2014 Yamaha FZ-09 - Coolness Factor: 78.3%

[BRUMBEAR]

Fairly standard for a Japanese bike.

If they can offer a 5yr warranty on their Royal Star lineup, why can't they do the same for the rest of their models? By comparison, Ural offers a 2yr unlimited mileage warranty, Royal Enfield has a 2yr/10k warranty, Harley has a 2yr warranty, BMW offers a 3yr warranty...

I am sure their are a lot of reasons but probably comes down to it is much cheaper to replace a star engine or powertrain than the cost of a more costly to make sportbike engines and the msrp doesn't have enough in it. That and the way they are used and where the power is in the engines operation.

[jstark47]

Triples are cool. Nakeds are cool. It gets a Cool vote from me.

[Grey Thumper]

Nice engine, nice weight, nice looks, nice price. Cool then.

[sapaul]

This bike does speak to me, although I usually reserve comment until I ride them, I give this an awesome. I just get that feeling that this is going to have loads and loads of low down grunt from that triple with lots of flick-ability and a slick box that is just going to make the ovaries tingle. A traffic carver with attitude. I like the whole thought process here.

[Chabu]

The gold forks kept me from hitting awesome. I checked the Yamaha site and it looks like its standard on 2014 and silver was on 2013. I have as much fondness for gold as I do for minivans.

[totalmotorcycle]

I decided on: Awesome

Yamaha's first triple cylinder in over 30 years and it's a good sized (cc) one at that. Imagine this bike 30 years ago and it would blow the doors off of even the racing bikes in the day. Today, it's good to see Yamaha making a stride to do something different than their regular lineup. I used to consider Yamaha to be (out of the 4 Japanese makers) the "safe" choice, nothing crazy, nothing odd, nothing too out there. Yamaha is surely changing and innovating. I do think the FZ-09 is a bit of a MV Agusta copy though, but coping a top of the line manufacturer isn't so bad; manufacturers have been copying each other for decades.

I do like the looks of the bike, but like Hanson said, I'm not a fan of the angular style movement. And I have to add I love the gold front forks even though they are not for everyone's taste. The instrument panel is just too weird the headlight odd and I'm not so sure it is that comfortable from it's looks. But a triple option. Really neat.

I wonder if this means the end of the FZ8 and FZ1 now? I wonder if Yamaha will produce a XJ triple?

Mike

[High_Side]

I'll go with cool as I like that they are doing something different, but that "different" in my eye is very much a cheaper copy of a speed or street triple. I like the frame but the entire bike doesn't seem to really fit together. I think I need to ride one to be sure

[sunshine229]

I'll go with Awesome

[totalmotorcycle]

Your Coolness Factor of the 2014 Yamaha FZ-09 is.. 78.3% and finishes on our Cool Wall tied for 4th place (as of today)

Awesome (3 points) 51% [ 22 ]
Cool (2 points) 35% [ 15 ]
Uncool (1 point) 12% [ 5 ]
Fail (0 point) 2% [ 1 ]

Total votes : 43

Average points per vote: 101/43 = 2.35
Standardized to a maximum of 3 points: 2.35/3 x 100 = 78.3
...Therefore, this bike ranks a Coolwall Factor of 78.3%

Commentary: Some feel it's unique, others think it's a cheap knockoff of a higher end (MV Agusta) brand. No matter what it is/could be based on, it's Yamaha's first 3-cylinder bike in over 30 years. Yamaha says more 3-cylinder bikes are coming out, it will be interesting to follow this new trend in the future!