Picked up an FZ-09!

[tfkrocks]

So three ninjettes later, I really wanted a different bike. I intend to keep the Ninja 300 as my commuter but wanted a fun bike to go with it. About two months ago, after throwing around different options for the good part of a year, I bought a 2015 FZ-09.

Woo this thing has plenty of power everywhere. @CycleCam303 told me to only ride in A mode so test riding the bike was an interesting experience. It just wanted to wheelie all the time haha. Standard mode is good enough for me. Stock fueling is as annoying as all the reviews say it is. Throttle is very much on/off. That will be taken care of soon.

I bought the bike bone stock. Not even rear spools, which was annoying when I wanted to tinker on it right away. So far I've thrown on rear spools, tech spec tank grips, and a wind screen. I learned quickly that I hate the freeway on this bike if there's no wind screen.

The bike came with a broken high/low beam switch which resulted in no high beam; attempts to switch to high beam only left me with no lights at all which I discovered riding the bike home the night I bought it. It didn't seem worth it to buy a whole new FZ-09 switch though because for some reason Yamaha decided to swap the usual positions of the turn signal switch and the horn button. I was hitting the horn a lot on accident lol. I decided to pick up an R3 switch instead to use on my bike. Switched some pins around, soldered on a whole new wrote for the low beam, either lengthened or shortened wires, and put on a new sheath to make it fit like the stock switch and look clean. The whole switch fits a bit tight on the handlebar so the turn signal switch doesn't spring back to the center position but it works and isn't a huge deal to manually move the switch back to center.

I made the rear fender less obnoxious by removing the extender that comes with the bike and just bolting the actual fender part directly to the bike. I also cut off the lower-most portion of the fender and the reflectors. I could have just removed the bracket but it would take away am easy license plate mounting point and I liked how I could angle the license plate further away from the wheel with the bracket.

Mods I have planned for the near future:
- ECU flash (to fix the twitchy fueling)
- Full Akrapovic carbon exhaust (I already have it but I'm waiting until I get the ECU flashed)
- LED turn signals
- ???

I swear I'll remember to take more pictures eventually lol

[adouglas]

Nice!

Originally Posted by tfkrocks

I learned quickly that I hate the freeway on this bike if there's no wind screen.

With all the buzz around naked bikes, all too often this is overlooked. They really can wear you out.

[csmith12]

Awesome! I just sat on one of these last night. The owner (a rider I trust) basically said the same thing you did. Good luck and enjoy the bike!

[HoneyBadgerRy]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Nice!



With all the buzz around naked bikes, all too often this is overlooked. They really can wear you out.

With the highway use I see, a hypermotard is much better than a ninja 250. I barley notice the lack of a windscreen, and the passing power is awesome.

[Brother Michigan]

Not bad. I got to ride the FZ-09 in a suit (XSR900) a few weekends ago and it was a fun ride for sure. Enjoy!

[VaFish]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Nice!



With all the buzz around naked bikes, all too often this is overlooked. They really can wear you out.

I didn't realize it until I swapped bikes with my daughter on a ride a couple months ago. After that we fixed the broken fairing and installed it back on her bike. Even the little fairing on a sport bike makes a huge difference.

[NevadaWolf]

Nice!! Yay for new bikes!

[Sirref]

Nice! There's a part of me that wants one, good thought about the highway wind. My ninjas have never been good about that so I haven't really considered it as an important issue

[tfkrocks]

Riding on the freeway without a windscreen was like a built-in speed limiter. It became too much work to hold on once I hit about 80 mph. The ninjette was better than that lol. Of course, I now have a windscreen and it's not as much of an issue but I've heard the windscreen doesn't deflect air to the right places for many people. Benefits of being short

[CaliGrrl]

Congrats on your new bike!

[Mike V]

I thought about one of these too. One of the area motorcycle shops has 8 of them discounted at $7,199. No red though - just gray and yellow.

My work commute is highway though, so the naked bike isn't the best option for me.

[RacinNinja]

Soooo jealous right now!

This bike is on my short list.

I'll take a yellow one, please and thank you!

[tfkrocks]

I would've rather had one with the silly blurple wheels but the one I got was a way better deal. The matte grey is nice though.

[Panda]

Why do people cover up their license plates when they post pics?

I realized I do it b/c I see other people do it but I have no idea why.

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by Panda

Why do people cover up their license plates when they post pics?

I realized I do it b/c I see other people do it but I have no idea why.

Protect identity at least by a slight amount. Probably doesn't matter that much in the grand scheme of things but it doesn't hurt.

[tfkrocks]

Oh yeah that's why I like keeping stock fenders. I ride in the rain. Now the back of my bike and me get a thorough soaking with dirty water thanks to the shortened fender lol. Never gonna eliminate the fender on the 300 now.

[RacinNinja]

Originally Posted by tfkrocks

Protect identity at least by a slight amount. Probably doesn't matter that much in the grand scheme of things but it doesn't hurt.

If you really sit down and think about it, you expose your plate to far more people on a daily commute basis than will ever see it on the internet.

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by RacinNinja

If you really sit down and think about it, you expose your plate to far more people on a daily commute basis than will ever see it on the internet.

That's why I said it probably doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things haha

[cadd]

Congrats! Sweet ride.

I rode an FZ-07 and it was a blast. My only complaint is that the pegs are in the way when I put my foot down! Took a bit of getting used to. I thought about adding either an FZ-07/09 to the garage, but I'm tempted to get the Street Triple as well.

Any particular reason you decided on the FZ-09 compared to its competitors? Did you cross shop it with the Street Triple or the Brutale by any chance? Rumor has it that the next Street Triple will be around 800cc to be in better position to compete with bikes like the FZ-09 in terms of power.

[RacinNinja]

Originally Posted by cadd

Congrats! Sweet ride.

I rode an FZ-07 and it was a blast. My only complaint is that the pegs are in the way when I put my foot down! Took a bit of getting used to. I thought about adding either an FZ-07/09 to the garage, but I'm tempted to get the Street Triple as well.

Any particular reason you decided on the FZ-09 compared to its competitors? Did you cross shop it with the Street Triple or the Brutale by any chance? Rumor has it that the next Street Triple will be around 800cc to be in better position to compete with bikes like the FZ-09 in terms of power.

Speed Triple is 1050cc...

I've had my eye on the Brutale Dragster for a loooong time. That single sided swingarm with spoked wheels is pure sex.

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by cadd

Congrats! Sweet ride.

I rode an FZ-07 and it was a blast. My only complaint is that the pegs are in the way when I put my foot down! Took a bit of getting used to. I thought about adding either an FZ-07/09 to the garage, but I'm tempted to get the Street Triple as well.

Any particular reason you decided on the FZ-09 compared to its competitors? Did you cross shop it with the Street Triple or the Brutale by any chance? Rumor has it that the next Street Triple will be around 800cc to be in better position to compete with bikes like the FZ-09 in terms of power.

I wasn't ready to go European yet haha. Continuing to stick with a reliable Japanese bike for now. Cheaper overall.

[ForceofWill]

Nice pick up! I looked at these hard for a bit.

[jBazz]

Congrats, I've had the FZ before I got my Ninja. Fun bike, a lot more fun since I have the suspension and fueling sorted out. Here they both are at Pocono last year.

[sharky nrk]

Buddy of time bought one and really really enjoys it. Have not had a chance to ride it, and probably would be best not too lol.

[algs26]

What are you doing without a topcase? Are you actually carrying your helmet around with you?!!

I demoed the FZ-09 when it first came out. Super easy to go extra legal speeds.

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by algs26

What are you doing without a topcase? Are you actually carrying your helmet around with you?!!

I demoed the FZ-09 when it first came out. Super easy to go extra legal speeds.

Ugh unfortunately. I hella miss having storage everywhere I go

[InvisiBill]

Originally Posted by RacinNinja

If you really sit down and think about it, you expose your plate to far more people on a daily commute basis than will ever see it on the internet.

In the real world, it's seen for a very short time by a lot of people, in a pretty anonymous setting. In a pic online, it's available forever, linked to you personally. While the actual plate is probably seen by more people daily, the picture is easier to use for creepy/malicious purposes (and my guess is that you're more likely to encounter those types of people online too).

It's the same reason I strip the metadata out of images I post online. It's easy enough to find me (and most average adults in the US) if you're looking, but I'd rather not give the whole world the GPS coordinates of every single pic I take.

[ULW]

Congrats! I got one in June, lots of mods since then. Fun machine.

[sharky nrk]

^^^ sharp

[tfkrocks]

Here's a proper picture

[allanoue]

If my next bike was not going to be electric, it would be this bike.

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by allanoue

If my next bike was not going to be electric, it would be this bike.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by tfkrocks

****

[algs26]

The ECU update didn't fix the twitchy throttle? I demoed the 1st year FZ and it was pretty bad. I had to put it in the softest mode.

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by algs26

The ECU update didn't fix the twitchy throttle? I demoed the 1st year FZ and it was pretty bad. I had to put it in the softest mode.

From what I've read, the only way to fix that is with an ECU flash. I've kinda gotten used to it but would be nice if it were perfectly smooth. Soon. Whenever my 300 finally gets out of the shop.

[ULW]

Originally Posted by algs26

The ECU update didn't fix the twitchy throttle? I demoed the 1st year FZ and it was pretty bad. I had to put it in the softest mode.

TFKROCKS is right. They keep working on it but the problem is not the throttle-bi-wire settings, but the EPA.

With a 14.7:1 AFR controlled with the narrow-band O2 sensor in closed loop mode (that's lower RPM and lower throttle settings) the AFR is very jerky in behavior. There's a guy in Australia who makes a controller to get the AFR to about 13.8 and it helps a lot, and that's at the limit of the narrowband O2 sensor... about $100. The Dynojet PCV comes with a controller (as it cannot control this areqa of the map with a tune) that's not quite as aggressive, and uses a 14.0 AFR, still better than stock.

The re-flash can only be effective if the closed loop strategy is disabled... and remapped for a 13.2 to 13.6 range... where it's soft. Idle can still be at 14.whatever but anything over that the soft behavior of a proper AFR is golden. I re-flash these ECU's here in Phoenix for $200 to get rid of the closed loop and jerky nature of the lean AFR's, to remove the speed limiter, to improve timing and fuel tables... makes a huge difference.

[RacinNinja]

Originally Posted by tfkrocks

From what I've read, the only way to fix that is with an ECU flash. I've kinda gotten used to it but would be nice if it were perfectly smooth. Soon. Whenever my 300 finally gets out of the shop.

I know a guy here in my neck of the woods that pioneered the ECU flashing for the FZ09 and people ship their ECU's to him from all over the country. If you'd like the information, I'd be happy to provide it via PM. I would HIGHLY recommend talking with him and sending him your ECU. The difference is amazing and he's a fantastic guy. You won't find another dyno shop with better customer service.

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by ULW

Congrats! I got one in June, lots of mods since then. Fun machine.

I love the exhaust!!!

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by RacinNinja

I know a guy here in my neck of the woods that pioneered the ECU flashing for the FZ09 and people ship their ECU's to him from all over the country. If you'd like the information, I'd be happy to provide it via PM. I would HIGHLY recommend talking with him and sending him your ECU. The difference is amazing and he's a fantastic guy. You won't find another dyno shop with better customer service.

I appreciate the offer. PM me and I'll check it out.

[RacinNinja]

This is the guy I was talking about. He did the fueling maps for the FlashTune FZ09 ECU tunes. Nels at 2 Wheel DynoWorks. There is a Revzilla article below. He's the only other person that gets to touch my machines but me. Fantastic guy!

http://www.revzilla.com/common-tread...ng-the-fueling