Plans for '08

The bike is sat in my back room at the moment looking sad with the engine at uncle Steve's for some tlc. It's nice and warm and dry in here and my pc is right to hand too! The Mrs. gets to see me this winter. Don't think she's too bothered either way really, I think she liked the peace and quiet last year!

There is a list of jobs to do but nowhere near the amount as at the same time last year...thank goodness!

Steve has big plans for the motor.
With the weight of the bike as it was at the last race of 189kg and the power being 94 bhp, we can gain a significant increase in the power to weight ratio allowed in the series.
If the power remained as is, we would be allowed a minimum weight of 170.5 kg. Alternatively, if the weight remained the same, we would be allowed a maximum power output of 104.2 bhp.
This leaves us with a host of choices. This is what we are planning to do.

The FZ motor runs a starter motor and generator. These are getting removed. Weight will decrease significantly here. The crank shaft will be lightened and ballanced. Again, weight will be reduced here. The other benefit of decreasing the weight of the crank will be that the motor will"spin up" a lot faster and smoother meaning the bike will accelerate a lot faster. Added to this, the removal of the starter and generator will also massively decrease friction in the motor allowing it to Spin up and rev much quicker and freely. This basically, according to the rules, is a free power increase, undetectable on the dyno. It doesn't show up as horse power.
This alone because of the weight loss, will probably get us near the limit but added to the above will be some gas flowing and porting work, worth a few more bhp. Steve has also mentioned adding titanium con rods and much lighter pistons. Again less weight in the moving parts of the motor adding to the freedom of spin up. They are also a lot stronger to help take the extra power.The bike will fly out of corners and off down the straights much sooner and gears will be changed earlier.


The wiring loom is going to loose a lot of unnecessary wires and weight. The battery will be replaced for one half the weight.

That's about it in the power and weight loss area. It will make a massive difference in performance. This is all very well but a bit of a waste of time if the chassis can't handle the increase.
The front end suspension is the next area to be looked at.
Ideally a complete front end replacement is the way to go using the 1999 to 2002 Yamaha R6 equipment. These have been tried and tested and are superbly suited to the FZ.The only problem here is funds, so Phil has agreed to loan me the front end from his Aprilia RSV 1000.We are yet to determine the difference in weight compared to the YZF equipment currently fitted. The next hurdle would be to make a set of yokes to take the RSV forks and wheel. Again Phil comes to the rescue and has agreed to make some. I think he enjoys the challenge! Another benefit with this equipment is the lighter front wheel, which reduces gyroscopic effect and helps the bike to change direction and turn into corners faster. Also if we can get the correct geometry in the set up of the front forks, we should eliminate the sluggish and slow turning that the bike suffers from.Steve has assured me that this is possible. It is spot on using the R6 forks. Making the yokes so they can be adjusted is the answer here. Phil says it is possible to achieve.
I used to own the machine and know from experience how good the handling of the RSV is. Not only that but the brakes are absolutely, astoundingly good. We hope this will do the trick!
If we can get the bike to behave as it should at the front, then things will be looking very good for an improvement in results next season.

Other jobs on the list include some paint here and there to clean things up a bit, replacing the old, leaky clutch slave cylinder. A bit of general maintenance and servicing such as cleaning out and re greasing all bearings, the chain, the rear shock and linkages, swing arm bearings, cables etc. etc. Nothing too heavy or taxing. This is all under way but the real work will start when the motor gets back and we head to Brands Hatch on March 7th. I can't wait!
So all in all, it's very promising and exciting.

I will update as things develop, although I have a feeling that not too much will be going on until February swings into gear.
In the mean time I will be ( if I can find the time!) posting some pictures and info on other people and their FZ projects. Not only have I made a lot of new friends through the racing but also through this blog! Quite a few guys have mailed me in the last year, via this blog, to either ask questions or tell me about their project FZ's. I am always happy to hear from them and will do my best to get any fellow FZ riders a ticket to enter the circuits and to watch us race and hopefully meet in person in the paddock. We usually have a spare ticket or two! You are always most welcome, and there's always tea on the go in our race trucks!