Starting to have second thoughts...FZ-09 owners needed

[winifredbarkle]

After spending some time yesterday sitting on both the FZ and FJ at a local dealer, I'm starting to get cold feet about my decision to purchase the FJ in the near future. Is that $2300 extra really worth it for me? I know this is a question only I can answer (in theory) but I'd like some additional input to those of you switching from the FZ to the FJ (Cruisin!!)
 
Why are you making the switch?
 
About me: 5'5", weekend warrior, fair weather rider, occasional touring (max ~500 miles per day), 3 years on a Ninja 250 (occasionally a Honda 919).
 

-Center Stand
-ABS/TC
-Hard cases

-Higher stock seat
-Weighs slightly more
-Not a huge fan of the 2015 color options (love the race blue unfortunately)
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[RandyD]

I can't comment on the FZ but I can share my thought on walking away from a very similar bike to the FZ. I'm 43 5'9" and I traded in an 08' Hypermotard Ducati. Almost identical ergonomics to the FZ. While the Hyper was giggles for miles the suspension sucked and it was downright scary handling. The FJ is much more composed In a corner. I'm told the FZ will also scare you silly and 2 minutes on an FZ forum classified board and it's nothing but in search of this shock or that fork kit. The reviews about better suspension on the FJ have to have some merit.
 
The other things the I love are the wind protection. So over eating wind on the hyper. Easily removable luggage is just a plus. I intend to do some touring on this bike. As I've gotten older every bike has got more upright LOL. The thing the hyper was awesome at was giant power wheelies. I can happily report the FJ would blow it's doors off in a straight line and still pull a great power wheelie or so I'm told
 
I have zero regrets about going with the FJ. There are very few panels to have painted if you really want to change the color. I'm having my painter do a new helmet for me now. As soon as another red FJ pulls up next to me I'll be painting mine

[fzkenm]

Had the FZ. Just bought an FJ. Lost the FZ due to a Jihadist deer that destroyed it. Was intending to replace it with another FZ and then I found out about the FJ. My reasons for making the change: ABS, better seat (& adjustable), center stand, larger fuel tank, otherwise same awesome machine. Reasons I hesitated: heavier (~50 lbs), fairing (I preferred the simpler look of just a small windscreen), about $2k more OTD, lack of blurple wheels.
 
I'll be looking at ways to reduce the weight of the bike. Of course, I can reduce my weight (which, coincidentally, I'm about 50 lbs more than I should be) and that wouldn't cost anything. But I do like the sound of this motor with a pipe and that can lose close to 10 lbs right there. Right now it sits under a cover in the garage waiting for decent weather while a peruse this forum living vicariously through those that are not weather bound.

[bmac]

List price may be $2300 difference but street price is $1500 to $2000 difference.
 
The actual differences in the bike are well published and you have most of them listed. The big change is how these differences affect function. Wind protection and better luggage options are a couple of key items in addition to better passenger accommodations. Suspension is better, fueling is fixed (as it now is on the FZ) and it has a bigger gas tank. In general terms the FJ is more versatile. It really comes down to what you want to do with the bike and what are your priorities. The FJ will definitely be the better tourer.
 
If I had known the FJ was quickly following the FZ I would have held off with the purchase. I am 6'2" so I need the extra seat height. The move to the FJ will cost me about 4K where your decision is about 1/2 that amount. If the FJ and FZ were released at the same time I would have bet the FJ would be the better seller.

[Cruizin]

List price may be $2300 difference but street price is $1500 to $2000 difference.  
The actual differences in the bike are well published and you have most of them listed. The big change is how these differences affect function. Wind protection and better luggage options are a couple of key items in addition to better passenger accommodations. Suspension is better, fueling is fixed (as it now is on the FZ) and it has a bigger gas tank. In general terms the FJ is more versatile. It really comes down to what you want to do with the bike and what are your priorities. The FJ will definitely be the better tourer.
 
If I had known the FJ was quickly following the FZ I would have held off with the purchase. I am 6'2" so I need the extra seat height. The move to the FJ will cost me about 4K where your decision is about 1/2 that amount. If the FJ and FZ were released at the same time I would have bet the FJ would be the better seller.

 
I have an FZ-09. It's a wheelie machine, a hooligan machine. Fun bike, until you hit the corners. In the corners, I go alot slower than I do on other bikes because the suspension is complete shet. And the FZ-07 has even less settings than the FZ-09, but seem to be a bit firmer.
 
I'm selling my FZ-09 to get an FJ-09. It has much better dampening and springs, plus handwarmers, bigger fuel tank, better seat, etc, etc.
 
So, I would chose both the FZ-07 and the FJ-09 over the FZ-09. For what you have to pay to upgrade the FZ-09 suspension, you could just get an FJ-09 for te same money total.
 

[Cruizin]

After spending some time yesterday sitting on both the FZ and FJ at a local dealer, I'm starting to get cold feet about my decision to purchase the FJ in the near future. Is that $2300 extra really worth it for me? I know this is a question only I can answer (in theory) but I'd like some additional input to those of you switching from the FZ to the FJ (Cruisin!!) 
Why are you making the switch?
 
About me: 5'5", weekend warrior, fair weather rider, occasional touring (max ~500 miles per day), 3 years on a Ninja 250 (occasionally a Honda 919).
 

[tbody][td style=padding:3px]Pros:[td style=padding:3px]-Partial fairing and stock windscreen -Center Stand
-ABS/TC
-Hard cases

[td style=padding:3px]Cons:[td style=padding:3px]-$2300 more -Higher stock seat
-Weighs slightly more
-Not a huge fan of the 2015 color options (love the race blue unfortunately)
[/tbody]

 
 
Again, i'm selling my FZ-09 for an FJ-09. The FZ-07 and FZ-09 are both great bikes, but the suspension is complete shet. I take corners alot slower than on other bikes because the forks are just mush, and the FZ-07 has even less settings than the FZ-09. You can't even set sag on a stock FZ-09 or FZ-07, without dumping money into dampening, springs and shock. And by the time you do that, combined with what you paid for the FZ-09, you could have bought an FJ-09 already.
 
Now, if you ride slow, dont hit the twisties with anger, and are pretty sure that you will always go mellow in the corners, then the stock FZ-07 is the best bike.
 
Also, where will you be riding it? If you want to do some road trips, the FJ-09 is the bike to have because it has some wind protection, comfortable seat, and you can put side bags on it, also has a larger fuel tank.
 
 
The FJ-09 will outperform alot of more expensive Sport Touring bikes with that wonderful triple engine, has a pretty damned good stock suspension, and cost 3-4 grand less then the other sport touring bikes out there that you will be passing an laughing at. And, it weighs 5070 lbs less then these other sport touring bikes.
 
If you are just riding around town and the occasional one day road trip, the FJ-09 might be overkill.
 
But if you are gonna take corners hauling ass, either get an FZ-07 and spend $1400 or so on suspension or just get an FJ-09 if you also want to take longer trips and be comfortable.
 
Do not take a stock FZ-07 or FZ-09 into the corners hot, or it will pogo stick in the middle of the corner, causing your tire to skip and then you lowside into the trees.
 
I honestly think I could remove the fork internals from my FZ-09, poop in the forks after a good meal, put the caps back on and have better suspension then the stock FZ-09 and FZ-07.
 
 

[winifredbarkle]

I honestly think I could remove the fork internals from my FZ-09, poop in the forks after a good meal, put the caps back on and have better suspension then the stock FZ-09 and FZ-07.
 

That is an amazing visual Cruzin hahaha 
But alas, yes you've touched on a few things that describe me. I am not a terribly aggressive rider, and I have a feeling the FZ suspension won't feel as bad to me. I think the FJ is likely overkill for the type of riding I do, and the FZ-07 would be more than sufficient. Unfortunately, I just don't really like the ergonomics of the 07 just sitting on it (repeatedly) at the dealer. Maybe on the road, sitting farther back on the seat it would be okay, but I'm just not impressed with the fit. But I totally agree, if I plan on doing a suspension upgrade, I'm better off getting the FJ to start. Gah, if only I had enough money to through into multiple bikes to fit my every whim!

[ULEWZ]

Read the reviews, all the reviewers rave about the FJ-09 suspension, especially when compaired to the FZ-09. I have flogged mine in the twisties, and the confidence you get is uncanny. I love this bike and have only one regret, I wish I got it sooner.