Intake

Intake

KICKSTART THE CONVERSATION

Q: WHAT'S LIGHTER THAN MY SUZUKI 5V650, HAS MORE POWER THAN MY HONDA 919 AND MAKES YAMAHA FZ8 RIDERS CRY? A: MY NEXT BIKE: THE YAMAHA FZ-09 (SEPTEMBER)! I THINK THIS MAY BE THE NEXT CULT HIT.

SCOTT KORNISH MASSILLON, OHIO

FZ-09

I took one look at the new FZ-09 and thought, "Fazer!" For anyone familiar with Yamaha's mid-1980s' lineup, it is impossible not to see this bike as a Fazer 700 reborn, the sporty upright Four that had faux intake scoops like the V-Max. The FZX-700 employed a forward-leaning, 700cc, five-valve engine with downdraft carbs and an airbox where the tank normally was—cutting-edge at the time. I would guess the '82 Vision XZ550, the '87 Fazer and the new FZ-09 probably all trace their roots to one designer. Also, note that all three were available in a Candy Red with chrome and black accents.

SCOTT BROWN DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Love the FZ-o9. Yamaha got it right in so many ways. The right type of power (Triples are great), real-world versatility

light weight, great price point. Kudos. But I will not buy one. The budget says one motorcycle must do everything. Weekend getaways with my wife are important, and there is no way for her to do a 1000-mile weekend on that seat with pegs that high. Tragically, passenger accommodations dictated by stylists have become the norm. When does the sport-touring version come out for under $10K?

RON MEEKS YUKON, OKLAHOMA

The FZ-o9 is the first bike since the Ducati Multistrada 1200 to spark an interest with me. I had a Buell Ulysses and really loved it (except for some issues that had me scared to keep it), and the Ducati is just too expensive. I really like the looks of the FZ-o9 and hope Yamaha comes out with a model with hard bag mounts, a small fairing, handguards and a little better two-

up seat. That's a bike I would buy. Keep up the great work!

VINCENT BRYANT GRAVEITE, ARI(AN5145

NAKED TRUTH

Your article on naked bikes ("Take it Off," September) reminded me of Sesame Street: One of these things is not like the others. I love the Moto Guzzi V7, but it's a retro standard, not a naked. The apparently not-so-obvious fifth bike should've been the Kawasaki ER-6n, the naked that people ought to know about and the one I'd have enjoyed hearing your opinion on. Cheers.

MATTHEWANDERSON CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA

Good magazine, as usual, but your naked-bike article needed some serious tweaking. Why did you stick the Honda CB500F in there? It's a good bike in its own right but doesn’t belong with the rest. What does? How ’bout you back up to page 18? Certainly, the Duke was a better fit than the economy-minded little Honda. Even better? Next time look at the cover. The new Yamaha Triple was a perfect fit. Last nit to pick: The Suzuki SV650 is a lot of bike for the money hampered by terrible styling, but your “Also Consider” A Griso? Seriously? Maybe next time I shop for a Civic I should “also consider” a 7-series Beemer.

MARK MILLER OPELIKA, ALABAMA

I have yet to intentionally rub my knee on the ground going to the local store.

You probably will not admit it, but your magazine is really aimed at the hooligans you see weaving through tightly packed cars on our local MD50, at times going over 100 mph and even, when they can, doing wheelies (emulating the KTM 690 Duke pictured on page 18 of your September issue). The only glimmer of light was the very short sentence in a very small article by John Burns on the Honda CB500F, where he says, “In the daily grind, where you can only go so fast anyway...” As far as I am concerned, Honda has really aced it with its new products. The rest are still chasing the faster-faster lunatics, as are you.

DAVID WARD WEST RIVER, MARYLAND

Turns out, it’s even more fun to chase them on slower bikes.

BOLT VS. SPORTSTER

A week before I read the Bolt vs. 883 article (“The Minimalists,” September), I visited both dealers to look at the bikes. I am still confused why two companies would build bikes that weigh 140-150 pounds more and have the same horsepower as the 1969 Triumph T120R that I sold in 1974 for $1200. If they doubled the horsepower at the same price point, I’d buy one.

MARK CALLO DADE CITY, FLORIDA

I can’t believe you picked a copycat bike over the real deal and, even worse, an ugly copycat to boot! That Yamaha has to be one of the worst-looking attempts yet, right up there with the old Viragos. The tank

seams alone make me want to puke. I can’t understand why anyone would want to pay more and then lose more when they decide they want a bigger bike. Okay, the Bolt is slightly better than the Viragos of old. By the way, you guys still have the best magazine, and I love the new look.

MIKE TURNER SENECA, SOUTH CAROLINA

PIPE DOWN

So you’re telling me that emissions is the reason behind the new CARB rules and not noise (“CARB Your Enthusiasm,” September)? California might have put out a very nice, politically correct, repeatable news release, but you can’t tell me that noise isn’t the reason behind it. Harley doesn’t advertise in your mag. Go after the 10-ton elephant in the room and have a discussion about an issue that really disgusts the non-riding population.

Enough of the fluff!

BOB KLEPETKA

ALLEN, TEXAS

CARB (California Air Resources Board) told us it is strictly concerned with emissions; noise is none of its business. California Senate Bill SB435, signed into law in September 2010 by ex-Governor Schwarzenegger, is an entirely separate deal, and was indeed inspired by noisy motorcycles. “The noise pollution caused by illegally modified motorcycle exhaust systems is a major quality of life issue across the state,” wrote Senator Fran Pavely (D-Santa Monica), author 0/88435. “Basic common sense and decency dictates that when a motorcycle drives by and sets off every car alarm on the street, that is too loud.”

) Comments? Suggestions? Criticisms? Write us at intake@cycleworld.com or 15215 Alton Pkwy., Ste. 100, Irvine, CA 92618. Post comments on cycleworld.com, like us on Facebook; follow us on Instagram and Twitter

PHOTOS BY JEFF ALLEN AND TOM RILES; ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL BYERS