Yamaha hit pay dirt with its 2014 FZ-09. Powered by an all-new 847cc Inline Triple, the FZ won over riders with its naked styling, hooligan performance capabilities and, perhaps most important, its surprisingly low $7990 MSRP. The FZ became Yamaha’s top-selling street bike for 2014 and it aims to capitalize on that success with a derivative sport-touring version dubbed the FJ-09.
The Tuning Fork brand’s market research claims sport-touring sales have increased 34% from 2009 to 2013. There’s also a presumption that some riders are not being served by the current offerings in the touring segment. While most ST bikes feature impressive engines and sporty handling, they also typically weigh between 600-700 pounds and carry price tags starting at $15,000 and cresting well above $20K. Yamaha’s own FJR1300 is a prime example – a fantastic bike (and a personal favorite of this tester), but also a 640-pound bike that costs $15,890 ($16,890 for ES version). With its FJ-09, Yamaha delivers a legitimate sport-tourer, but one that weighs 462 pounds and retails for $10,490.
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