Skully
Well-known member
I don't see how the wheel and tire has perfect balance myself. Even the valve would need to be compensated for. IMHO.
Why wouldn't the FJR benefit from a steering stabilizer?
- Thread starter Skully
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I don't see how the wheel and tire has perfect balance myself. Even the valve would need to be compensated for. IMHO.
Mogambo
Well-known member
There already is a fix to what you are complaining about. It's called an 06 FJR. Rock solid planted.
Skully
Well-known member
I see R1s with stabilizers regularly, looks easy.
I was hoping for some insight as too why yamaha does the front end the way they do. I have had no other killer bike to compare this one to but I also have never seen a bike over 100 HP without a brace. Seems like the bike eventually gets every farkle imaginable. For my part, curiosity...making ready for another round of tweaks and changes over the next couple of months. So I put my head on the royal block. Lotsa smart axes hereabouts. I appreciate it all.
radman
R.I.P. Our Motorcycling Friend
Ok, you wanna be serious. Fine.
My FJR has a Suberbrace, series 2 (Gullwing). I put it on as part of a general suspension upgrade, which included the full Wilbers Treatment. The bike is nice and planted, solid, predictable. Before the upgrades, the bike was nice and planted, solid, predictable. I never hesitated to cruise at 140 mph before or after. The FJR has HUGE tubes, which reduces the need for further bracing, but when one is searching for perfection, stuff will be added. The performance benefit gets smaller as the originals quality rises, but the search goes on. If you have a wobble, you have a problem that is NOT part of the design-upon purchasing, I was amazed with the rock solid stability of the chassis, it's just that as time went on, I discovered it had yet a little more to give, hence the added equipment. But, each addition is very incremental, the improvement becoming smaller and smaller. The bike does not NEED a brace, but it helps just a little bit. A stab might help, but not enough that anyone has felt the need to add one, and there are plenty of super fast riders here.
My FJR has a Suberbrace, series 2 (Gullwing). I put it on as part of a general suspension upgrade, which included the full Wilbers Treatment. The bike is nice and planted, solid, predictable. Before the upgrades, the bike was nice and planted, solid, predictable. I never hesitated to cruise at 140 mph before or after. The FJR has HUGE tubes, which reduces the need for further bracing, but when one is searching for perfection, stuff will be added. The performance benefit gets smaller as the originals quality rises, but the search goes on. If you have a wobble, you have a problem that is NOT part of the design-upon purchasing, I was amazed with the rock solid stability of the chassis, it's just that as time went on, I discovered it had yet a little more to give, hence the added equipment. But, each addition is very incremental, the improvement becoming smaller and smaller. The bike does not NEED a brace, but it helps just a little bit. A stab might help, but not enough that anyone has felt the need to add one, and there are plenty of super fast riders here.
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cougar8000
Well-known member
It is not uncommon to have a 100hp bike with out a steering damper. I ran until recently an 02 FZ1 for 3 years with out one until I started taking it to the track.
The only reason one goes on some sport bikes is due to extreamly step angle of the steering head. Sport turing bikes do not have that issue. Plus their weight distribution is different.
If your bike has issues with maintaining control, as was already advise, check tires first, followed by suspension. incorrectly set up bike is a total nightmare. Then, you check the steering and wheels bearings.
The only reason one goes on some sport bikes is due to extreamly step angle of the steering head. Sport turing bikes do not have that issue. Plus their weight distribution is different.
If your bike has issues with maintaining control, as was already advise, check tires first, followed by suspension. incorrectly set up bike is a total nightmare. Then, you check the steering and wheels bearings.
Maybe it could be that R1 is a full-out sportbike bordering on racebike?I see R1s with stabilizers regularly, looks easy.
And the various geometries are significantly different than the FJR. It's in the sport-touring class and I don't think there are any other bikes in this class with braces stock. Only time I've ever gotten headshake is because of something seriously out of whack like tire balance or steering bearings out of torque.
How about the R1? It doesn't have a stock fork brace! You've never seen an R1?
You haven't seen an ST1300, BMW GT1200, Goldwing, ST3, etc? Just what bikes have you seen over 100 HP that have stock fork braces?
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mdisher
formerly Renegade, get used to it.
There are boatload that don't have them actually, and most that do, probably don't need them, it's probably just 'expected' that they have them. You could probably take it off an R1 and not notice it wasn't there.... I also have never seen a bike over 100 HP without a brace...
ZX/ZZR line, no brace... I don't think the Blackbird has one either from the factory. Many many bikes do not.
The VFR doesn't, oh wait it doesn't have a 100 ponies BAHAHAHAH!
ionbeam
2 FUN
Single purpose Sport or Hyper bikes typically have steep rake & trail numbers at the front wheel and a short wheel base. This chassis geometry benefits from a steering stabilizer because it is inherently designed to be a bit unstable to facilitate quick turn-in. A stabilizer will just slow down your turn-in rate on the FJR where it isn't required. The FJR is much more on the Touring side of Sport when it comes to chassis geometry and shouldn't need a steering stabilizer unless something is wrong. Fix what's wrong, don't band-aid it with a stabilizer.
My brand H motorcycle came with a factory installed brace that was part brace and part airfoil to enhance air flow to the radiator. With the very long, somewhat raked forks the brace was required. I'm willing to bet that if someone were to hide their actions and maybe or maybe not install a fork brace and send you for a ride you couldn't tell if the brace was in place. I do ride very hard, sometimes at 100% load and the brace gives me some extra support then. Someplace in this Forum is a picture my wife took from the back of our FJR showing ~100 mph on the speedo as we were running the twisty Kancamagus Highway in NH. That is one performance arena where the brace returns some value.
My brand H motorcycle came with a factory installed brace that was part brace and part airfoil to enhance air flow to the radiator. With the very long, somewhat raked forks the brace was required. I'm willing to bet that if someone were to hide their actions and maybe or maybe not install a fork brace and send you for a ride you couldn't tell if the brace was in place. I do ride very hard, sometimes at 100% load and the brace gives me some extra support then. Someplace in this Forum is a picture my wife took from the back of our FJR showing ~100 mph on the speedo
as we were running the twisty Kancamagus Highway in NH. That is one performance arena where the brace returns some value.
That's a very good point. My experience with a brace on the FJR is that it helps a bit, but is somewhat subtle. I might be able to tell a difference with my 3/4" chicken strip ways.
Skully
Well-known member
I didn't know shit, actually. I'm fishing.Maybe it could be that R1 is a full-out sportbike bordering on racebike?I see R1s with stabilizers regularly, looks easy.
And the various geometries are significantly different than the FJR. It's in the sport-touring class and I don't think there are any other bikes in this class with braces stock. Only time I've ever gotten headshake is because of something seriously out of whack like tire balance or steering bearings out of torque.
How about the R1? It doesn't have a stock fork brace! You've never seen an R1?
You haven't seen an ST1300, BMW GT1200, Goldwing, ST3, etc? Just what bikes have you seen over 100 HP that have stock fork braces?
I can say that I'm glad my B12 had a brace on it when it went over 125 HP with a little help from Ivan and I think my FJR Superbrace is an improvement but is negligible when there's nothing more than upright forward motion. The crown nut has never been torqued. So when play time arrives, the nuts will be torqued.
ionbeam
2 FUN
I would suggest that HP has nothing to do with steering stabilizers or fork braces, it is chassis geometry, fork configuration and weight transfer under dynamic conditions that matters. Discuss? B) We may be on the verge of awakening the spirit of Jestal... :lol:
We may be on the verge of awakening the spirit of Jestal... :lol:
Skully
Well-known member
Never order anything that isn't on the menu. The chef will be particularly agitated when you ask for the catsup.
Interesting to count the few seconds that go by b4 a post turns into a slam fest. Shit, it's me this time! :blink:
Interesting to count the few seconds that go by b4 a post turns into a slam fest. Shit, it's me this time! :blink:
twowheelnut
R.I.P. Our Motorcycling Friend
Never order anything that isn't on the menu. The chef will be particularly agitated when you ask for the catsup.
Interesting to count the few seconds that go by b4 a post turns into a slam fest. Shit, it's me this time! :blink:
Just keep in mind the humor of it all and you'll be fine. Well, except for that nasty wiggle. Have you talked to King Wiggle-Wobble, RadioHowie about this? You two could start a club or sumpin'! :lol:
Skully
Well-known member
It's cool, I'll post after I check the torque.
Hey...
A little butt sniffing then. Nothing unusual there.
I guess it will be colorfull but useless to search the forum for "fork brace" in the future, I reckon.
Shakes
Hey...
A little butt sniffing then. Nothing unusual there.
I guess it will be colorfull but useless to search the forum for "fork brace" in the future, I reckon.
Shakes
Actually, it would probably be very helpful. I wrote up a Search FAQ just for that eventuality. We've been waiting for New Yorker to try it and the other FAQs and New Owners FAQ out.
Welcome to the board. I see it's already been a
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twowheelnut
R.I.P. Our Motorcycling Friend
Hey Iggy, I see your "/" key is stuck again. Stay away from that skankho.com site and you won't have that problem anymore.
charismaticmegafauna
Well-known member
I would suggest that HP (along with rear tire size/traction) has a huge input into chassis dynamics. Try this test: find yourself an ordinary Yamaha V-Max and then give it a full-throttle acceleration run (hard as you dare) -- exciting, huh? :blink: with all that sideways chassis twist&flex. Now remove 2 plug wires and try it again -- much better? :huh:
sradek
Redbird!!
Bike Effects
Well-known member
My FJR is rock solid without a Steering Damper. I do own an R1 and it wheelies at the drop of a hat and when the front comes back down you could get a hell of a tank slapper going if it didn't have a steering damper (which I installed).
If you have instability on your FJR you DO have a problem, it is not the lack of a steering damper though.
If you have instability on your FJR you DO have a problem, it is not the lack of a steering damper though.
markjenn
Well-known member
A motorcycle's stabllity is a complex interaction of steering geometry, weight distribution, aerodynamics, loading, tire choice, sprung vs. unspring weight, etc. etc. etc. Whether a steering damper is fitted at the factory or in the aftermarket is a judgment call and not a "it doesn't need it" vs. "it is required". I'm sure some riders would prefer their ZX-10 without and some Gold Wing riders would prefer their bikes have one. This is not a black and white issue and has a great deal to do with personal preference and the type of riding one does.
Same with things like fork braces, for that matter. They do add a bit of fork rigidity, but there are tradeoffs, such as higher unsprung weight. To say that the bike "requires it" is like saying that it requires a taller windshield - some will like it and some won't want to bother. Personally I think a fork brace on an FJR is about as necessary as a gold plate kit on a Lexus, but some folks do like the feel of the front end better with one fitted, if for no other reason than adding steering mass to make the front end feel more "solid".
- Mark
Same with things like fork braces, for that matter. They do add a bit of fork rigidity, but there are tradeoffs, such as higher unsprung weight. To say that the bike "requires it" is like saying that it requires a taller windshield - some will like it and some won't want to bother. Personally I think a fork brace on an FJR is about as necessary as a gold plate kit on a Lexus, but some folks do like the feel of the front end better with one fitted, if for no other reason than adding steering mass to make the front end feel more "solid".
- Mark
