have read somewhere

[lew600fazer]

I remember reading on the forum about ways to improve the handling on the FZ1. One was to drop the fork yoke by 1cm. Would this be what I would need to do. Back off the Allen screws both side and tap it down the required 1cm, or have I got this all wrong, soory for sounding like a knob.

[noggythenog]

Yep that's it Lew but you need to also undo the bottom yoke clamps with a bigger allan key also as they slide up and down the forks as one unit.

be careful though....with the heavy weight of the thou on the front end when you undo them they'll go shooting down beyond the 1cm and you'll then struggle to pull them back up properly so a little car jack under the exhaust down pipes at the strong point (well I jacked onto like a bit of flat plate on the pipes) will take off the weight even without lifting the front wheel all the way off.

I dropped mine 15mm in the end but ive still to try it....1cm sounds more sensible to begin with.

[Dead Eye]

As noggy says, support the weight of the bike before loosening anything. Easiest if the front wheel is still touching the ground otherwise you'll have the opposite problem and the forks will drop but that's not as problematic as the entire bike dropping

A simple trolley jack should suffice with a bit of wood to prevent any scuffing of your bike / exhaust Can use axle stands on the frame if available (not sure on the mounting points of the FZ1 I'm afraid)

[slappy]

Does dropping the yoke make much noticeable difference?
I find nothing wrong with the handling or steering but maybe thats just me

[noggythenog]

It's definately noticeable....i did it on my 600 too and i like the results....it just makes things a bit more edgy so quicker turn in but some folk dont like it because it makes the bike seem to want to drop all the time.

[lew600fazer]

Cheers lads, for the advice, just fancy giving her a wee tweek, can always bring it back to were she was.

[slimwilly]

Also undo both preload adjusters until you see 5,6, or 7 lines showing,this will too lower the front a centimetre and soften it abit.

[unfazed]

Also undo both preload adjusters until you see 5,6, or 7 lines showing,this will too lower the front a centimetre and soften it abit.

Yes, but if he is happy with the handling as it stands then dropping the yolks is the best option. As noggy says 10mm does not suit everybody as dropping the yolk quickens the steering and some find that too extreme for their riding style.

I would suggest 5mm first and if you find it makes a difference and you are happy with it then drop it 10mm,

[lew600fazer]

I actually went the other way with the pre load as I found the front end diving on me, very soft. I am a fat bastard me like nearly 20 stone. Maybe an idea to put a higher viscosity fork oil in.
I will be honest I do not really have much of an idea concerning suspension etc! I have had the bike just about a year now and until lately have only been going out once maybe twice a week. Been using it daily now and thinking maybe the handling could be improved a tad. I am finding I am having to push her into a corner rather than the bike flowing in, hence the lowering the fork yokes so she will turn in a bit better.

[unfazed]

You were correct in winding up the preload, but at 20Stone you would probably want to change the springs and go up to at least 10w oil at the front and probably change the spring if not the complete shock at the rear.


Get a friend to assist in setting the laden static sag and see if you can get it to about 30 to 35mm front and 25 to 30mm rear as a start point.

Put a cable tie round the fork leg and push it up against the dust seal. With it off the stand sit on it, then get off and pull up the front until the weight is off the front and measure the distance between the cable tie and the dust seal, anything more than 35mm wind the preload up more.
With the rear measure from the axle to a fixed point on the bike directly above the axle. Measure the distance with you sitting on the bike off the stand and again with you off the bike and the rear lifted to take the weight of the suspension or on the centre stand if you have one. If the difference is more than 30mm turn the preload up.

That is a start point.