FZR600R handling (steering)

[dougs]

i have been riding my fzr for a month and love the handling very chuckable and have no sissy lines on the tyres way better handling than my 99 cbr600r had however i have noticed a nasty qwurk and wondered if anyone else has noticed it and have sorted it, the steering is very quick however if the front ever lifts, on the power or wheelie the head wobbles on landing and uncorrected would result in a big tank slapper and high side is this normal for the late fzr or is something setup wrong?

[yamaha_george]

i have been riding my fzr for a month and love the handling very chuckable and have no sissy lines on the tyres way better handling than my 99 cbr600r had however i have noticed a nasty qwurk and wondered if anyone else has noticed it and have sorted it, the steering is very quick however if the front ever lifts, on the power or wheelie the head wobbles on landing and uncorrected would result in a big tank slapper and high side is this normal for the late fzr or is something setup wrong?

D,
never had any "moments" like that but then again I refurbished the whole front end :
springs, emulators,oil, bearings wheel & steering.
I would be looking at the steering head bearings to see if they were "shot" or needed re-setting if a tad loose.

Oh yeh do not be fooled that the wobble started at the front it may have started in the back by rear axle being loose, dodgy rear wheel bearings and the last but not least play in the swing arm bearings .

Well that is you busy for an hour or so this weekend :-}

[dougs]

thanks YG will start checking all round just finished with the R6 stoppers (servicing and fitting) man they are awesome, so on to the rest with a fine tooth comb there is nothing obvious going wrong. I had a real good tug on the back end when i built my paddock stand all seems good, as i said the handling is generally VERY good never had better on any previous bikes, just its a bit quick on the front so im looking for small issues i think. so thanks for the pointers it will def. keep me busy checking that lot
all the best Doug

[dougs]

problem found, its the front suspension diving under load when the wheelies are light (power wheelies) then no problems but if the landings are heavy the front bogs down and the head shakes not good i have upped the preload and i will see if it is better i may have to get stronger springs

[yamaha_george]

problem found, its the front suspension diving under load when the wheelies are light (power wheelies) then no problems but if the landings are heavy the front bogs down and the head shakes not good i have upped the preload and i will see if it is better i may have to get stronger springs

D,
f they are original springs then they are probably "sacked" out, check your weight against Race Techs spring calculator. You can then check an English spring maker for a spring set. for addresses of spring makers see my forks page on my site.cost about 40 quid + p&p. Race tech every one raves about but they are a parochial bunch and only sell to the lower 48 or some such crap.

[dougs]

wow YG got round to calculating the spring rates and i should be using arround 0.90kg/mm springs and the ones currently fitted are 0.46kg/mm thats massive!! nearly half as stiff as they should be, i am seriously shocked although now i have been riding the bike for a year i def think the front end is way too soft

[yamaha_george]

wow YG got round to calculating the spring rates and i should be using arround 0.90kg/mm springs and the ones currently fitted are 0.46kg/mm thats massive!! nearly half as stiff as they should be, i am seriously shocked although now i have been riding the bike for a year i def think the front end is way too soft

D,
Yup that would feel "just a tad" soft I used 0.90Kg/mm on mine with the PD Valves and the ride is SO different best mod value for money ever in my book.