XSR900 vs. FZ-07
The FZ-07 and the XSR900 are two very different motorcycles that probably won't have a face off in motorcycle magazines, but since I went from an FZ-07 to an XSR900, I'll compare the best features of two examples of the culmination of Yamaha's sixty years in the motorcycle business.
The FZ-07 was light and nimble and almost felt as easy as riding a bicycle. This was great for me because even though I first took my MSF course and bought my first motorcycle ten years ago, I sold my bike and took a break, and the FZ-07 is the bike that got me back into riding motorcycles. The XSR900 seems like a natural progression from riding the twin FZ-07 for almost two years. The XSR900 feels heavier and more solidly planted, which is a good feeling at highway speeds.
The upright seating position on the FZ-07 is extremely comfortable. The XSR900 has a slightly more aggressive riding position that makes me feel like I have to reach a bit to grab the handle bars. I might correct this with a new set of bars or some bar risers because I prefer being more upright like on the FZ-07 or even the FZ-09.
The seat on the XSR900 is extremely comfortable and I haven't even broken it in yet. Yamaha has an upgraded seat available with even more cushion, which is only $300 or so. I think I might have to put the upgraded suede seat on my Christmas list. The FZ-07 has a very thin seat, and while I enjoyed the shape of the seat, it definitely needed to be upgraded to a softer seat. I couldn't ride the FZ-07 more than a couple of hours at a time because of the hard seat. The XSR900 is comfortable all day long and inspires me to want to hit the road for a long distance journey.
One thing the FZ-07 has over the XSR900 is fuel economy. The XSR900 needs to be filled up a bit more because it only gets 44 MPG at best. The way I accelerate in the XSR900 doesn't help the fuel economy because I've been averaging 31 MPG. On the FZ-07, it's easier to keep the bike in ECO mode and get the estimated 57 MPG.
As far as acceleration goes, the FZ-07 feels like a plane about to take off when you're quick with the throttle. The lightness of the bike really makes you feel like your about to liftoff. When you twist the throttle on the XSR900, it feels like a spaceship about to launch into orbit. The rush you get is even greater if the bike is in "A" mode, as opposed to "STD" or "B" mode.
One thing that you immediately notice when you look at the XSR900 is that there was a lot of small upgrades made from the FZ-09 that leave you with a very refined stock motorcycle. An example of this is the blacked out engine, exhaust, and handle bars, which give the motorcycle a more cohesive look. The FZ-07 has a ugly bright metal radiator, and various metallic colors everywhere. It leaves the owner wanting to strip the whole bike down and have everything painted black. The XSR900 has aluminum side panels, and various aluminum parts on the bike. Metal feels more solid than plastic, giving the XSR900 a very luxurious feel. The center tank panel on the XSR900 is still plastic and I think Yamaha should have made it in aluminum with a built in rubber tank pad. That would be the icing on the cake for the XSR900.
The features on the XSR900 that I love the most are the advanced safety features. Riding a motorcycle, especially in New York City can be a very dangerous at times, so any extra features than will prevent the unmentionable are greatly appreciated. First there's ABS (anti-lock brakes). I love not having to worry about locking either the back or front brake in an emergency. The MSF course prepared me to deal with emergency situations, but ABS is a huge advantage the XSR900 has over the FZ-07. There also traction control and the ride-by-wire throttle which offers various modes. The FZ-07 with standard brakes and throttle aren't necessarily a bad thing because the experience of riding a bike without all of the latest technology will make you a better rider. The FZ-07 has been a great experience for me and I've had the opportunity to hone my skills on this bike. It's similar to learning photography with manual focus film camera and then applying everything you've learned to the latest digital camera.
The engines on both the FZ-07 and XSR900 are examples of really fine engineering from Yamaha. The twin Cross Plane on the FZ-07 and the triple Cross Plane engine on the XSR900 and FZ-09 have lots of torque throughout the power range and they both sound really nice. The twin 689cc FZ-07 feels really powerful and never seems to run out of steam. The 847cc XSR900 engine feels even more exciting and loves pulling you along at a rapid pace.
When it comes to engine braking, the FZ-07 is abrupt and jerky. The assist slipper clutch on the XSR900 allows silky smooth engine braking. I've tried drop several gears and pop out the clutch on the XSR900, and it still slows down very smoothly. On the FZ-07, when you speed up in first gear, then release the throttle, the bike slows instantly and jerks you a bit. I got used the the strong engine braking on the FZ-07, but I really prefer the smooth engine braking on the XSR900.
The speedometers of both the XSR900 and FZ-07 are really great. The XSR900 has a round speedo with only two buttons and has a clean look, is bright, and is packed with lots of useful info, like a a tachometer, trip A and B, fuel gauge, time, avg. mpg, and current mpg. The FZ-07 has the same info, but allows the time to be constantly displayed.
Overall both the FZ-07 and XSR900 are really great bikes. The XSR900 is a few thousand dollars more than the FZ-07 and is packed with tons of upgrades and features which justify the cost. Both motorcycles are fun to ride, have great engines, are manufactured by Yamaha in Japan, have tons of torque, and look great. If the FZ-09 is the FZ-07's older brother, the XSR900 is the FZ-07's rich uncle.
