Sold My 2017 FJ09 Bought 2018 MT-09-Comparisons

[Boat]

I usually don't post much here and just used the forum for info and searching for questions I had.  I could usually find answers without having to post a new thread.  But I figured I'd start a new thread to let everyone know I sold my '17 FJ09.  I really loved the bike and all the features it had.  It was just the wrong tool for the job for me.  I tend to mostly ride canyons and twisty backroads and have a very short commute to work.  99% of the time I didn't use the luggage on the FJ.  I planned to go on some long distance tours, but due to work and family stuff I never found the time...

I listed it for sale and found a really cool buyer in Colorado who bought it sight unseen.  He did a fly in and ride out.  I actually picked him up at the airport in my Corvette and showed him some local twisties on the way home LOL...

I then found a like new very low mile '18 MT09 and pulled the trigger.  The thing I liked most about the FJ is the CP3 triple engine.  I was actually looking for a MT09 or FZ09 when I bought the FJ09...

The one thing that I could not stand about the FJ was the massive amount of wind noise and buffeting inside the helmet (Schuberth c4 pro, and Shoei Qwest).  I tried 3 different windscreens and none of them worked.  I even tried removing the mirrors, handguards, etc.  I suffer from tinnitus and wear custom earplugs and it was still intolerable at freeway speeds.  As far as riding comparisons, believe it or not, the naked MT has pretty much zero buffeting and is much more tolerable at speed.  The riding position and controls feel a bit different, but overall the similarities are very apparent.  The MT feels a bit zippier and more sporty than the FJ.  It seems to be more easily flickable in side to side transitions, which is most likely due to the weight difference.  The only thing I miss about the FJ is its larger tank capacity...

Here is a pic of my FJ and my new MT.  I've already done a few mods. It was bone stock and all matte black when I got it (yes, I like blue 😁...)...Full suspension upgrades are in the works...

Take care and I'll see some of you over at the FZ09 forum...!

[miweber929]

I am close to selling my Tracer GT for something different and am thinking an MT-09SP or XSR900 may be the ticket. I have a deposit at my local dealer in hopes the XSR900 GP comes stateside but I fear that is not going to happen so I may just "settle" for the non-faired version.

Thanks for the review!!!

[Ride365]

On 12/1/2023 at 5:09 PM, miweber929 said:

I am close to selling my Tracer GT for something different and am thinking an MT-09SP or XSR900 may be the ticket. I have a deposit at my local dealer in hopes the XSR900 GP comes stateside but I fear that is not going to happen so I may just "settle" for the non-faired version.

Thanks for the review!!!

I suggest the MT-10.  

[miweber929]

5 hours ago, Ride365 said:

I suggest the MT-10.  

I appreciate the thought but not my aesthetic and that much power is kind of a waste on the street in my opinion. My dad had a couple 2nd gen FZ-1’s and I just never gelled with them nor did I find that motor particularly appealing. I know it’s the newer crossplane but it’s the same idea. Way too easy to get into territory with speed where they don’t just ticket you but you end up having it impounded. 
 

Been there, done that, with liter 4cylinder bikes. 
 

To me 100-125hp is the perfect amount: fast enough for fun, enough punch to excite but you have to want to go real fast to go real fast. The Yamaha 900 triple is a perfect fun/controllable/don’t have to think about it ratio.