forks question

[tony]

hi guys i read here the worst question is the one not asked i have read that a common fault with the fzr is that it is light on the front ,after a few outings i will agree with what i have read well the question is if i lower the front forks will this put more weight on the front ,my forks at the moment are flush with handles i was going to drop the bike 10mm so i would have 10mm of fork above the handle bars(clip ons) any advice welcome thanks

[haro504]

i would think it would add more weight to the front, but i dont know how much it would add might not be that much at all. i would think it would change the steering response more than a weight issue.

[_Will_]

I've never noticed any issues with the front being light, dropping through the forks while leaving the rear stock will quicken up the turn in. It's an old budget racing trick from what I've read

[blensen]

On a somewhat related note... How far can the front forks safely be dropped before hitting the exhaust or radiator becomes an issue?

[yamaha_george]

hi guys i read here the worst question is the one not asked i have read that a common fault with the fzr is that it is light on the front ,after a few outings i will agree with what i have read well the question is if i lower the front forks will this put more weight on the front ,my forks at the moment are flush with handles i was going to drop the bike 10mm so i would have 10mm of fork above the handle bars(clip ons) any advice welcome thanks

Tony,
in all likelyhood the springs on your bike are original and are "sacked" out, the term lightl front end is not what you might think it referes to the fact that the front springs were designed for light weight riders and are not that good for any one over 165 ilbs.

I'm 185 and I can tell you mine would bottom out on landing in pot holes (not often) or serious breaking (ie just short of doing a stoppies. I had fresh linear springs ** made since i was fitting PD valves (UK speak for emulators) Now the bike handles very well to the point of handling corners now so low as to require me to buy new race boots with toe sliders on !

** you will find that the American spring sellers will not deal with you in the UK UNLess you get one of our American board members to buy & ship for you. I could not be bothered with their stupidity & went to a local company and had them custom made at about 2/3 the cost of the the US ones.

For full details see:-
http://www.saltmine.org.uk/fzr/fork.html

[yamaha_george]

On a somewhat related note... How far can the front forks safely be dropped before hitting the exhaust or radiator becomes an issue?

ERR why do you want to ruin the handling of a perfectly good sports bike ?

[blensen]

On a somewhat related note... How far can the front forks safely be dropped before hitting the exhaust or radiator becomes an issue?

ERR why do you want to ruin the handling of a perfectly good sports bike ?

It's more out of curiosity than anything. As it sits my 600's suspension setup is just as it came from the factory.

[tony]

george you are definatly the man plain english straight to the point,my question was just a query as when i was out riding at one point my front slid going round a bend i was not on my ears ,just a heart stopper for a moment anyway within a few miles i let rip around a few of the bends and was ok i just put it down to a damp patch or loose gravel in the road cheers

[_Will_]

That could be tires as well, had some qualifiers do that to me going into a corner to hot and sent me towards a thankfully empty oncoming lane. I haven't had the issues with bridgestones but am likely giving the Avon storm a shot next time since it seems to get excellent reviews from fellow board members.

[JRK5892]

i dropped the fighter i built for my wife 2.5 in the front and rear, still rips in the turns and comes out just fine. damper was a huge help
the front is dropped by modding and spacing the internals, rebuilt with 20w


with a 210 guy on it


when i ride it i adjust the rear links and ride it lifted in back

[JRK5892]

ooh ya here is a shot with her on it, 5'3 100 lbs
as you can see it is SLAMMED but still has a bit over 2 inches of travel when compressed and 4 full range