Z1OwnersClub GB

Guyz took the z1000 project out for first run today,goes well but seems(skittish) on the suspension and harsh over bumps,came home and checked have got new rear twin shocks set mid way,front springs seems fine and within tolerance,and shock fluid at correct level,all seems to compress and rebound smoothly,tyres good and correct pressures,no play in swingarm,should point out is based on z1000 b3 ltd and have not messed with suspension,previous owner did point out out skittish behaviour any advice on this,,Cheers Paulj

What make of shocks do you have?

Type never come across b4 branded as Twinshocks.look new to me!

adjust to softest pressure, my be a bit stiff if new, need running a bit

Just trying to understand what spring may be on there....

A mate had ZRX shocks on his bike and found they pogoed a bit....finally found out they were from a ZRX400....so a little undersprung.

Sounds like yours maybe overdamped

Unless it's the front making it feel Skittish...which might be over filled with oil.

To me it also sounds over damped.
There are all sorts of issues that may make the bike over damped even when the donor bike is about the same weight; weight distribution, mass of un-sprung parts, mechanical leverage (length of swing arm, angle of springs, mounting points etc).

First check the compression of the springs when you are sat on the bike, it should be about 1/3 of the travel. If this is about the same back and front, then check it out as you bounce it- does it move front and back about the same, or is one end moving and the other not.

Springs preload and rate is easy to determine if its right, damping is a dynamic thing so needs a little more "feel".

If you get a reasonable ride on the softest damping setting then that may point towards a damping problem. May need to get the shocks rebuilt and the oil in the front changed.

I can honestly so I have not got a clue about this and would like to learn more, I've never been on a track day and have only got back into bikes a few years ago, I've just set everything in the middle when rebuilding it, I've left the Z1000 as it came and it feels fine! Am I just lucky or am I missing out on something!

If you have a standard bike there is not much to worry about- things worn out (or the oil leaks out) is the biggest problem.

With specials, the engineering that goes into a standard bike by the factory is lost when the bits are "mixed and matched".

Its not rocket science, its just part of building a special. Certainly if you can make it look better than standard there is no reason why you cant get it to behave better than standard.

There are lots of good books on the subject:
http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Techno ... 0760319901
http://www.amazon.com/Sportbike-Suspens ... 1893618455

This type of stuff is not really necessary if you ride a standard bike, however if you ride hard (or do track days) then it may be more useful, and of course once you decide modify your bike you need to understand this stuff to get the best out of your hard work.

Thanks for that Mr Wilson, I'll buy one of them books, I'm very interested in this as I really don't get it

Hopefully I will once I've great up on the stuff!

Thanks Guyz will try out your suggestions and let you know..PaulJ

i dont think you will see many z1000ltd at track days

z1bman wrote:i dont think you will see many z1000ltd at track days

No you wouldnt,even though it looks like this now!

http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... ht=#251338

looks nice i didn't realise you had done so much work. have you checked the wheel alignment? front to back

Thanks, wheels are smack on in line,just a thought though according to the Haynes book of lies it says to check oil level springs out forks fully extended,which i have,thinking about it and according to my other books it says to check springs out fully compressed,confusing !!!can anyone clarify please what level,qauntity fork free length and sae as a start,reckon they are standard Z1000ltd forks,,,,Thanks Paul J

forks should be fully compressed to check fork oil level