Test Rode FZ09, R6, and Bolt today.

[thisisbenji]

Like the title says, I test road the FZ09, R6, and Bolt today.

STREET REVIEW

Let me start by this is from a street prospective at speeds that I would ride on a daily basis.

Three VERY different bikes.

I started with the FZ-09, what a bike. The first thing I noticed sitting on it was how small the bike felt, it was almost as if I was sitting on the front wheel. I'm not sure that I liked the handlebar position they could be about an inch farther forward. Once I got on the gas I completely forgot about the handlebars. Wow, does this bike have some get up and go down low. It's got an amazing motor.

After the FZ-09 I moved on to the R6, what a difference. The R6 has a rather aggressive seating position IMO, it actually kind of hurt my bike after about ten minutes. Yet, every time I hit a corner I completely forgot about the fact that I was laying on the tank, this bike was a freakin' rails. The engine on the other hand was nothing to write home about. It didn't feel any faster than my bike, if anything it felt a little weaker down low. It was a huge loss in power compared to the FZ-09.

Finally I hopped on the Bolt, it's not for me. The brakes sucked, the seating position rivaled the R6 in comfort, and it was slow. I kept bouncing it off the rev-limiter. The Bolt did however seem well put together, I'v never ridden a HD 883, but I would imagine the Bolt competes with it just fine.

At the end of the test ride I came to a conclusion of what bike I would buy.

The Bolt was the worst of both worlds, it was uncomfortable and slow. I put it third on my list.

The R6 cornered like it was on rails, but felt rather weak in the motor department and my back didn't agree. I would buy it in a heart beat for track days, or if I lived somewhere with canyon roads. Here in the Midwest, it just doesn't make sense to me as a street bike.

The FZ-09, all the negatives in the reviews are B.S. The throttle response is great, even in A mode it's no problem to get onto the throttle smooth. In B mode the throttle gets even more smooth although the power is reduced to R6 levels. The FZ has gobs of torque and is easy to control in a city environment. In addition it was extremely comfortable. Power is more usable than the R6 and it's more comfortable than the Bolt. It would be my bike of choice for street riding.

P.s. I'm currently riding a 2009 FZ6, it's a sport-standard similar to the FZ-09 and uses a retuned R6 motor.

[subxero]

Do you know that non of the flicker images of your old bike come up in the link in your sig?

[thisisbenji]

Originally Posted by subxero

Do you know that non of the flicker images of your old bike come up in the link in your sig?

Now I do. I'll have to fix that, I'v been trying to go to photobucket for forums. It seems to be more reliable.

Here's my old 250r.



Here's my current FZ6.

[alex.s]

the r6 has a lot more power than the fz6. it is just all reserved to above 12krpm

[thisisbenji]

Originally Posted by alex.s

the r6 has a lot more power than the fz6. it is just all reserved to above 12krpm

I know that, but how often can I take a R6 above 12k on the street? That's why I said the FZ6 felt a little better. To me it felt like the FZ6 had a little more grunt in the 6k RPM range and that's where I do most of my riding. I would take the R6 over any of these bikes include my FZ6 for track usage. Just not for the street. I may still buy an R6 and just put the street plastics on ebay.

The purpose of this test for me was that I'm thinking about adding a second bike to the stable.

I'm not sure if I should get an R6 track bike and keep the FZ6 on the street, or if I should just keep tracking the FZ6 and get a FZ09 for the street.

I'm just a novice at the track and I only go 2-3 times a year, so I don't really need all the extra features of the R6.

[alex.s]

why would you not be able to take a bike to a certain rpm on the street? the r6 has basically no power below 9k.

[thisisbenji]

I mean going above 9k isn't a problem, but I thought the fz09 had a better curve for street riding.

I'm basing my opinions on street riding.

[alex.s]

you should try an r1

[thisisbenji]

I thought about that but I can't afford the insurance.

[alex.s]

i would have assumed the fz09 would cost more to insure than an older r1

[csmith12]

Insurance is less about what you own vs. the value of what you hit.

[Sirref]

ya R6 insurance is reasonable but R1 insurance is 2-3x the cost on average, at least for me.

an fz-09 costs less in insurance purely because it isn't categorized as a superbike

[thisisbenji]

Whenever I get quotes naked bikes tend to be way cheaper than than full faired bikes. If I got a really old r1 it would probably be cheaper, but I would want the current generation.

[rc racer]

Nice write up. I have an FZ09 and you are right the throttle twitchiness is not horrible but it does have its flaws. The biggest issue I have with it is when you try to carry lots of corner speed, are leaned way over and try to give just a little bit of maintenance throttle. Its nearly impossible to smoothly feed in extra throttle. You go from nothing to too much very fast due to the ride by wire butterflies.

Other than that the bike is amazing. Tons of power immediately available from idle up to red line. Perfect for stop and go zipping around town riding.

[thisisbenji]

Marthy over on the fz6 forum was telling me he got the $125 flash for the fz09 and it solved the twitchy ness.

[agentbad]

Originally Posted by thisisbenji

Now I do. I'll have to fix that, I'v been trying to go to photobucket for forums. It seems to be more reliable.

Here's my old 250r.



Here's my current FZ6.

Dig the front light mod which kit did you use? What would yall offer for a Fz6 good condition with 27k on it?

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by rc racer

try to carry lots of corner speed, are leaned way over and try to give just a little bit of maintenance throttle. Its nearly impossible to smoothly feed in extra throttle.

use the clutch

[Toly]

If U liked the FZ09, try the Street Triple. Just sayin'

[thisisbenji]

Originally Posted by agentbad

Dig the front light mod which kit did you use? What would yall offer for a Fz6 good condition with 27k on it?

I paid $4,500 for mine with 500 miles on it a year ago. It's a 2009.

The light is from a fz16.

The street triple is on my list as well.

[heyzeus]

The fz-09 is a great bike. I live in San Diego and the twisties here are epic. The fz-09 needs suspension work to see it's full capabilities. I love my MV Agusta 800. The magazine reviews do not do it justice. It is reliable and the throttle response is great. Mv keeps improving it. While Yamasaki expects you to pay someone to fixs there glitches. The MV is not expensive when you compare everything you get compared to the other bikes. The MV compared to the FZ-09 you get more power, better handling, upgraded suspension, better brakes, a two year warranty. I have almost 8000 miles on mine and it is flawless. MV's are reliable bikes and fairly easy to work on. You will also have a bike not everyone else has. Here is a picture of mine in a model shoot.

[Tigerpaw]

Originally Posted by alex.s

why would you not be able to take a bike to a certain rpm on the street? the r6 has basically no power below 9k.

This

[thisisbenji]

I think I already noted that going above 9k rpm on the street isn't really an issue it's just that I think the curve on the FZ09 is better for the street.

The problem with going over 9,000 is that the bike gets rather buzzy up there. So you upshift to bring the revs down when your just cruising along at 40 mph, but then when you get on the gas you don't have the power that you would with the FZ09 unless you down shift. This isn't an issue at the track when your very rarely below 10,000 rpm, but on the street it's somewhat annoying.

[thisisbenji]

Originally Posted by heyzeus

The fz-09 is a great bike. I live in San Diego and the twisties here are epic. The fz-09 needs suspension work to see it's full capabilities. I love my MV Agusta 800. The magazine reviews do not do it justice. It is reliable and the throttle response is great. Mv keeps improving it. While Yamasaki expects you to pay someone to fixs there glitches. The MV is not expensive when you compare everything you get compared to the other bikes. The MV compared to the FZ-09 you get more power, better handling, upgraded suspension, better brakes, a two year warranty. I have almost 8000 miles on mine and it is flawless. MV's are reliable bikes and fairly easy to work on. You will also have a bike not everyone else has. Here is a picture of mine in a model shoot.

I'm sure the MV is a great bike, especially for you in San Diego. But I'm glad that Yamaha skimped on the suspension of the FZ09. For us guys in the midwest we mostly just have straight roads to ride. It would really suck to have to spend $12,000 on a bike that wouldn't do any better than the $8,000 one with worse suspension. I have no real use for upgraded suspension components on the street as most of my riding is in a straight line. Any corners I do hit are high speed sweepers. Nothing technical in my area.

[CycleCam303]

The r6 is a terrible street bike. I'm convinced all of the supersports are just not great for generic street riding.

Your review for those bikes sound spot on.

One of our local riders got a brutale. 800 miles into ownership and we were asking him about the oil coming g down the case. I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole. Says the guy with a Ducati lol.

[supersport]

Originally Posted by heyzeus

The fz-09 is a great bike. I live in San Diego and the twisties here are epic. The fz-09 needs suspension work to see it's full capabilities. I love my MV Agusta 800. The magazine reviews do not do it justice. It is reliable and the throttle response is great. Mv keeps improving it. While Yamasaki expects you to pay someone to fixs there glitches. The MV is not expensive when you compare everything you get compared to the other bikes. The MV compared to the FZ-09 you get more power, better handling, upgraded suspension, better brakes, a two year warranty. I have almost 8000 miles on mine and it is flawless. MV's are reliable bikes and fairly easy to work on. You will also have a bike not everyone else has. Here is a picture of mine in a model shoot.

Did the may update fix the crazy stall issues on the B 800?

[heyzeus]

I have had no stall issues, no oil leaks, nothing so far at almost 8000 miles. The Brutale is a reliable bike. The fueling is great. My only issue is the bike can have explosive exceleration that you have to pay attention to. She will wheelie in 4th gear if you are not careful. The bike is great. I let a friend ride it who has a FZ09. He said he wishes the MV motor was in his Yamaha. He has back issues so the sportier riding position of my bike is hard for him. The FZ09 is more upright like a dirt bike. The MV with my lower bars straddles the line between sport bike and naked. I changed the bars to get more weight over the front end.

[heyzeus]

Originally Posted by CycleCam303

The r6 is a terrible street bike. I'm convinced all of the supersports are just not great for generic street riding.

Your review for those bikes sound spot on.

One of our local riders got a brutale. 800 miles into ownership and we were asking him about the oil coming g down the case. I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole. Says the guy with a Ducati lol.

He probably did not lube his chain right. If you don't use a wax base lube when the bike warms up it looks like you have a oil leak. It was probably excess chain lube. Mine looked that way until I clean the chain and used chain wax instead.

[thisisbenji]

Originally Posted by heyzeus

That would be a MUCH better photo without the lady, just saying.

[heyzeus]

I agree