I ride faster two-up, what?

[Wavex]

I though about that, but somtimes I feel to big for th fz6. if its the suspension, then doesnt that mean it is the bike. I'm not a professional, I'm just noticing things as I ride. I like the feel of bigger bikes. I feel like it might be time for me to promote to a 1000cc. I know i'm not Rossi, but I dont think I have to be to move up. I think a bigger bike is what I need, someting with more weight.

How can you be too big for the bike if the bike is fine when you ride 2 up?

The reason I asked for your weight is because if the bike feels stable 2up, but not when you're along, it might be that your suspension is setup too stiff for your weight.
Yes, your suspension is part of your bike, but switching bike would mean a heavy investment (+ more insurance etc...), when upgrading suspension alone would be much much cheaper.

Don't take this the wrong way, but to me, you sound like you want a liter bike, and are trying to justify it somehow If your real problem is indeed that you are not comfortable riding alone, you should figure out what the real root cause is before going out and buying a new bike... for all you know you'll end up with the same problem.
If on the other hand you just want a liter, then I suggest you go out and buy one because none of our advice will stop you

My last comment: unless you're really good, riding 2 up forces you to ride pretty slow, i.e. get on the brakes earlier, less lean, be even smoother on the throttle than normal etc... so if you cannot ride "faster" when you're alone, my assumption is that you really are not a great rider (which is fine, I am not either!)... which in turn would encourage me to tell you to stay away from liter bikes...

But again... at the end you will do what you want, so good luck with it all.

 

[jmerch44]

How can you be too big for the bike if the bike is fine when you ride 2 up?

The reason I asked for your weight is because if the bike feels stable 2up, but not when you're along, it might be that your suspension is setup too stiff for your weight.
Yes, your suspension is part of your bike, but switching bike would mean a heavy investment (+ more insurance etc...), when upgrading suspension alone would be much much cheaper.

Don't take this the wrong way, but to me, you sound like you want a liter bike, and are trying to justify it somehow If your real problem is indeed that you are not comfortable riding alone, you should figure out what the real root cause is before going out and buying a new bike... for all you know you'll end up with the same problem.
If on the other hand you just want a liter, then I suggest you go out and buy one because none of our advice will stop you

My last comment: unless you're really good, riding 2 up forces you to ride pretty slow, i.e. get on the brakes earlier, less lean, be even smoother on the throttle than normal etc... so if you cannot ride "faster" when you're alone, my assumption is that you really are not a great rider (which is fine, I am not either!)... which in turn would encourage me to tell you to stay away from liter bikes...

But again... at the end you will do what you want, so good luck with it all.

OH, this is great! Listen, I do want a litre bike, this is no where near justification for it. I didnt say I was slow when riding alone, I just felt better on the bike riding two up. when alone, the bike felt squirly, and unstable, which I didnt like which made me feel like I was faster two-up. Attacking my riding skills is just stupid, I ride very well, I'm not the greatest, but I do ride very well. What the hell did I do to you? I was just asking for advice, I'm not looking for my skills to be insulted. Thats the only gripe I have about sites like these, people dont know how to stay on topic. when someone asks a question, just answer it. But, I do hope I helped you feel better, by giving you something to target with your rudeness and sarcasm.

 

[Wavex]

I didnt say I was slow when riding alone, I just felt better on the bike riding two up.

The title of this thread is "I ride faster two-up"... so I assume you are slower when alone? Is that a fair assessment?

In general, riding 2 up is damn slow, so if you're slower when riding alone, it means you're super slow! That's all I was saying.

Attacking my riding skills is just stupid, I ride very well, I'm not the greatest, but I do ride very well. What the hell did I do to you?

Dude, chill out, this is the internet... you asked for ppl's opinions, I gave you mine. Plus, I was not attacking anyone, I was just stating my reasoning (and even added that I am not a great rider either!!)...

 

[ELIZABETH]

So last summer, me and my buddy did a good amount law breaking in the twisties, where I got pretty good. But this year, he got considerably faster than me. I have been trying to figure out how he became so much faster, and left me behind,when I ride twice as much as he does. at first I attributed his advancement to the fact that he rides a gixxer 600, the handling is far more superior to the FZ6. So we went back to the mountains where I convinced myself that death would happen sooner or later, so I might as well push harder and try to keep up and go out in style ( with a knee down). So I managed to keep up with him, but with plenty of Oh **** moments.

Last SAT. Myself, Jazzpaintball, and a few other riders went for a ride to mt Rainier. The ride was fun but I couldnt wait to hit hwy 7, thats my play ground. I was riding 2-up with my wife who is more of a psycho than me considering shes willing to get on the back with me. I had absolutely no problem keeping up with everyone, in fact I led the way for some of it. When we hit hwy 7, I waved on of the riders ahead of me because I didnt want to spoil his fun, He was on an R6. When the twisties started, this guy could not lose me for anything. I was perfect with the throttle, breaking, and lines. While we were going I noticed that the bike felt incredibly stable and planted, especially in turns. Now, I know everyone complains about the suspension of the FZ, and I know its soft, But are we complaining about the Wrong aspects of the suspension? is it really that bad?

Yesterday I went back down hwy7 by myself looking for trouble, when I got there, I noticed that I wasnt nearly as fast as I was with my wife on the back. The bike felt squirly and nowhere near as planted. Now and only now am I considering a bigger bike, I feel like this is a really good reason to get a bigger bike because I might be better on a liter bike than a 600. the heaviness might be a preference thing, I think heavy is better for some.

Also, to be completely fair, I do a ton of two up riding, thinking back, I wonder if I'm beter two up because I ride two up so much. but the bike should handle better (theoretically) when theres only one person on it. is there a misunderstanding here? or is this just a case of wrong bike for the rider? (btw, I love my Sexy Red faster than blue FZ6):rockon:

I wonder if it's possible that, because your wife is on board, you are thinking/trying EXTRA hard to shift smoother, lean more effectively, etc. Knowing that her hide is in your hands might add to you riding better,thus also "faster." I wonder if you could attach something heavy to the passenger seat, say a bag of concrete or something, and see if you get the same effect as riding with your wife. If so, then it's probably the suspension. If not, then it might be your frame of mind with your wife aboard.

 

[victorb]

Now and only now am I considering a bigger bike, I feel like this is a really good reason to get a bigger bike because I might be better on a liter bike than a 600. the heaviness might be a preference thing, I think heavy is better for some.

FZ6 dry weight: 410 lb
vs
R1 dry weight: 390 lb
FZ1 dry weight: 439 lb
ZX-14 dry weight: 485 lb
Hayabusa dry weight: 485 lb

I think you're looking in the wrong direction. But if you want a liter, that's cool with me

 

[bcityroller]

My .02 - I echo that your rear pre-load is too high.

A liter bike will make you faster - between the corners anyway.

A liter bike with with a poorly setup suspension won't be any faster in the twisties than a 600 that's not sorted.

 

[jmerch44]

FZ6 dry weight: 410 lb
vs
R1 dry weight: 390 lb
FZ1 dry weight: 439 lb
ZX-14 dry weight: 485 lb
Hayabusa dry weight: 485 lb

I think you're looking in the wrong direction. But if you want a liter, that's cool with me

Never looked at it from that perspective, thanks. :rockon:

 

[Nefilim]

What preload setting would you guys recommend for a 175lbs solo rider?

 

[jmerch44]

The title of this thread is "I ride faster two-up"... so I assume you are slower when alone? Is that a fair assessment?

In general, riding 2 up is damn slow, so if you're slower when riding alone, it means you're super slow! That's all I was saying.



Dude, chill out, this is the internet... you asked for ppl's opinions, I gave you mine. Plus, I was not attacking anyone, I was just stating my reasoning (and even added that I am not a great rider either!!)...

Had to edit, I dont wanna keep this going because its stupid. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I can keep up with most when I'm two up. I'm not slow with a pass. thats where you're mistaken. I would like this to end now though.

 

[DefyInertia]

Is this thread a joke?

 

[jmerch44]

Is this thread a joke?

In response to your neg reputation comment,

You failed to understand that me and wavex already squashed that argument, so you just look stupid throwing your 2-cents in to an dicussion thats been closed. You grow up! how are you getting bent out of shape over an argument you had nothing to do with? FAIL!

 

[deeptekkie]

I know it sounds crazy but I know what you mean. My nephew used to road race regularly on his old Ninja 600. His wife is a little-bitty thing and honestly, she just did not seem to make any difference whatsoever in the twisties! (He later got a used 900 and she didn't make any difference! : )

 

[Gilo-FZ6]

I think some fresh rubber and a pre-load check should see you alright.

as for the litre vs 600 sub issue here ,a while back i watched a bike reveiw between an R1 and R6 ..in a the drag the R1 obliterated the 6 but on a ight circuit the R6 just took it, my assessment.. power is no substitue for weight when it comes to the twisties.

 

[dean owens]

wow. interesting thread. wavex, i love reading your posts. good advice and a cool head. it's refreshing to see that not everyone gets bent out of shape and snaps at people online when they say something that don't want to hear. thanks.