Yamaha Fz-09 Review

Used Buyer Review

The FZ-09 is one of those bikes that rewards experienced riders and absolutely punishes overconfidence. That 847cc triple is genuinely spectacular — torquey, characterful, and sounds like nothing else in this class. Early models (2014-2016) came with notoriously twitchy throttle mapping and suspension that felt like it was borrowed from a budget commuter. Yamaha fixed both issues progressively, so hunt down a 2017 or newer if you can stretch the budget. Used examples are everywhere, which tells you two things: it sold brilliantly, and some owners couldn't handle it. Check the subframe carefully — these things get dropped in parking lots constantly, and a bent subframe is expensive. Also inspect the exhaust headers for corrosion and look for leaking fork seals. The stock suspension is better on later models but still a worthwhile upgrade if you plan to ride hard. For the money, there's genuinely nothing else that delivers this much engine character and straight-line excitement. Just go in with eyes open.