I agree. I would not want to bike on 17, even aside from the fact that most of it is freeway, and (I think, not up to date on California law) closed to bikes. I've never been on 9, but I wouldn't really want to bike on Skyline west/north of 17, either. Lots of ups & downs, blind curves, little if any shoulder, and a good bit more traffic than the other side of 17.
OTOH, from the first place I lived in San Jose, most of my commute route was on Camden Ave, which is a major street, 4-6 lanes and plenty of traffic.