Detuning FZ6 for new rider

[yamaholicFJR]

A new to riding friend of mine just picked up a 2006 FZ6. Nice Bike!

If possible, I wouldn't mind trying to detune it for his first few hundred miles.

My thoughts were perhaps plug one tailpipe and wrap aluminum foil around the external portion of the air cleaner, leaving some space for breathing but with much lower flow.

Any thoughts on this or other ideas (larger throttle cam?) for a temporary detune?

This isn't critical. More of a "why not if it can be done" thing. Lower power will probably build confidence more quickly.

Also, any thoughts with mods to help the narrow clutch engagement, like different levers or converting to hydraulic?

Thanks a million

 

[wrightme43]

Well you never choke the input. That can cause all sorts of problems.
As long is the rpm are kept below 7000 it is a very mild bike.

Could you put a rev limiter on it to cut out a 7?

That would be the course I took.

 

[jsw4178]

I don't think plugging the exhaust or modifying the airbox is a good idea, but I did purchase some Pazzo brake and clutch levers. The short clutch lever made a big difference for me. Pazzo Racing - Sportbike Brake & Clutch Levers

 

[cv_rider]

I wouldn't bother (unless it's a hobby-type project). It's not necessary. Bike is Dr. Jekyl at low rpms, and doesn't get into Mr. Hyde personality until high. In my six months of riding it, I've never accidentally gotten it in Hyde-mode. You have do it on purpose. Of course if your new rider needs a limiter for mental reasons, that's a different issue...

 

[yamaholicFJR]

Thanks guys.

I agree on the power curve. Easy to ride at low rpms.

As for problems, the only thing I can think of that would happen is perhaps rich running which may foul the plugs and cause a more carbon buildup? No biggie, easier to change plugs than recover from a crash. And easy to run carbon cleaner (Techron, Redline, Lucas)through to take out carbon.
I'm talking 200-300 miles only.

Choking an engine doesn't hurt mechanically so long as the mixture is not excessively poor (using too lean, not rich). A lot of bikes are choked..WR400/450s are a great example. Tame when brand new, wild when opened up and properly jetted.

But sure I agree don't do this long term, excessive carbon buildup is not good.

Now that rev limiter sounds like a great idea, thanks for the tip! I can probably make one for cheap if the electronics were fairly easy.

jsw-Thanks for the lever tip. I'll forward that along to him.

No doubt he'll be joining this forum within the next couple of weeks.

Now I just have to ward off the temptation to ride his bike, which is sitting in my garage begging to be beaten! Seems like a real fun machine, and something the wife may be interested in in the future.

 

[wrightme43]

Dyna Rev Limiters

 

[Wavex]

Do the airbox mod and you`ll lose a few HP :rof:

More seriously, I would tell him to keep it under 7-8k rpms and be mellow... I would advise him to take the MSF course and gradually push the bike and himself more as he feels more comfortable on the bike.

 

[lattin25]

IMO its not about the bike being powerful. Its about self control and knowing your and the bikes limits. To me, this is the most important aspect of riding a motorcycle. A reckless person riding over their limits is a reckless person riding over their limits, whether they are on a ninja 250 or a hayabusa.

Someone who owns a hayabusa may never push the limits of their abilities and the bike and never have a problem while the ninja 250 rider could be full throttle all the time weaving through cars and acting like its an r1, eventually ending up sliding down the road.

So I think you should detune him, instead of the bike. Let him know the importance of safety, responsibility, and of course having fun. You don't have to be above 8k on our bikes to have fun.

 

[DefyInertia]

You could probably rig something up to prevent the throttle cable from being pulled past a certain point.

I'd be more concerned about seat height and weight.

 

[D-Mac]

Stick to parking lots and practice low-speed turns and braking first (get a copy of the Ride Like a Pro DVD to help with this). I agree that under 7K this bike is very predictable.

Modding it is likely to do something unpredictable.

Don't they have a limiter of some kind of this bike in the UK?

Perhaps your friend should get the new FZ6R. I hear they're pretty slow......(!)

 

[yamaholicFJR]

All makes sense. Everything else checks out..he's been properly detuned, mature enough (late 30's) to not do something stupid, fits the bike fine.

I wanted him to get a smaller bike, but think the FZ6 will be fine for him too.

Especially after he's had a few miles under his belt.

Power (and the clutch actuation, which perhaps can be fixed) being the only big concern I have for those first few hundred virgin miles. Take that out of the equation, and his chances to not crash or get in trouble goes way down.

 

[Nelly]

The UK bikes have a restricted option to 33HP. It is achieved via the throttle cam I believe.

Nelly:thumbup:

 

[616ah]

IMO its not about the bike being powerful. Its about self control and knowing your and the bikes limits. To me, this is the most important aspect of riding a motorcycle. A reckless person riding over their limits is a reckless person riding over their limits, whether they are on a ninja 250 or a hayabusa.

Someone who owns a hayabusa may never push the limits of their abilities and the bike and never have a problem while the ninja 250 rider could be full throttle all the time weaving through cars and acting like its an r1, eventually ending up sliding down the road.

So I think you should detune him, instead of the bike. Let him know the importance of safety, responsibility, and of course having fun. You don't have to be above 8k on our bikes to have fun.

+1. It takes a bit of learning but with if your friend has a head on his shoulders there should be no problem. If not then there really is not much that you can do anyway. I find the FZ6 quite beginner friendly in stock form - as long as you have the training and mental ability to know the limits. If you don't then you should NOT be on any motor cycle IMO. My 2c. :thumbup:

 

[Mattberkshire]

UK laws are pretty stupid. The learner starts on a 125 with all the power of a bicycle pump and can then ride a Hayabusa once they pass their test. There should be some kind of graduated increase. However the FZ6 is pretty darned good for pootling about on. Like many have said you only have oodles of power above the 7000rpm band so physical restrictions are not required. I went straight from my CBT on a 125 to my test on an ER5 then on to a Fazer 600 which has a similar increase in power to the FZ6 at 7000 rpm within a short time frame.

 

[DefyInertia]

IMO its not about the bike being powerful. Its about self control and knowing your and the bikes limits. To me, this is the most important aspect of riding a motorcycle. A reckless person riding over their limits is a reckless person riding over their limits, whether they are on a ninja 250 or a hayabusa.

Someone who owns a hayabusa may never push the limits of their abilities and the bike and never have a problem while the ninja 250 rider could be full throttle all the time weaving through cars and acting like its an r1, eventually ending up sliding down the road.

I agree 100% but this is only PART of this beginner bike debate. I guess the other things to consider are moot here, since he already got the FZ6. Now that he has it, self control, education, and luck are all he's got!

 

[greenthumb]

You could probably rig something up to prevent the throttle cable from being pulled past a certain point.

+1

limit the throttle = limit the power. its simple.


if you look where the throttle cables attach to the shaft (behind the left frame just under the tank) you will noice that a metal tab acts as a stopper at wide open throttle. you can see this without removing anything.

simply bend/modify/extend this to to the point where youre happy. simple and probably free.

 

[bkfrk]

i hope im not being too negative but cant you just tell him not to wind the throttle to the stop? my wife learned how to ride on the fz6 and had no problems. the bike is extremely docile at low rpms. youre spending way too much time trying to reengineer his bike when you could spend that time on rider education. i highly recommend an msf course

 

[FZ6er_FSR]

UK laws are pretty stupid. The learner starts on a 125 with all the power of a bicycle pump and can then ride a Hayabusa once they pass their test. There should be some kind of graduated increase. However the FZ6 is pretty darned good for pootling about on. Like many have said you only have oodles of power above the 7000rpm band so physical restrictions are not required. I went straight from my CBT on a 125 to my test on an ER5 then on to a Fazer 600 which has a similar increase in power to the FZ6 at 7000 rpm within a short time frame.

They don't make you do your test with a larger capacity bike? That "is" crasy.

 

[FZ6er_FSR]

I agree 100% but this is only PART of this beginner bike debate. I guess the other things to consider are moot here, since he already got the FZ6. Now that he has it, self control, education, and luck are all he's got!

As one of my closed track instructors put it for low speed motorcycle control:
Power control is not only in the throttle, it's also in clutch control.

Then my instructor demonstrated by doing a very slow turn right hand turn exercise at full throttle and using only the clutch to control the speed.

It's something many riders forget about.

 

[Cuba]

UK laws are pretty stupid. The learner starts on a 125 with all the power of a bicycle pump and can then ride a Hayabusa once they pass their test. There should be some kind of graduated increase. However the FZ6 is pretty darned good for pootling about on. Like many have said you only have oodles of power above the 7000rpm band so physical restrictions are not required. I went straight from my CBT on a 125 to my test on an ER5 then on to a Fazer 600 which has a similar increase in power to the FZ6 at 7000 rpm within a short time frame.

Here in the US you could show up at the DMV, answer 16 of 20 questions correctly, pay $10 for your permit, walk out and go for the first motorcycle ride of your life on a Hyabusa turbo wearing shorts and sandals after having two beers if you wanted to. Land of the free :america: