Handling

[Peter]

I am really enjoying the Z1000 but the bike tends to stand up pretty easily in a corner on those occasions when you have to use a bit of front brake while leaning it over. I know all bikes do tend to stand up when applying the front brake in a corner but the Z stands up a lot more than any bike I've ridden before. Is this normal with these bikes or is it a tyre issue ?? I'm not worried about it but I would like to know if it's a characteristic of the bike ??

[Richo]

Ill throw in my 2cents worth here and say that to shave off some speed while cornering you should be using the rear brake, not the front ... Someone correct me if Im wrong yeah? ...

Also, the Z riding height being much higher than a sports bike, you probably will find that the dynamics are very different ... high centre of gravity is proabably whats doin it.

Id be using the rear brake in corners and lowering your body position, because if you are goin too fast into a corner, the last thing you want is the bike to straighten up and go wide

[Head_Mechanic]

Ill throw in my 2cents worth here and say that to shave off some speed while cornering you should be using the rear brake, not the front ... Someone correct me if Im wrong yeah? ...

And my 2 cents Richo is quite correct. Never use front brake in a corner you should have already reduced your speed before the corner BUT if you have to brake use the back brake and hold it on as you power out of the corner.

[Richo]

BUT if you have to brake use the back brake and hold it on as you power out of the corner.

Hold it while powering on? .... Realy? thats something for me to try next time.

[Saki]

Thats correct, if you use the front brake while turning the bike will want to fall, if u accelerate it will want to rise!

If you need to slow like others are saying use the rear brake to "trail" through the corner.

I think if u r finding when you brake and the bike is pulling up (which i have felt a few times when moving slow) its because you are naturally trying ot pull the bike upright, i have noticed that is what happens.
Dont try it mid corner with a bit of angle on the bike or it could end up bad!

[Strika]

Counter steer it and get on with it will ya!!!! All bikes stand up under brakes while cranked to some degree, but it can be controlled with a little bar input. Especially if you already know the bike does it. Just compensate with your steering a touch. As for dragging the rear brake through a turn, make sure you practice it with small amounts of brake pressure to start with, otherwise you will end up locking it and highsiding yourself. It will however as others have suggested help tighten your line mid turn. As for dragging it as you come off the turn. if you are a moto GP rider cutting a hot one, by all means go for it. Otherwise, your just cranking yourself!!! If you had a 180hp SBK, i would encourage it, but on a 120hp naked, don;t worry about it.

[Peter]

Thanks for all the riding instructions guys but I just wanted to know if you think the Z stands up "more than most bikes" when using the front brake in a corner ?? Yeah I know you are better off using the back brake, counter steering etc,etc,etc but for example - if I went into a corner too hot on my VTR I could still use a bit of front brake "gently" without it affecting the line too much. The same can be said about my mates speed tripple. But the Z just wants to stand up, like I said I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT, but I want to know if it's normal for the bike or if it could be a tyre issue ?? If you guys haven't ever had to use a bit of front brake in a corner then you've just got to ride a little harder, lol.

[robracer]

If you guys haven't ever had to use a bit of front brake in a corner then you've just got to ride a little harder, lol.

Yup is that before the self presevation kicks in? Personally If I am hitting a corner harder than usual... by That point using the front brakes would be a joke, just lean the farker & ride the corner...... it would be so easy to squeeze too hard & go down like the titanic

[Peter]

It's hard to get an answer to the actual question you ask, rather than a lot of good intentioned opinions.

[hoffy]

just brake *before* the corner, 90 front, then just lean the farker, then just rev the farker...it aint hard !

[Peter]

I know how to brake the FARKER and I know how to lean the FARKER and I know how to FARKEN counter steer and I know what FARKEN % of FARKEN brakes to FARKEN use ETC, ETC, ETC, ETC, what I don't FARKIN know is the answer to the FARKIN question I FARKIN asked ???? Before anyone answers, just read my question again then check with everyone in your family to make sure you read it correctly then read it again.Thanks.

[hoffy]

OK..

[MickLC]

Could very well be tyres, I've had different tyres handle braking into corners differently. One particular brand would stand the bike up and almost send it into the bushes at the slightest touch of front brake in a corner.

[hoffy]

alrighty, I do drag the front pretty late into corners without any standing up issues but rarely use front in the middle of the corner, and if I do its a quick soft dab and the front does want to stand up a little, I take this as a sign that I shouldn't brake at this point of the corner.

Your problem on the Z I think is caused by too much wieght transfer between the back and front of the bike mid corner, this is thrusting too much wieght onto the front end causing it to stand up...Possibly stiffening up the front suspension will go along way to fixing this issue.

Definitely try using a soft bit of rear to tighten your line mid corner, this works, I have been growing fonder of this method over the past year, but it is hard to get the right feel for the back brake without alot of practice.

[MickLC]

Worn front tyres tend to stand up a bit more too so I wouldn't get too worried about how the Z is handling until you've got a fresh set of hoops on it, otherwise you'll end up chasing your tail fiddling around with the settings