Front fork experiment

[ste131]

Hi all,
I know it's been covered many many times about how utter crap these standard forks are. I have not ridden her much due to the choppy ride so decided to experiment with a set of 2009 FZ6 forks I got hold of. The stanchions on both FZS1000 and FZ6 are 43mm diameter, but the FZ6 forks don't use any kind of adjustment. Here's what I have managed to do;
I used FZS1000 bottoms, FZ6 stanchions, FZ6 damper rods including cups. The only issue was the high speed compression valve protrudes on one side where the damper cup needs to sit flush. I made a 21mm x 9mm spacer with M10 hole so cup can sit flush. I had to use 60mm long allen bolts instead of the standard ones but all bolted down securely.  I used FZS1000 springs, FZ6 tubes and washers and FZ6 tops. Left 140mm air gap with no spring and stanchion compressed.
The sag is same as original fork but they feel like normal suspension.
Not been able to test ride yet  but all is looking promising!

[nickodemon]

The standard forks are okay if set up correctly. Why did you not go down the R1 front end conversion instead of using non adjustable forks?

[ste131]

I have tried all sorts of adjustments, different oil weights, progressive springs, R6 rear conversion but front end has always felt way too choppy to the point I stopped riding her. I love the look of her and didn't wan't to go for the R1 upside down fork conversion. One thing I can do is use the FZS1000 fork tops using a washer and chopping the tubes down, then I will have spring compression adjustment. It's an experiment and so far for the sake of a set of cheap forks and a bit of messing I should have a bike that rides great. Better than chancing a Gtech revalve for over £600 or the cost of the R1 front end conversion that loses the steering lock.

[nickodemon]

There is obviously something wrong with your standard front end, as the adjustment that's available goes from soft and supple for touring to fairly firm and as you have described(choppy). I have had the setting set really soft and it is definitely not choppy, but supple. I have two gen 1's and they both have r1 front ends, but the standard forks can be made to work perfectly well.

[ste131]

All the adjustments on the standard forks move, none seized but it was a horrible ride. New slider bushes as well. All I could put it down to was the valving. I'm a bike mechanic and even though this mod moves me away from what I know it feels good. I really don't want to be adjusting rebound over high speed compression just to get the perfect corner when our UK roads are so bloody shit! Spring compression is about all I need! If our roads were as smooth as Silverstone then yeah, bring on the multiple adjustments. Sadly spring compression is the only factor! 

[sadlonelygit]

but the standard forks can be made to work perfectly well.

it depends on your weight...........like most suspension settings. anyone north of 13st is too heavy for standard forks.
i had different springs and oil in my OE forks and the bike handled fine, good enough to embarass a gsxr1000 through the vosges mountains.

[nickodemon]

I have owned six gen 1's over the years and they all had slightly different feel front ends but all were perfectly useable on british roads. I went for a 2008 R1 front end on my best one and it is brilliant and very noticeably better the faster you go. The second r1 front end came already fitted and it's better than a standard front end, but the handling is a little flighty and obviously shorter than standard forks, so it's got to be set up right. Why did you not just get an r1 front end, as they are known to be the best solution?

[ste131]

I just don't like the look of the R1 conversion. I love the power of the bike. I Ivanised it, serviced the Exup and the total look of the bike is mint apart from the exhaust header nuts which I need to replace with stainless. I'm picky!

[nickodemon]

Hopefully you will get the set up right for you. Best of luck tinkering

[chawksta]

Hi there I had a K tec conversion, i.e. springs for my weight and new valves etc and the front end is excellent
 

[ste131]

Taken her out for a ride for the first time and she handles like a normal bike at last 
Just need to add the adjusters for the spring compression and I have a fantastic bike!

[mark g]

I keep reading about how poor the handling is on the gen 1, I must have a good one, I can't fault it, even the rear end is OK when solo....and I'm def over 13st   

[PieEater]

I keep reading about how poor the handling is on the gen 1, I must have a good one, I can't fault it, even the rear end is OK when solo....and I'm def over 13st 

I guess you need to spend a bit of time with one that has been sorted. I couldn't stand the handling of mine when I first bought it (coming from sports orientated bikes), setting the shocks preload to max, fitting a jack-up kit and dropping the front down the forks was cheap quick and easy and made a noticeable difference but nothing beats a replacement shock properly sprung for your weight. I find the front forks OK, especially after servicing them and fitting heavier duty linear springs, I've not ridden a bike with a R1 front end but I understand the difference in performance between that setup and a sorted pair of stock forks is not that great.

[Falcon 269]

There's a saying which applies well to bike suspension ... "the best you've had is the best you know".

With stock Fazer 1000 suspension - in good working order - the bike handles fine unless really overloaded, in which case it gets light and and imprecise at the front.  However, ride quality is another matter.  I found the stock forks were very harsh and choppy over uneven surfaces, a result of poor high speeding damping.  Revalving by K-tech resolved that and gave a really compliant and controlled ride.  Not cheap, though.

The shock gets tired after 10 - 15k miles and a rebuild - perhaps with a stronger spring, if required - reaps dividends.  Again, better quality aftermarket shocks offer better ride and more adjustability.

The benefits of an R1 front end mod vary according to what year R1 forks you fit and whether or not you fit them with extensions (or custom yokes) to retain the stock Fazer geometry.  If you fit shorter forks with no compensation for length, the lower front makes for much quicker steering - certainly quicker than dropping the OE forks through the yokes by 10 - 15mm.  Later model R1 forks had better internals than the early ones and are much better than standard Fazer units. 

[mark g]

There's a saying which applies well to bike suspension ... "the best you've had is the best you know".

With stock Fazer 1000 suspension - in good working order - the bike handles fine unless really overloaded, in which case it gets light and and imprecise at the front.  However, ride quality is another matter.  I found the stock forks were very harsh and choppy over uneven surfaces, a result of poor high speeding damping.  Revalving by K-tech resolved that and gave a really compliant and controlled ride.  Not cheap, though.

The shock gets tired after 10 - 15k miles and a rebuild - perhaps with a stronger spring, if required - reaps dividends.  Again, better quality aftermarket shocks offer better ride and more adjustability.

The benefits of an R1 front end mod vary according to what year R1 forks you fit and whether or not you fit them with extensions (or custom yokes) to retain the stock Fazer geometry.  If you fit shorter forks with no compensation for length, the lower front makes for much quicker steering - certainly quicker than dropping the OE forks through the yokes by 10 - 15mm.  Later model R1 forks had better internals than the early ones and are much better than standard Fazer units.

Best handling bikes I've had are a Buell XB9 and funny enough a 95 CBR600, The Buell was a real pleasure, bought new by myself and one that I wished I'd have never sold, the CBR was a surprise, fast and stable......more than enough for road work, which begs the question how fast do you want to go on our over crowded roads??. My Fazer does not have the issues that alot of guys on here seem to have, I might go for a new rear shock next year due to taking my lad on the back, probably end up buying a Nitron or similar.

[ste131]

It really didn't matter what speed I went. It must have looked like I had a loose headlight to the car in front. It was awful. Bought the bike off a member on here but didn't test ride first. It really was like riding a bike with no front suspension. Its fixed now for the price of some second hand forks and a couple of hours tinkering. I am well happy with the job and it's going to get well used in the few weeks of summer we have next year. I was invited for a ride to Europe with a few pals but didn't want to go... Now, let me rethink that! 

[ste131]

Washers finally come and just need to cut 1cm off the inner tubes compressing the springs because the ride was a little hard on minimum spring compression. Love the bike now