Lowering just front?
- Thread starter GoonSquad
- Start date
Lowering the front or raising the rear will quicken the steering. And it doesn't take much to make a big difference. You need to be dealing with millimeters not inches here. Start with 5mm and test ride, if it's still not quick enough proceed at 1-2mm increments until you get it where you want. Most bikes never go more than 8mm or you get into Unstableville...
Ever heard of a tank-slapper? Imagine coming out a curve rolling on the gas and suddenly the handlebars are oscillating wildly back and forth so hard that it's going from lock to lock - hence "Tank-Slapper"... Trust me - you DO NOT WANT TO EXPERIENCE THIS! It's the reason race bikes and many SS bikes (which are set up to be as aggressive as possible) have steering dampers.
If no one has experimented with the FZ6R to see how much front end lowering the bike will tolerate without becoming unstable you are potentially making yourself a crash test dummy. Don't ask me how I know this
Any modifications to the suspension like this should be done in very small increments.. Not trying to be fatalistic, but you are venturing into uncharted handling territory with your bike and the consequences can be painful...
Lowering the front or raising the rear will quicken the steering. And it doesn't take much to make a big difference. You need to be dealing with millimeters not inches here. Start with 5mm and test ride, if it's still not quick enough proceed at 1-2mm increments until you get it where you want. Most bikes never go more than 8mm or you get into Unstableville...
Ever heard of a tank-slapper? Imagine coming out a curve rolling on the gas and suddenly the handlebars are oscillating wildly back and forth so hard that it's going from lock to lock - hence "Tank-Slapper"... Trust me - you DO NOT WANT TO EXPERIENCE THIS! It's the reason race bikes and many SS bikes (which are set up to be as aggressive as possible) have steering dampers.
If no one has experimented with the FZ6R to see how much front end lowering the bike will tolerate without becoming unstable you are potentially making yourself a crash test dummy. Don't ask me how I know this
Any modifications to the suspension like this should be done in very small increments.. Not trying to be fatalistic, but you are venturing into uncharted handling territory with your bike and the consequences can be painful...
Very good advice. What I was trying to say but put in a much better way. :thumbup:
jspansel did this and I thought someone else had and it was recommended when doing the progressive springs or something... would have to go back and do some searching thumbup, or you could wait for them to chime in. I believe it was something in mm like creggur said. Good luck.
thumbup, or you could wait for them to chime in. I believe it was something in mm like creggur said. Good luck.How do you know?
Nearly a score ago, in an attempt to get my ZX6R to turn in a bit quicker, I decided to approach my suspension adjustments in the typical way a 22 year-old would: If a few millimeters is good - an inch or so would be waaaay better! Didn't even measure it, just dropped them a bit and gave it a test-run.
All was fine for couple of miles, then speed-shifting into 3rd gear with the speedo needle somewhere north of 80 - the front end got light and Away We Went! I would've never believed the handlebars of a motorcycle could fly from lock to lock so violently. It started as a minor wobble, and my ignorant attempt at being a human steering damper only made it worse.
I, by what could only be divine intervention, walked away unscathed as things went awry (then corrected) so fast that the only input I really had was blurting a string of expletives while simultaneously praying and clamping my sphincter tight enough to suction myself to the seat (only way I can figure I actually stayed on the kicking mule I'd created)...
In 35 years of riding, it is to this day, the wildest ride I've ever had on a motorcycle - dirt or street - and it only lasted a few seconds. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy - and certainly not on a fellow motorcyclist...
Yup. Lowered my FZ6R 12mm. Thought it was great at first, and although I haven't had tank-slapper moments as Creggeur had, it tips into turns just a bit too quickly. I'd raise it back up if it weren't such a PITA to do so. Wondering if maybe a 170mm RR tire might cancel out the difference a bit...
A well told story, and glad you're around to tell it!
http://www.600cc.org/forum/f89/raising-forks-19281/
Raised my forks (lowered the front end) by about 12mm. Made a HUGE difference in turn in. Did not notice any negative handling at all.
This was before the spring upgrades. When I had the new springs in they changed it to 8mm and that was great with the stiffer springs.
On my R6 now, they are raised only about 5mm or so. The rake is different then the FZ anyways, so it does depend on the bike and the rake you are starting out with.
If you are doing this, like stated before... Please only go at 5mm to start and only go very small increments more if you feel you need. It can get very dangerous with too much! :thumbup:
Raised my forks (lowered the front end) by about 12mm. Made a HUGE difference in turn in. Did not notice any negative handling at all.
This was before the spring upgrades. When I had the new springs in they changed it to 8mm and that was great with the stiffer springs.
On my R6 now, they are raised only about 5mm or so. The rake is different then the FZ anyways, so it does depend on the bike and the rake you are starting out with.
If you are doing this, like stated before... Please only go at 5mm to start and only go very small increments more if you feel you need. It can get very dangerous with too much! :thumbup:
12mm sounds like a lot, but as stated each bike is different and the rake of the FZ6R can obviously handle it (yours did) without negative effect. That is still less than a half inch and it made a huge difference, I could imagine doubling that could cause problems...