Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with motorcycles for a while now, and recently, I got my hands on a Yamaha FJ-09, also known as the Tracer 900 in some places. I thought I’d share my experience with it, from start to finish.

First off, I started by doing a bunch of research. I mean, who doesn’t when they’re about to get a new bike, right? I was looking at different forums, like the Yamaha FZ-09 Forum, reading what people were saying about the Tracer 9 GT and the XSR900 SP. It seemed like the frames are pretty much the same, and they weigh about the same, too. The Tracer is a bit heavier, but that’s probably because it comes with side bags.
Then, I went to check out some actual bikes. I stumbled upon a 2019 Yamaha Tracer 900 GT with 17k miles on it. It was going for $8,000, which seemed like a pretty good deal. But then, I was torn between this one and the newer 9 GT model. The newer one has some cool updates, but is it really worth the extra cash? I decided to dive deeper into the 2018+ models. The narrower handlebar was something I noticed right away—a nice touch, I thought.
I also considered switching to a Super Tenere, specifically the 2019 ES model. There were some folks online who had made the switch from the FJ-09 or similar bikes, and their input was super helpful. The general feeling was that the new Tracer GT is a good improvement over the older models, but the price point is a bit steep. That got me thinking about the value I was getting.
Naturally, I started browsing through listings, comparing prices between local Yamaha dealers and private sellers. It was a bit of a hassle, but I wanted to make sure I was getting the best bang for my buck. During this whole process, I chatted with a guy from a Yamaha dealership. He told me there weren’t many differences between the Tracer 9 GT and the regular 9. He said the only major thing was the electronic suspension on the GT. Apparently, the suspension is the same, but on the GT, you can adjust it with buttons, and on the regular one, you do it manually.
After all that digging, I finally pulled the trigger and got myself the FJ-09. And let me tell you, the suspension on this thing is a dream. It’s this semi-active KYB thing that balances comfort and sportiness really well. I took it out on some twisty back roads, and it was a blast. Plus, it’s comfortable enough for my wife to ride pillion without any complaints.

Here’s a quick rundown of what I did:
- Researched: Spent hours on forums and websites, comparing models and reading reviews.
- Visited Dealers: Checked out bikes in person, including a 2019 Tracer 900 GT and newer models.
- Compared Prices: Looked at listings from both dealers and private sellers to find the best deal.
- Talked to Experts: Got some insider info from a Yamaha dealership guy about the differences between models.
- Test Ride: Took the FJ-09 out for a spin to see how it handled on the road.
- Bought the Bike: Finally made the purchase and started enjoying the ride.
So, yeah, that’s my journey with the Yamaha FJ-09. It was a bit of a process, but totally worth it in the end. If you’re thinking about getting one, hopefully, my experience gives you a bit of insight into what to expect.