2017 Yamaha FJ-09 Tracer commuter review

Brilliant? Boring? How is it in city? Watch & find out.

[@BucketWheat]

I am not so much looking at adventure touring, but just the more upright riding position for 80% of my riding, and the added comfort of the wind protection...yet still VERY capable in the twisty mountain roads without being 'tired' before I arrive during the hour and a half ride to get there...or during a ride of several hours for a weekend get-away...

[@JP1970]

Floyd Burdett I bought this bike last week to upgrade my naked MT-07, and I love the bigger bike and bigger engine. It opens up more possibilities. I wouldn’t say it’s an adventure bike but definitely a sport cruiser. Great bike, for sure!!

[@kyjelly5524]

JP1970 nice! I’m looking at the fj09 and the fz09. I’m torn. People say the fz is more fun but the fj is better for long distance

[@rjo2020]

Brilliant Review! Practical, very informative in ways the rider needs and the owner can understand. No hype! A totally useful information treasure!

[@ShadBo]

Excellent review. You had some info I haven't seen in other FJ-09 reviews, and I've watched almost every English review on KZbin. Nice work.

[@theoverengineer]

Thanks for watching.

[@eduardosilva7304]

Super detailed review, you mentioned important "details" that were never addressed in other reviews I've seen before, from this bike before. Thank you

[@theoverengineer]

Thanks for watching!

[@sesarman]

Super informative review, this is how all reviews should be

[@edwardweiszbeck1649]

arman sesar good video. Thorough. Thanks for making it.

[@banditgirl992]

Great revieuw. I have a tracer 900 and i love it. I am 1.80 meter and i tried the 700 . But the 900 is for tall people much better. No problems with the limbs

[@kylehsings]

As many others have said, this is a very thorough and helpful review. Thanks much!

[@tedwitus]

Excellent review and comparison .. your knowledge of motorcycles and specifically FJ-09 is very helpful and valuable Thanks theoverengineer

[@POPPASHANGO]

Excellent Review! Take note KZbinrs! We actually got to see the bike and some many of the features shown on the video and pointed out. NOT 30 minutes + of watching the road, the gauges and handlebars while you talk about the feature you never show. The POV is just a part of a review...and should not be the entire review. If you do just a ride along POV video...call it that...not a review. Well done here.

[@theoverengineer]

Cheers, thx 4 watching.

[@JinKazama92]

Very rare kind of moto reviewer. Very technical. Subscribing. :)

[@SololaneMvlog]

omg it looks awesome in white!!! didn't even know it existed!!

[@theoverengineer]

It does in North America, may not in other markets.

[@chiltern46]

Very useful review.

[@JP1970]

Wonderful video! I just bought one of these last week....subbed! Thank you!

[@theoverengineer]

Excellent choice, congratulations & thanks for watching!

[@bikersquest]

I love Yamaha bikes for their crazy valve clearance intervals lol

[@theoverengineer]

Yup, duly noted as an engineering detail. Hey, thanks for watching!

[@Bill.Papadakis]

"thats what i like in motorbikes and wifes" LOL that was good xD

[@theoverengineer]

nice catch ;) Thnks for watching!

[@michaelottesen5062]

Great Review!!! Can you give some hyperlinks for the different gear and boxes. Thank you.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

There are Tall & Short people out there .. Sounds like some people need to get some offset handle bar spacers.. Some bikes have adjustable handle bar positions .. or is that snowmobiles ..? Some snowmobiles you can adjust on the trail with no tools .. ect ..

[@DavidHain-TX]

Excellent information. Thank you.

[@gtx332]

Such a nice looking bike externally combined with a cold war era Russian submarine dash design, ist like 2 different design teams

[@theoverengineer]

Japanese design coordination never resulted in Maseratis ...

[@gtx332]

haha yeah, but I reckon the outside of the bike looks quite nice.. just that dash is a killer

[@M3rover]

Great video

[@stevewebb3499]

Really good review thank you.

[@Nine_883]

Not adventure touring at all. Sport touring is closer, but it’s not that much of a super long range tour bike like an FJR.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

MT-09 has a longer Swing Arm .. I like the GT Model

[@standandeliver8376]

Mike Skidmore, I'm afraid that's incorrect. Up to and including 2017, both bikes had identical swingarms. The latest TRACER (2018 onwards) has a longer swingarm for better touring stability.

[@WP4FGaming]

Great review man !!!

[@Joshmofoz]

Daytona motorsports in Vancouver? I work on the Port, I stop in there from time to time.

[@theoverengineer]

That`s right, and they`re very nice.

[@tippytailmckitty2658]

FJ 09 is a sport touring bike. Not adventure touring bike, according to Yamaha's website.

[@oliverallen5324]

According to everything about the bike, it's not designed for off road at all, which i where adventure lives. Still a fun video to watch anyway. This looks like a good bike to commute, have some fun with on the highway, and can take you through a few states without much drama.

[@raymondhannah6891]

My MT-09 Tracer handles dirt roads very well Oliver.

[@dougiequick1]

why is the tracer so much heavier than FZ? even without panniers Some extra body panels and heavier sub frame.what else DDS all the weight? 4 liters larger tank would only account for 10 OE 12 pounds?

[@theoverengineer]

It's fine, in design heavier means more durable. Lighter parts are carefully designed to be strong yet light. The FZ is made more with a scalpel (still not an R1) than the tracer. The extra weight is just there for extra beef on all parts, metal and plastic, from engine to gearbox to tires and wheels to battery and seat foam. Everything. A similar manufacturing consideration is between pro grade light aluminum carabiners vs. general use steel carabiners. I know bikes are not rock climbing, but technology differences are similar. A rope access window washing crew would take steel carabiners that can be dragged through roofing mastic, the truck can run over it, and it still works fine and is safe. The aluminum carabiner scratches and gets gouged out by sharp rocks, but is light so easy to carry along.

[@djbgatekeeper]

Great review thank you.

[@laexh]

Maybe you took a soft particular fj 09, yet common observation by reviewers and users, are high frequency vibrations from 4,500 4pm upwards

[@theoverengineer]

I don`t do theories, grab one and test it.

[@laexh]

theoverengineer I do own one. I do not do theories neither. I don't deny the one you tested was soft... I say that it's a common observation among owners and some reviewers, to notice the vibrations. You may check fj-09.org, there are several posts on the matter

[@theoverengineer]

Nice, thanks for sharing

[@dirkvandenabeeleHungary]

Whatt about tal riders? i am 6 f t 6, 1 m 98, Is this bike a lot bigger than the 700? the 700 was to small for me. thanks in advance, Dirk

[@theoverengineer]

You tell us. Go to a dealer, try both on.

[@banditgirl992]

Much taller than the 700. If you are tall go for the 900

[@beanburnham01]

I’m your height, 6’6” and love my FJ-09. I have long legs so I’m planning to get a taller seat but it is totally manageable stock. There are 2 seat heights to choose from the factory and you can also move the bars forward by 10mm by flipping the risers around.

[@gsx1138]

Are your feet flat on the ground when you sit on it or are you up on your toes? I have the same inseam length.

[@theoverengineer]

Flat with knees bent slightly, both.

[@gsx1138]

Excellent, thank you. I'm selling my Harley and am used to being flat footed and close to the ground. This bike seems to be everything I'm really looking for.

[@nickferdinande1646]

In your opinion could someone do a multi day trip on this bike? I'm looking for an entry level sport touring.

[@theoverengineer]

I`m doing a multi-day trip on my Ninja ZX-6r. see: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYWciH5oqdWpnM0 People do multi-trip continent crossings on a 50cc scooter. Of course ANY bike can do multi-day trips IF the bike is right for the rider.

[@billupward8122]

I just finished a 10-day trip on my 2015 FJ. Great bike for this use, with the caveat that most people replace the seat and windscreen to make it more tour-friendly.

[@theoverengineer]

Did you replace either of those? Any other mods? How did those work?

[@billupward8122]

I bought my bike secondhand and it already had a replacement screen (Rifle, I believe) and seat (Yamaha Comfort). Screen was good but seat not so much. Looking into alternative options now. I've also swapped out the stock suspension (replaced with Ohlins 335 shock and GP fork piston kit) and added Shad 36L bags and Oxford grips. Just gotta find the right seat and it'll be a dream set-up.

[@pythonman8103]

So does the 2015 have a slipper clutch?

[@theoverengineer]

Explain to us here how that can be answered from trying the 2017 model.

[@dyzio2206]

plain knowledge... he can look for a 2015 review but obviously he doesn't

[@standandeliver8376]

Reviews don't generally tell you what bikes DON'T have, so why not just answer the question? No, the 2015 model doesn't have a slipper clutch.

[@ewalt5501]

I’m 6’4” how comfortable would I be during a ride?

[@theoverengineer]

Most likely: OK, fine, but not super

[@beanburnham01]

I’m 6’6” and fit on mine

[@erikroberts1899]

YOu have a senitive hand, funny this, my misses says you have!

[@charliesparta7947]

Jean Claude van damme