2015 YAMAHA FZ-09
QUICKSPIN
P120
this year; its good for all types of riding
and is where we usually kept the set-
ting, but you have to reset the engine
mode back to whichever setting you
had it whenever you shut off the en-
gine. This gets seriously irritating rather
quickly, but you just eventually get used
to it, and toggling through the modes
simply becomes one of your regular
steps in your start-up routine.
Overall, though, the FZ-09 fueling is
markedly improved over the '14 but is
still a wee bit abrupt when you crack
the throttle in Standard and A modes.
Engine braking is also a little heavy
with the FZ-09, which contributes to its
sometimes herky-jerky feel. Otherwise,
the FZ-09's powerplant is awesome.
Suspension leaves a little to be de-
sired like it did in '14. From the factory,
the suspension is a little on the soft
side if you're anything over 150 pounds;
under 150 pounds, you're sitting good
but you may want more rebound damp-
ing. (The shock does not offer com-
pression damping adjust-
ments.) Riders closer to
the 200-pound mark, you'll
notice the light springs
right away. If you tighten
the preload too much
the lack of dampening
starts to come to the surface, but we
were able to find a pretty good setting
for a variety of roads. The fork offers
rebound damping and preload adjust-
ments. Maybe down the road, Yamaha
will fit the FZ-09 with a little higher
Although not perfect, fuel
delivery is much improved
over the 2014 model.
What is the
best thing
about the FZ-
09? It's just
plain fun to
ride.
