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FJ-09 vs Multistrada???
- Thread starter kamaji
- Start date
fubar929
New member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2003
- Location
- Mountain View, CA.
- Moto(s)
- 2015 KTM 1290 Super Duke R, 2018 Ducati Supersport S
These bikes don't really serve the same purpose. Two words: suspension travel. The FJ-09 has the same suspension travel as the FZ-09 (5.4" front, 5.1" rear) or pretty much any other street bike. The Multistrada 1200, in contrast, has 6.7" of suspension travel front and rear. That's a big difference and getting close to true adventure bike territory. In addition, the Multistrada's Skyhook suspension offers four completely different suspension setups, which turns out to be surprisingly useful. I've got Urban mode setup for bumpy back-roads, use Sport for well-paved roads, and Touring for everything else.
kamaji
New member
The spreadsheet is to compare, on paper, these bikes to the bike I had, and to narrow the field. Practice is different than a piece of paper, which is why I asked opinions from people who have ridden the ones that rose to the top of my list.
As far as riding them, of course I can test ride them. What I mean by "not helping" is that it is that I don't think I can discern right now, from a short test ride, which one would be best for me. Three months from now, "me" is going to be a different rider anyway. The impression I get from a test ride now may as well drive me to the wrong "now plus three months" bike.
Hooli
Bonafide
kamaji
New member
Yes, I've read that before
Some of the maintenance nit-picking I'm not too worried about, for a bunch of years a FIAT 124 Spider was my daily (and only) driver. Fun times fixing it by the sidewalk so I could get back home...You're welcome.
Thanks
berth
Well-known member
Yamaha would be the best first choice...
Multi is sweet, but could be moved to later.
Seriously.
With this much out of saddle time, get the FJ.
Get the FJ, put a fast 10K on it, then come back. You'll be so much more informed not just about the bike, but of yourself. You're going to be clumsy and awkward on any of these as you get your feet back. You're going to sore in old/new places and find things uncomfortable that just won't show up in a magazine, a spreadsheet or a test ride.
The FJ provides lots of giggles/mile, it's smaller, lighter, it's cheaper to break, cheaper to own, and depreciates less.
Get one, get your feet back, get your gear fitting, get some miles, get some smiles, farkle it up, then decide. Keep or sell it for a MS, or anything else for that matter.
You'll be a lot more informed, and a lot more experienced about what you do or don't want that only riding can tell you. 10,000 miles on the FJ won't be wasted, that's for sure.
Hooli
Bonafide
Were the Yamaha around before I took that fateful test ride on a Multi, odds are I would have wound up with an FJ-09 in the garage.
U26A1
Member
For what it's worth, I myself ended up buying an FJ-09 recently, precisely because it reminded me of the first-gen Multistrada.
I had a 2006 MTS 620, which was amazing in every way, including its constant propensity for finding new and exciting ways to break itself every month. When I finally got rid of it because of the latest creative origami it had performed upon its own shift fork, I remember being sad and wondering "I wonder when somebody not Italian is going to make a bike like this, so I can buy it."
Honestly, the FJ-09 is a Japanese first-gen Multi. It took the Japanese apparently 10 years to catch up to Italy and make a bike in whatever-that-genre-is ('Adventure Sport,' I guess). The problem is that now, the majority of the contenders are huge and/or heavy. I rode a Multi 1200 and it was . . . fine, but felt big and tractorish. Which is great, if you want a big tractor, but I didn't. The FJ feels much lighter, and it's got an absolute peach of a motor.
A downside to the FJ is that I know I'm going to have to shell out to upgrade the suspension and whatever bits eventually, because it doesn't come with that stuff out of the box. But whatever, farkles gonna farkle. The Turismo Veloce also put that insane glint back in my eye upon seeing one in person and sitting on it (it is seriously really fucking nice) -- and I am a bad person to get that glint, as I already own an MV Dragster. If the Dragster and the FJ had a baby, the Turismo Veloce would probably look something like it. But I've already been down the road of having an Italian tourer, and I've seen what madness lies there.
Anyway, this all to say: if you want something smaller, more nimble, cheap to service, and reliable, with zero pretensions of off-roading capability . . . get the FJ. It is an extremely comfortable long-distance sportbike that can't use the words 'sport touring' because those unfortunately already mean something else.
I had a 2006 MTS 620, which was amazing in every way, including its constant propensity for finding new and exciting ways to break itself every month. When I finally got rid of it because of the latest creative origami it had performed upon its own shift fork, I remember being sad and wondering "I wonder when somebody not Italian is going to make a bike like this, so I can buy it."
Honestly, the FJ-09 is a Japanese first-gen Multi. It took the Japanese apparently 10 years to catch up to Italy and make a bike in whatever-that-genre-is ('Adventure Sport,' I guess). The problem is that now, the majority of the contenders are huge and/or heavy. I rode a Multi 1200 and it was . . . fine, but felt big and tractorish. Which is great, if you want a big tractor, but I didn't. The FJ feels much lighter, and it's got an absolute peach of a motor.
A downside to the FJ is that I know I'm going to have to shell out to upgrade the suspension and whatever bits eventually, because it doesn't come with that stuff out of the box. But whatever, farkles gonna farkle. The Turismo Veloce also put that insane glint back in my eye upon seeing one in person and sitting on it (it is seriously really fucking nice) -- and I am a bad person to get that glint, as I already own an MV Dragster. If the Dragster and the FJ had a baby, the Turismo Veloce would probably look something like it. But I've already been down the road of having an Italian tourer, and I've seen what madness lies there.
Anyway, this all to say: if you want something smaller, more nimble, cheap to service, and reliable, with zero pretensions of off-roading capability . . . get the FJ. It is an extremely comfortable long-distance sportbike that can't use the words 'sport touring' because those unfortunately already mean something else.
MOCKBA
Member
dude, get a Ducati, are you kidding me, there is no comparison. Please come back and thank me after you get it! =)
Just fyi, not only did the Japanese invent the genre, It was Yamaha that did it with the awesome and very popular in Europe TDM 850 [later TDM900] way back in 1991.
They imported the first gen in US but poor sales [ I suspect] made them discontinue it after only few years.
Random google pic of TDM 900
TrplGrl
Team Old Age & Treachery
^^^ Yup. I was rocking a bright red TDM 850 in '94. Great bikes and ahead of their time.
corndog67
Pissant Squid
In my opinion, the F-09 is a CRf230. The Multistrada is a CR500. For just a big ole boat, it had me doing wheelies through intersections in Santa Barbara (thanks for the test ride, Carlin). If I had the moolah (The Fabulous Moolah), I'd have a Multi. If money is a big consideration, the Yamaha is a screaming deal for 110 hp or so.
corndog67
Pissant Squid
Just fyi, not only did the Japanese invent the genre, It was Yamaha that did it with the awesome and very popular in Europe TDM 850 [later TDM900] way back in 1991.
They imported the first gen in US but poor sales [ I suspect] made them discontinue it after only few years.
Random google pic of TDM 900
800 G/S in about '86 if I'm not losing years (I do that now).
kamaji
New member
Argh. Thanks all for the good posts... I was leaning towards the MTS, now it's a bit 50/50.
I developed RSI in the last 10 years, so I'd have to add cruise control to the FJ. About $800 as far as I can tell from mccruise.
I developed RSI in the last 10 years, so I'd have to add cruise control to the FJ. About $800 as far as I can tell from mccruise.
Smash Allen
Active member
fubar929
New member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2003
- Location
- Mountain View, CA.
- Moto(s)
- 2015 KTM 1290 Super Duke R, 2018 Ducati Supersport S
Anyone who thinks the Multistrada 1200 handles like a tractor hasn't drive a tractor... or a Multi. Thanks to the big wide handlebar, my Multi feels even more nimble than my GSX-R750 when ridden through the Santa Cruz mountains. It turns so easily, in fact, that I had to reduce the force of my steering inputs in order to avoid oversteering... It does feel heavier when pushing it around the driveway but between the engine, brakes, and handling you absolutely don't notice the weight on the road.
kamaji
New member
ScottRNelson
Adventure and Dual Sport
Better check your history. BMW invented it before any company in Japan had thought of the idea.
Better check your history. BMW invented it before any company in Japan had thought of the idea.
BMW invented the big adv bike with the R80GS in 81'. The TDM was the first adv sport. The difference between the the R1200GS and the S1000XR.