2017 YAMAHA FZ-09
FIRST TEST
P116
The '17 FZ-09 has full list
of things in common with
the FZ-10. They are: ABS,
traction control, assist and
slipper clutch, optional
quick shifter, fully adjustable
forks and LED headlight
and tail light; previously, it
shared with the FZ-10 just
its Controlled Fill die-cast
aluminum frame and swing-
arm, YCC-T (Yamaha Chip
Controlled Throttle) and D-
Mode (Yamaha Drive Mode);
plus, of course, Yamaha's
120° Crossplane crankshaft
design in its wonderful,
adrenaline pumping 847cc,
inline, three-cylinder engine.
As before, the 09's D-
Mode offers three choices:
"A" (direct response), "STD"
(normal response) and "B"
(softer response), and the
new-to-the-09 TCS system
also has three options: "2"
(street riding – high inter-
vention), "1" (sports riding
– low intervention) and "Off"
(no intervention). The new
two-stage ABS, however,
cannot be turned off.
The FZ-09's ECU has
again been tweaked for
even smoother off-to-on
throttle feel; Yamaha says
the 09 uses the same FI
mapping as its XSR900 and
FJ-09.
Yamaha pre-wired the
'17 FZ-09 for its acces-
sory quick-shifter that uses
technology derived from the
R-series, and the new assist
and slipper clutch reduces
lever effort by as much as
20 percent, Yamaha claims.
A welcome upgrade for
sure is the more adjustable
41mm KYB USD fork—you
can now say that the 09's
front suspension is fully ad-
justable, because an adjust-
able compression-damping
cartridge has been added
to the existing rebound and
preload adjustment features.
Compression is handled in the
left leg, rebound in the right
leg, and preload in both legs.
The shock, however, hasn't
changed. It still features pre-
load and rebound damping
(Left) We're likin'
the redesigned LED
quad headlamp.
(Below) We wanted
better suspension
and we got it. At
least up front.
