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As with most things, there are certain questions about the Thunderace that turn up over
and over. Most, if not all, of these questions are answered in the Thunderace
mailing list archive. The ones that turn up most often are listed here. Please
let me know if you think I've overlooked any questions that are important.
So, here they are... some Thunderace FAQs:
Do Thunderaces burn oil?
- Some do, some don't -- although some riders report that they use no excess oil between
changes, others burn up to a quart every 1000 miles. Apparently, in 1996 and 1997
the bores weren't perfectly round resulting in a bit of blow-by and excess oil
consumption. Some people think the problem may be made worse by breaking in the
engine too gently, others feel that switching to synthetic before the engine is fully
broken in also exasterbates the problem. This doesn't happen to every bike though.
Many owners report tens of thousands of miles with no excess oil consumption.
If your bike burns oil, and you have an extended warrenty, you might be able to get Yamaha
to fix the problem under warrenty. If you don't have an extended warrenty, you can
either remember to check your oil every 500 miles, or you can re-bore the motor and put in
a 1072 cc kit.
How fast are they?
- Published magazine reports are very consistent on top speed.
Most list a top speed between 162 and 165 mph. While this might not keep up with a CBR1100XX or a 'Busa, it is still very fast. If
you want still more, many people experiment with gearing or going after a few more ponies.
Although I've never seen a published test to confirm this, I expect that with an
aftermarket exhaust, jet kit and a sprocket change, a Thunderace might be good for nearly
170 mph.
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- For those drag racers out there, Motorcycle Consumer News reported that a
stock 1997 YZF1000R ran the quarter mile in 10.38 seconds at 132.72 mph.
How much horsepower do they make?
- Again, published magazine reports tend to be very consistent.
Figure 120 to 128 horsepower at the rear wheel in stock trim.
With a good aftermarket exhaust, jet kit and free flowing filter, you can probably push
that number up to about 135. Want more? A big bore kit, head work and a set of
flatside carbs might bet you up well over 150 hp at the rear wheel.
How much do they weigh?
- The magazine that actually weighed them found that they
weighed 475 lbs with an empty tank and 506 lbs with the tank full.
With a little creative lightening, you can probably drop a fair amount off these figures.
Consider switching to a full exhaust (sans EXUP) to save about 10 lbs.
Magnesium wheels will also shed some unwanted weight.
Are they good sport-touring bikes?
- Yes, they make surprisingly good sport-touring bikes. Although the riding position
is a bit racy, many people report that 500 mile days are manageable. My personal
one-day record is just over 400 miles. That same trip we covered some 1,600 miles in
10 days and had a great time.
To improve the long-range comfort, consider installing taller clip-ons, such as the ones
made by HeliBars. Another inexpensive
improvement is to add a somewhat taller windscreen. ZeroGravity makes several that will fit,
including a very trick looking Double Bubble.
How do ThunderAces compare to R1s? Which is better?
- YZF1000s and R1s are very different motorcycles in a number of ways and I
wouldn't say that either is "better." They each have their
strengths and weaknesses, so much so that I now have a comparison
available for anyone who's really interested.
What are the best tires?
- Nearly everyone agrees that the stock Dunlop D204s are crap and that just about anything
is better.
Many people, myself included, have had good results with Dunlop D207ZRs. Other
choices include Pirelli Dragons, Bridgestone Battlax BT-010 and Michelin Pilot Sports.
What exhausts work best?
- There are lots of reasons for changing the stock exhaust. In fact, the most
frequently changed part on a sport bike is the exhaust. On a Thunderace that means
either a slip-on or a full system. Slip-ons are generally a little quieter and
easier to install. Some don't require any change in jetting. Full systems tend
to be a bit louder, they weigh less (since the EXUP is removed).
Are there any tricks or tips for setting up the
suspension?
- Yes, in fact Performance Bikes ran a great article on setting up the stock
suspension on a ThunderAce in their July 2000 issue. A copy of this is
posted on the Thunderace Mailing List Web site at http://thunderace.scee.sony.co.uk/files/acesetup/AceText.htm.
If you don't want to read the whole article - and you really should - the
baseline settings are:
- Front:
Static Sag: 30mm
Compression: 5 clicks off Max
Rebound: 7 clicks off Max
Preload: 2 lines showing
Tire Pressure: 33psi for track use, 35psi on road
- Rear:
Static Sag: 5mm freeplay
Compression: 2 clicks off Max
Rebound: 3 clicks off Max
Preload: 1 step off Max
Tire Pressure: 35psi for track use, 37psi on road
Where can I find more information? Is there a
mailing list for 'Ace owners?
- The single best resource available for ThunderAce owners (aside from this
site, of course...) is the ThunderAce
Mailing List, maintained by Steve Loughran. This is an actively
list that doesn't have the bull that you find on, say, the R1 lists.
There are many knowledgeable enthusiasts who are more than willing to share
their thoughts, opinions and experience. The list also has a searchable
archive where you can find answers to most questions.
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