86 Tri-z front forks on opposite sides

[oldschool521]

I got this bike a few weeks ago and just noticed that the forks or on the wrong sides . It rides fine and actually pushes the front tire out about 2 inches past stock position. Has any one else with a Z tried this ?


Mike

[Mosh]

In 85 and 85 and 1/2 models, the Z was raked out more than the 86, in changes in the tripple clamps.
Test riders felt the 85 models handled quirky at high speeds and felt the front end pushed too much in the turns.
Yamaha's answer to those complaints was to pull the rake back on the 86 models by redesigning the tripples.
Not saying that it will hurt your ride, but I also feel that the engineers felt that by placing the rotors on opposite sides of the machine, it gave trikes a more even braking feel.
You could leave it the way it is with no adverse effects, but it will probably handle better with the original design.
Just my thoughts.
Nice Trike!

[seanndenise]

i purchased this 85 225dx a few weeks back and posted a pic on here of it and found out mine were switched also.

original owner switched em to keep the front end down on it, it rides fine. im keeping it that way.

[Yamaha_Rules69]

Switched front brake to other side to keep the front end down? Thats what the rear brake is for!!!!

[oldschool521]

thanks for the quick replies. I'm gona leave it until I have a reason to pull it apart.

Mike

[Billy Golightly]

In 85 and 85 and 1/2 models, the Z was raked out more than the 86, in changes in the tripple clamps.
Test riders felt the 85 models handled quirky at high speeds and felt the front end pushed too much in the turns.
Yamaha's answer to those complaints was to pull the rake back on the 86 models by redesigning the tripples.
Not saying that it will hurt your ride, but I also feel that the engineers felt that by placing the rotors on opposite sides of the machine, it gave trikes a more even braking feel.
You could leave it the way it is with no adverse effects, but it will probably handle better with the original design.
Just my thoughts.
Nice Trike!

Ya know, now THATS an interesting thought mosh. I've NEVER considered or thought about the front and rear brakes being on opposing sides before....very interesting!

[DixiePlowboy]

There were a few machines locally in the 0-250cc 4-stroke auto clutch class running turned around forks back in the day. I (on YTM 225) and a friend (250SX) both turned ours around. I can't say that it helped us much, though.

[3WW Star-Yamahondaman]

i tried that back in the day to git alittle bit more lenght and to help hold the front down ... i crashed at the end of the track.. i let go of the bars hollar'n and a hoot'n cause i won .. i switch them back after that ..
we turned the wheel's around on a banshee one time and the steering felt real funny to me also

[seanndenise]

Switched front brake to other side to keep the front end down? Thats what the rear brake is for!!!!

it has nothing t o do with switching the brake around the opposite side.

it just exstends the front end out farther because the forks sit behind the wheel instead of on top of it.

does it help keep it down? i dunno, but it does seem like it was the popular thing to do at some point.

heres another 225 dx for sale in my area that also has the forks manipulated.

http://qconlineauction.com/site/view_ad.php?v=326236

[DixiePlowboy]

I didn't notice much of a difference in keeping the front end down, but it did make the steering seem......"quicker" for lack of a better word. Top speed(which with 18" tires and shaft drive wasn't much) was a bit hairy, what with the more sensitive steering. It was almost as if a slight deviation from straight ahead pulled the bars toward full lock.

Didn't care for it.

[dcreel]

When I got my 85 tecate flat tracker the forks were backwards.

[oldschool521]

Dixieplowboy it does turn on its own once you get it off center. Like power steering. But if you let off the bars any on the bumps your toast. I just thought that is how these handled . But now that I know whats causing it I'll swap them back to stock. What little time the front end is on the ground I would like it to be predictable. Thanks for the replies.

Mike