QuestionHi Pat, I recently purchased a 1987 Yamaha FZR1000.It has very low handlebars.It toppled over a couple of times, once in the garage and once while making a slow right turn.I have ridden regular bikes and cruisers before but this bike seems to have special handling requirements.Can you advise me about low and high speed handling of this bike.What are the safety aspects at various speeds?At dead stop?At highway speeds?Would changing the handle bars help?For example,putting on ape-hangers?And who could do this conversion?Any expert advice will be greatly appreciated.
AnswerThe FZR is a race-replica sportbike with what we call a "dedicated" riding position. The low, clip-on handlebars are the best for racebikes. On the street they require a bit of compromise.
However, the problem is not necessarily the handlebars, but the bike itself, your riding posture, and your experience with other bikes.
Sportbikes are lighter, have a higher center of gravity, shorter wheelbase, and less rake/trail than other bikes. Cruisers are nearly the opposite: heavier, lower center of gravity, longer wheelbase, and more rake/trail. All this combines to make the FZR less stable at any speed than what you're used to. It's designed to be "flickable" and more responsive--as it was derived from race bike design. The bike feels wobbly and unstable because it is, comparatively speaking. The upside is you have a bike that is willing to change direction whenever you feel like it, and do it very quickly, unlike a cruiser, which, like any object in motion, tends to want to STAY in motion. ;-)
Sportbikes are less forgiving to inappropriate rider inputs, so the trouble you're having is probably that you need to spend some time and get used to the bike. For an experienced rider, the transition takes about six months. For an inexperienced rider, it may take a year or two.
What will help you master the twitchier FZR quicker is to adjust your riding posture from cruiser to sport mode. It will take some time and a fair bit of physical conditioning and muscle memorization.
The biggest change you need to make is to hold on to the bike with your legs, and not your hands and arms. Grip the tank with your legs/knees. Grip it hard. Tight. Your goal is to remove all the weight from your hands and arms and keep your shoulders from tensing up. This will give you greater balance and control, especially at low speeds. You'll probably need some good riding pants, because it gets hot down there!
The footpegs should be under the "balls" of your feet (just behind the base of the toes) and not in the "arches" near the heels. You should feel somewhat like you're up on your toes.
Use the combination of foot/peg location and gripping the bike with your lower body to free up your shoulders, arms, and hands to relax. You should be able to hold onto the handlbars like you'd hold onto two baby birds. Seriously.
Sit with your crotch about one inch behind the tank, lean forward a little so your forearms are nearly parallel with the ground.
When riding, whether in a straight line or hard through a corner, you should be able to remove either hand from the handlebars--that's how relaxed you should be. Not that I'm telling you to do so, but your arms and shoulders should always be loose, not rigid.
As I said, it takes some getting used to. Your legs and lower back will protest for awhile until they get used to it, so build up a little at a time. Compared to a cruiser, it's very twitchy. Riding a cruiser is like sitting in a recliner; riding a sportbike is more like "gripping a headboard," if you catch my meaning.
Handlebar risers are available for many bikes, if you want to give the handlebars an inch or two lift for better comfort. I have risers on my 2000 VFR and they're terrific. The bars on my race bike are very low, and very narrow, like your FZR. And they work great for trying to go really, really fast on a closed course.
Good luck, and I hope this all makes sense.
Pat
