Not since Yamaha built the XS750/XS850 models from 1976 through 1981 has the Japanese motorcycle marquee wandered down the road of building triple engines in its motorcycles.
But this has changed for the 2014 model year. Unveiled Tuesday at Yamaha’s National Dealer Meeting in Las Vegas, the FZ-09 features an 847cc inline triple that produces 65 ft. lbs. of torque.
Yamaha went through great efforts to compare and contrast the FZ-09 with its other leading naked sportbike, the inline-four FZ8. The FZ-09 is lighter by 53 lbs., has more power, better ergonomics, and, what was vastly emphasized, an MSRP of $7,990, which is almost $1,000 cheaper than the 2013 FZ8.
Attached above is a photo gallery of Yamaha’s FZ-09; for a preview of the motorcycle, click here.
Each photo above also makes for great wallpaper. To use as wallpaper, simply click the desired thumbnail to expand, left click on the image and Save to Desktop Background.
In the first segment this week I get to chat with one of the most energetic guys I’ve met in a long time. Adam Tromp is the Founding Partner at Iconic Motorbikes Auctions. Starting out as a reseller of collectible machines, Adam’s vision quickly turned Iconic into an online auction site …plus a whole lot more. I don’t want to spoil the story, so I’ll let him tell it in his own words, but suffice it to say that in a very short period of time, he and his partners have managed to turn Iconic Motorbike Auctions into a collector motorcycle sales powerhouse. Where’s it all going…and what’s next, I wonder…
In the second segment Editor Don Williams talks to me about the Benelli Leoncino. I’m not Italian and neither is he, so we’re not sure how it’s pronounced, but suffice it to say that this Italian designed, Chinese built 500cc parallel-twin engined motorcycle actually holds several surprises—perhaps not what you’d think.
I really enjoyed both of these topics, and I hope you do too!
