When Yamaha exposed its Inline Triple Crossplane Concept engine at Intermot in October of 2012 many wondered and speculated when the Inline 3-cyclinder would show up in first. The Tuning Fork company answer that question at its annual dealer meeting with the declaration of the 2014 Yamaha FZ-09. Replacing the FZ8, the FZ-09 is a naked sportbike that Yamaha describes as having “an emotional performance character and fundamental value.” More simply put the engine and power output will be moving and handling will be lively while not costing an arm and a leg. That’s a tall order for an all-new motorcycle with a powerplant that is all-new as well. At $7,990, the FZ-09 rings in $900 less than the bike it replace. The MSRP also makes it the lowest priced in its class, costing $1400 less than the next closest triple, the Triumph Street Triple 675. The FZ-09’s Inline Triple crossplane engine has a displacement of 847cc’s with a 78mm bore and 59.1mm stroke. Dual overhead cams actuate four valves per cylinder. The 120-degree crankshaft’s even firing order is claimed to allow for quick revving yet torquey character. A compact balancing shaft rotates opposed to the crankshaft direction to quell vibes.
- To utilize the torque character of the three-cylinder engine, Yamaha optimized the gear ratios of the 6-speed transmission to highlight the low- to mid-speed grunt. The transmission’s size has been compacted to keep the cases as narrow as the cylinder block and head.
- .
