiased since I have no strong allegiance one way or another. As they say about opinions and assholes… take what I have to say in any manner you like. Keep in mind that all it takes to post up your opinion on the internet is one function finger and a computer… brain cells are not required so take whatever you read with a grain of salt.
I had a chance to play around on the FZ-09 for a while. I rode it in a fairly critical manner because I was trying hard to decide if it's something I could live with. $8k is a small price to pay for a new motorcycle with respectable power nowadays, but it's certainly not small enough that most of us can just go tossing it in the toilet because we failed to do proper research. Considering the fact that test rides are fairly uncommon at most bike dealers, reading reviews online from people who have actually tested the bike is often the only way for us to formulate opinions. Unfortunately, too often these reviews are either from (1) owners whose financial investment has caused them to only see the bike through rose-tinted lenses or (2) tester in magazines who might have a monetary interest in promoting a certain brand in order to maintain a steady flow of advertising dollars. Cynical, I know.
In any case, first the elephant in the room. Yes, the suspension is really bad. If you don't think so, you either don't know what a good suspension should feel like or you are in denial because of the $$$ you just dropped on the bike. It's not meant to be an insult -- it's just a fact. The suspension is super soft. If you try to firm it up with preload, it's going to get harsh. Regardless, the damping rates aren't good. All this is compounded by the fact that I'm a heavier rider, but it certainly isn't caused exclusively by it. If you're a relatively new rider, especially a light new rider, you might be okay with what you feel. But if you had a chance to ride a bike that was really setup for your weight and style of riding, you'd immediately feel the difference in confidence. And the harder you push this bike, the more unsettled it becomes. The rear is squishy, and the front ends up feeling vague. The fact that you sit right up on the bars of this bike combine with the poor forks means that the front compresses like mad under braking. The thing bobs and floats around when the speeds start increasing. It's definitely not "planted". It sort of feels like a big old American car from the 80's… floaty and bouncy with blown shocks. I'm going to stop beating a dead horse now by saying that at anything more than a casual pace, at no time did I feel like I wasn't being hampered by the budget suspension.
The second problem is the throttle response. In B mode it is acceptably smooth (but probably only by comparison). In Standard mode and especially in A mode, the throttle is so snatchy… almost like an on / off. Over time I'm sure most would adjust to it. The problem is that when you have such a twitchy throttle combined with such an unsettled suspension, you're asking for trouble in the twisties. The engine make such good low end torque that there is a recipe for disaster unless you're very skilled or very lucky. There is no way you can push this bike to the limits that the engine would be willing to go… you'd have to rein it back in because of the throttle and the suspension.
Now the good stuff. The engine is a gem. At this price point, to get a bike that is so light and comfortable with so much useable torque and power is a thing of beauty. The sweet triple sound is just icing on the cake. If this bike didn't have this engine, I'd pass on it in a heartbeat. But it makes it easier to live with the other flaws.
The riding position is good. For me, it's not ideal because it's a little too supermoto… the bars are upright and wide, but the angle is so straight that I find myself wishing for a bit more bend in the bar. The reach is fine, however. The seat is on the hard side, but I think it's livable. The pegs are acceptably low for longish rides. Like I said before, despite the low seat height, I still feel like I'm sitting up over the front wheel. It's a feeling that I haven't had on a street bike since I last rode a Buell. It would probably take some getting used to.
Looks are a subjective thing, but I don't think the bike is bad looking at all. It's not MV Agusta beautiful, but it's purposefully aggressive looking. I find it much better looking in person than in pictures. Despite what some may say, I think the blue wheels looks nice with the black paint. The orange has a nice metallic shine, and the red contrasts great with the blacked out parts of the bike. If anything, the bike might be a little too conservative from certain angles; but it's better than being over the top. A perfect example is the new Z1000… I'm not sold on the styling of that bike. It might grow on me, but I think it's what would happen if you took the FZ-09 and just kept going with it.
For the price, it's a steal when you compare it to what your $8k will get you elsewhere with new bikes. Suspension and fueling is easier to fix than a bad engine. That being said, it's "easier"… not "easy". Nor is it "cheap" if you've been saving your pennies just to afford the bike in the first place. Most people buying an $8k bike probably aren't going to want to dump another $1k into rebuilding the forks, replacing the shock, getting a Power Commander, etc… The beauty of cheap bikes is that we can buy them for a little money and ride them. However, there is a reason this bike has such a great motor and still is under $8k. They cut a number of corners. Go into it expecting more than what it is, and you might be disappointed. Go into it being fully informed, and you'll probably be pleasantly surprised and generally satisfied.
And a side note. I see some debate about whether or not this makes a good first bike. When I was young and stupid, I was SURE I could handle the latest a greatest. I over-estimated both my skill and my self-control. Fortunately, I'm still around to ride my bikes. The FZ-09, by nature of its upright riding position, is substantially better a first bike than something like a pure sport bike with clipons, high pegs, and more HP. That being said, I would definitely not advise a newbie to jump on an FZ-09 when there are so many better options out there. Get something cheap and used that you would be okay with dropping… dropping at 0 MPH at the first stop sign you come to… dropping at 5 MPH going around a gravel driveway… dropping at 35 MPH when you panic and take a turn too wide (I HOPE YOU'RE WEARING YOUR GEAR!). Maybe none of this will happen to you. Maybe all of it will. Riding a bike is not like driving a car. The skills might seem similar, but they are not transferable. Take some real riding lessons / classes. Learn what not to do when you feel the rear end slide. Learn why you push left to go left at speed but push right to go left when maneuvering around a parking lot. Learn when to brake and when to accelerate in a turn. Learn why the bike actually lifts during hard acceleration. Now is not the time to be proud or stubborn. I'm not stupid. I know that you want what you want and you want it now. But there are a lot of tomorrows… make sure that whatever bike you get, you're ready for. That being said, I'm sure most people don't take this advise. Just remember when you're older and wiser and you try to give the same advise to new riders in the future to remind them that someone told you so back in the day and you refused to listen.
Okay. I hope I didn't offend anyone. I know this is a forum of people who love their FZ-09's. If you didn't, you wouldn't be here. The people who come here to bitch about their bikes don't stick around long. My point is that, despite it's many positive aspects, the FZ-09 has some substantial flaws, too. That doesn't make it a bad bike -- quite the contrary. It's a wonderful bike for the price. It probably would be a wonderful bike at $9500, too. I just wanted to give an unbiased opinion to the folks out there who might be looking to purchase the bike, but are unable to ride one beforehand. Bottom line… the engine is great. The riding position is pretty darn good. The power is sweet. The sound is stellar. The handling is mostly good with regards to the fact that it's light and flickable. However the suspension really is as bad as a lot of people are saying and the fueling is twitchy… and the two of those things throw a bit of a wet blanket (albeit a small one) over some of the fun.
Will I buy one? I dunno yet. But the fact that I'm still considering it should show that I generally endorse the bike.
I see a lot of conversation that is going back and forth here on the forum. Some people bash the bike has having terrible suspension and twitchy fueling. Others love the bike and think it can do no wrong. As I don't currently own the bike, I'd like to give my unbiased since I have no strong allegiance one way or another. As they say about opinions and assholes… take what I have to say in any manner you like. Keep in mind that all it takes to post up your opinion on the internet is one function finger and a computer… brain cells are not required so take whatever you read with a grain of salt.
I had a chance to play around on the FZ-09 for a while. I rode it in a fairly critical manner because I was trying hard to decide if it's something I could live with. $8k is a small price to pay for a new motorcycle with respectable power nowadays, but it's certainly not small enough that most of us can just go tossing it in the toilet because we failed to do proper research. Considering the fact that test rides are fairly uncommon at most bike dealers, reading reviews online from people who have actually tested the bike is often the only way for us to formulate opinions. Unfortunately, too often these reviews are either from (1) owners whose financial investment has caused them to only see the bike through rose-tinted lenses or (2) tester in magazines who might have a monetary interest in promoting a certain brand in order to maintain a steady flow of advertising dollars. Cynical, I know.
In any case, first the elephant in the room. Yes, the suspension is really bad. If you don't think so, you either don't know what a good suspension should feel like or you are in denial because of the $$$ you just dropped on the bike. It's not meant to be an insult -- it's just a fact. The suspension is super soft. If you try to firm it up with preload, it's going to get harsh. Regardless, the damping rates aren't good. All this is compounded by the fact that I'm a heavier rider, but it certainly isn't caused exclusively by it. If you're a relatively new rider, especially a light new rider, you might be okay with what you feel. But if you had a chance to ride a bike that was really setup for your weight and style of riding, you'd immediately feel the difference in confidence. And the harder you push this bike, the more unsettled it becomes. The rear is squishy, and the front ends up feeling vague. The fact that you sit right up on the bars of this bike combine with the poor forks means that the front compresses like mad under braking. The thing bobs and floats around when the speeds start increasing. It's definitely not "planted". It sort of feels like a big old American car from the 80's… floaty and bouncy with blown shocks. I'm going to stop beating a dead horse now by saying that at anything more than a casual pace, at no time did I feel like I wasn't being hampered by the budget suspension.
The second problem is the throttle response. In B mode it is acceptably smooth (but probably only by comparison). In Standard mode and especially in A mode, the throttle is so snatchy… almost like an on / off. Over time I'm sure most would adjust to it. The problem is that when you have such a twitchy throttle combined with such an unsettled suspension, you're asking for trouble in the twisties. The engine make such good low end torque that there is a recipe for disaster unless you're very skilled or very lucky. There is no way you can push this bike to the limits that the engine would be willing to go… you'd have to rein it back in because of the throttle and the suspension.
Now the good stuff. The engine is a gem. At this price point, to get a bike that is so light and comfortable with so much useable torque and power is a thing of beauty. The sweet triple sound is just icing on the cake. If this bike didn't have this engine, I'd pass on it in a heartbeat. But it makes it easier to live with the other flaws.
The riding position is good. For me, it's not ideal because it's a little too supermoto… the bars are upright and wide, but the angle is so straight that I find myself wishing for a bit more bend in the bar. The reach is fine, however. The seat is on the hard side, but I think it's livable. The pegs are acceptably low for longish rides. Like I said before, despite the low seat height, I still feel like I'm sitting up over the front wheel. It's a feeling that I haven't had on a street bike since I last rode a Buell. It would probably take some getting used to.
Looks are a subjective thing, but I don't think the bike is bad looking at all. It's not MV Agusta beautiful, but it's purposefully aggressive looking. I find it much better looking in person than in pictures. Despite what some may say, I think the blue wheels looks nice with the black paint. The orange has a nice metallic shine, and the red contrasts great with the blacked out parts of the bike. If anything, the bike might be a little too conservative from certain angles; but it's better than being over the top. A perfect example is the new Z1000… I'm not sold on the styling of that bike. It might grow on me, but I think it's what would happen if you took the FZ-09 and just kept going with it.
For the price, it's a steal when you compare it to what your $8k will get you elsewhere with new bikes. Suspension and fueling is easier to fix than a bad engine. That being said, it's "easier"… not "easy". Nor is it "cheap" if you've been saving your pennies just to afford the bike in the first place. Most people buying an $8k bike probably aren't going to want to dump another $1k into rebuilding the forks, replacing the shock, getting a Power Commander, etc… The beauty of cheap bikes is that we can buy them for a little money and ride them. However, there is a reason this bike has such a great motor and still is under $8k. They cut a number of corners. Go into it expecting more than what it is, and you might be disappointed. Go into it being fully informed, and you'll probably be pleasantly surprised and generally satisfied.
And a side note. I see some debate about whether or not this makes a good first bike. When I was young and stupid, I was SURE I could handle the latest a greatest. I over-estimated both my skill and my self-control. Fortunately, I'm still around to ride my bikes. The FZ-09, by nature of its upright riding position, is substantially better a first bike than something like a pure sport bike with clipons, high pegs, and more HP. That being said, I would definitely not advise a newbie to jump on an FZ-09 when there are so many better options out there. Get something cheap and used that you would be okay with dropping… dropping at 0 MPH at the first stop sign you come to… dropping at 5 MPH going around a gravel driveway… dropping at 35 MPH when you panic and take a turn too wide (I HOPE YOU'RE WEARING YOUR GEAR!). Maybe none of this will happen to you. Maybe all of it will. Riding a bike is not like driving a car. The skills might seem similar, but they are not transferable. Take some real riding lessons / classes. Learn what not to do when you feel the rear end slide. Learn why you push left to go left at speed but push right to go left when maneuvering around a parking lot. Learn when to brake and when to accelerate in a turn. Learn why the bike actually lifts during hard acceleration. Now is not the time to be proud or stubborn. I'm not stupid. I know that you want what you want and you want it now. But there are a lot of tomorrows… make sure that whatever bike you get, you're ready for. That being said, I'm sure most people don't take this advise. Just remember when you're older and wiser and you try to give the same advise to new riders in the future to remind them that someone told you so back in the day and you refused to listen.
Okay. I hope I didn't offend anyone. I know this is a forum of people who love their FZ-09's. If you didn't, you wouldn't be here. The people who come here to bitch about their bikes don't stick around long. My point is that, despite it's many positive aspects, the FZ-09 has some substantial flaws, too. That doesn't make it a bad bike -- quite the contrary. It's a wonderful bike for the price. It probably would be a wonderful bike at $9500, too. I just wanted to give an unbiased opinion to the folks out there who might be looking to purchase the bike, but are unable to ride one beforehand. Bottom line… the engine is great. The riding position is pretty darn good. The power is sweet. The sound is stellar. The handling is mostly good with regards to the fact that it's light and flickable. However the suspension really is as bad as a lot of people are saying and the fueling is twitchy… and the two of those things throw a bit of a wet blanket (albeit a small one) over some of the fun.
Will I buy one? I dunno yet. But the fact that I'm still considering it should show that I generally endorse the bike.
