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Is it really that reluctant to come up (or am I a Wuss)

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wackston

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Apr 19, 2009
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Hi guys,

I'm a happy new(ish) owner of an FZ1 (ABS). After a late start to spring I've finally got the feel of the shiny FZ1 I picked up towards the end of last Season (N-hemisphere!).

I was expecting the pegs tendency to scrape early(ish). What I wasn't expecting was the Bikes reluctance to Wheelie. I mean, sure its a fairly forward riding position but 150PS is 150PS.

My old Fireblade (similar performance on paper) would power-wheelie in 2nd - just open her up and wait ;-). I swear I've ripped open the FZ from low speed in 1st a dozen times and - apart from accelerating like crazy - nuthin'. The front wheel doesn't even really get light. Even popping the clutch with a good dose of revs doesn't really do what I'd expect. She pops up a little sure enough but where the 'blade (or even the VFR800!) would have needed a dab of brake to avoid scaring me the FZ1 just settles straight down again.

Have Yamaha have done some electronic sneakery in 1st or am I just getting old/fat/chicken (select any that apply).

-Andrew
 
I don't know what standard sprockets on a Gen II are (17/44??) but I changed my combo from stock on a Gen I from 16/44 to 15/47

I'm starting to get the hang of it, but still being any of the 3 you are describing above. Gearing is probably the first part of the battle, the next battle to overcome is the mind.

BroHay
 
Nice to meet you Andrew. How much are you asking your bike to pull around? The bike does have a lot of weight up front, but most riders can get the thing in the air with a bit of throttle. Actually, gettting the front end in the air is the last thing a racer wants to do because whenever that happens, you ae losing time. The point it to go fast and quickly and that requires rubber on the ground.
 
Yo Lonewrider,

Greetings from Munich...

This definately just a show-boating thing. The FZ isn't my race-bike (got another pair of wheels for that). I'm guessing its just a combination of things. I'm not light 90kg (200lbs), I have a fair amount of preload on the back to help with ground clearance and like most modern Bikes the gearing is silly long. In most situations a Bike that won't wheelie too easily is a 'good thing'(tm). Its just occasionally you get the urge the be silly ;-)
 
Yamaha limits power in the first 4 gears on the Gen II FZ's... it's been dyno proven again and again... at this time, no-one makes any "magical" box to get rid of this limiting...

to give it more low end grunt, and make wheelies a snap, change the gearing from the stock 17/44 to something like 16/46 or so. Zip the flies, gut the cats, change the pipe, modify the air-box, get a power commander, etc. For the most part, the above mods are free... of course you have to pay for the gearing and Power Commander though...
 
i'm gonna have to say this is good olf fashioned chicken. Yamaha may have cut the power.. i've never ridden a 1rst gen for comparison.. but mine comes up quite easily compared to some other bikes i've owned/ridden
 
Without those mods, at 9k, the front lifts all by itself for me! I'm likely going to change the gearing a little. But I want the PC V first... the "boss" says Xmas though... ;)
 
Iv had my 07 Naked for 4 days now it has the FCE on it and a Akro can its alot faster than my Z1000 I use to wheelie that around 55mph in 2nd gear, this FZ1 does it around 80mph in 2nd gear!! If I just give it the beans in 1st Iv really got to hold myself over the front as it comes up soooo easy, over 8k RPM all the way yeh! :D
 
I changed my 06 stock rear sprocket to a 48 from 45. Comes up real easy now. also have a k&N filer and yoshi pipe TRC the sprocket made the biggest difference however.
 
Going smaller on a rear sprocket would make it even harder to get the front up. No bashing here but for more bottom, you want a smaller front and a larger rear. Im gonna have to look into that FCE too cause my 06 VFR would wheelie easier too even though this bike would smoke it. Its just fun to "hover" the front wheel thru the cogs once in a while.
 
wackston said:
Yo Lonewrider,

Greetings from Munich...

This definately just a show-boating thing. The FZ isn't my race-bike (got another pair of wheels for that). I'm guessing its just a combination of things. I'm not light 90kg (200lbs), I have a fair amount of preload on the back to help with ground clearance and like most modern Bikes the gearing is silly long. In most situations a Bike that won't wheelie too easily is a 'good thing'(tm). Its just occasionally you get the urge the be silly ;-)
Click to expand...

kidblooper said:
i'm gonna have to say this is good olf fashioned chicken. Yamaha may have cut the power.. i've never ridden a 1rst gen for comparison.. but mine comes up quite easily compared to some other bikes i've owned/ridden
Click to expand...
Correct on both calls, both the length, and as 'VA' says the dumbing down of the first couple gears. I have the Gen1, a 2005 and take-off will produce a wheelie of sorts, 2-3-4 inches of loft when it comes on the cam, I think thats at 8,000 rpm or so, I can't say for sure because I'm not looking at the tach or speedo...lol. But additional rear teeth should have the propensity to allow throttle wheelies as you described simmilar to the Fireblades charactor. Infact I have a thread just posted on that type of thing ie. larger sprockets for just that pourpose/abillity of easy lofts in first. I dont think the FZ1 will do second gear power lofts due to the long wheelbase and frontal weight. I'm sure someone will chime in and correct me if I'm wrong, and please do as I'm interested in this topic of discussion. It is 'showboating, not needed, and for all intents and pourposes contrary to the FZ1's design. It was touted as a bike with triple digit capabilities and more user friendly power delivery as we all know. But hay.... it would add to the fun factor for alot of us wanting more ease of these abilities.
 
I have to say.... With a k&n air filter, TRC slip on pipe with the db killer in, an air box mod and power commander disconected the front tyre will lift in second gear without clutch. Just smack it around 9 grand and hang on.

I did it last weekend for the first time because a mate who I let take me bike for a ride around the block said he did it with ease.
I did also ask him what he was doing flogging my bike around town doing second gear power wheelies,

2nd gear around 9k is about 120ks an hour in a 60 k zone on a bike he had never ridden.... sure mate.... but it does.
 
Gohot229 said:
I'll have to add that My riding style is to be up to the tank in a lean/tuck, when trying for such a loft at full throttle in first, and lets not forget my weight of around two hundered and sixtyish pounds.........
Click to expand...

OK, then you need to change your style if you are going for style points! Sit back on the seat, relax your grip get it to about 5K and twist. you should have no problems! The rear sprocket is your ticket to hapiness if you want easy wheelies, plus it is not an expensive mod. just my 2cents
 
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