USD forks will certainly draw visual appeal, but like uberthumper, I have my doubts as to whether there will actually be any tangible improvement in quality? In my experience �budget�, non-adjustable USD forks perform no better than RWU damper rod forks, and in many cases are worse than RWU cartridge type forks.

The woeful first attempt at the suspension on the original Yamaha FZ8 is a good example of how style (and cost cutting) over substance doesn�t always work when it comes to forks (and shocks). Replacing the FZ6s perfectly acceptable RWU forks, with the latest must-have USD forks on the cheap, resulted in a bike that handled worse than the one it replaced. Yamaha realised the error of its ways (3 years later mind) and has upgraded the forks (and shock) on the 2013 FZ8 due to a universal panning of its suspension.

I may be wrong � I hope I am, but ever the pessimist, I can�t help but think that any USD forks Yamaha fit to an XTZ are likely to be of the �budget� variety. We�ll just have to wait and see I guess�

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