Camber Sands Run

[The Tot]

I decide to go for a lunchtime run to camber sands in order to test out my suspension settings. I need to firm up the front since it never really felt planted when you flick the bike

The shot gives a good view of the suspension moving about. It was a bit too soft for my liking since the bike would sometimes take a while to do directional changes. I probably need to stiffen up the rebound.
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Acemastr]

I'm curious why you seem to be letting off and changing down for things that just aren't there! It actually annoyed me to sit and watch as nothing happened!
____________________
2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[The Tot]

I weren't happy with how the bike was driving in 6th on some of the bends. I'm trying to not ride the bike like a twist and go like I used to after somebody advised me to try and resist the temptation to short shift it to 6th and stay there. Just blowing the old cobwebs off. I think what I'd ideally need is a fast rider but smooth rider to follow behind. I've always used the gearbox a lot when riding smaller capacity bikes and sometime even a slight blip down the box can make the bike more stable on moderate bends and tractable on the exits. There's an old video somwhere where I was chasing a mate or he was chasing me where I was banging up and down the box all the time. Just how I ride.

Or it could be from segments that i've cut out. I edited some of the video to change scene after or before gearshifts after watching it again
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Wozza]

You editted out Camber!

[Thom]

Shame i couldnt hear much (but that may be me because ive fannyed on with my laptop sound settings) but that seems a nicer video to watch than the last i commented on, it seemed to have more flow and smoother to watch - i do get the impression you're gearing technique would be better suited to a smaller bike, perhaps allowing you to go faster?
____________________
Current Bike: 1996 Yamaha TRX850 (The Japanese-Ducati One).
Previous Bikes: 1990 Honda NSR125 'Rothmans' (The smoking one), 1990 Suzuki GS500e 'Caf? fighter' (The loud one), 1987 Kawasaki GPX400r (The quick one), 1997 XJ600s Diversion (The reliable one), 2000 Kawasaki ER-5 (The spontaneously combustive one)

[The Tot]

Yeah, you're probably right about that Thom. Many people have commented (purely by video comparison) that I would probable be quicker on a 600, and a lot more smoother. In fact, get me back on my old ZXR250 and chances are the thing would be wailing past 12k rpm through most of those bends.

I still wouldn't say it was smooth. The bike was bucking and weaving and going wide on exit. This was sorted out afterwards - I turned the rebound up a notch (1/2 turn) to sort out the front end and upped the compression 1/8th and it feels transformed. The back end rebound was raised by 1/4 turn, compression by 1/8th and it made a LOT of difference too.

Even on my commute to work (which involves going through to lydd, the next town up from camber), the bike feels more planted through the fast sweepers at the expense of jolting me about a bit.

Wozza, I edited out camber because I was going to throw a segment of me going from Rye to Appledore along the Royal Military Canal. All that proved was that the bike can navigate straight lines very well and brake even better for the flick flack sections along the dykes/canal!
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Wozza]

Canal road is fun the first few times but does get boring. Rye to Lydd is a good run, I enjoy the road from Brenzett back to Rye too.

[The Tot]

Going to miss it though! I finish at Dungeness next wednesday but moving to Lancaster - so should only be a stone's throw away from the dales

Brenzett -> Rye is a pretty decent run although you do tend to get some articulated lorries in really inconvenient places.
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Wozza]

Shame, could've gone for a ride sometime. You work at the power station? You an engineer of sorts?

[The Tot]

Yeah, working on B-site. Graduate trainee engineer. It's a nice part of the world compared to some of the power stations I've been to... actually they're all situated in nice parts of the country, conveniently near very decent biking roads. It's not surprising that there's quite a few bikers at work.
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[adama]

Your vids are rather good tot! subbed anyway mate so
____________________
Vlogging - www.youtube.com/caprio85

CBT Passed - 24/04/08 - Theory Passed 18/07/08 - Practical Passed 2/04/09

[mad4it028]

dont know where you are but if your local to peterborough i know a guy who used to set up the shocks for mcn he does an amazing job does all my bikes youed be lucky if he would take a drink off ya for doing it!
also he would happlily take you out hes smooth and very fast ive seen him go round the outside of r1s through the twistys on an szr660 altho not the fastest of bikes he really is the fastest rider i know not bad for a 60year old..lol
____________________
always looking to buy bikes crashed ,unfinished projects,none runners pm me
currently riding kawasaki z1000 only bike ive ever loved

[The Tot]

Shame really since I used to live in Loughborough which was only up the road. The road through rutland -> empingham would have been a nice road to test it.

Either way, I think i've got her dialled in. Went back to base settings and went from there. I certainly think that the wavy replacement discs had something to do with it since

1) They're lighter
2) I can brake harder meaning that i'm more forceful... so the front dives and bottoms out.

I had a copy of twist of the wrist 2 which gave some mention to suspension setup. Might dig that out and have a look so that I can understand what I'm actually doing rather than having a guess and turning random knobs and dials like I usually do.
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Acemastr]

[mad4it028]

yea no problem ace your local to me so he would probally take you the same route i took you
____________________
always looking to buy bikes crashed ,unfinished projects,none runners pm me
currently riding kawasaki z1000 only bike ive ever loved

[Seb]

Considered getting a proper suspension setup Tot? It's done absolute wonders for my 9, as well as getting the suspension actually working properly, it's made the bike a ton easier to turn in and keep on line coming out of the corner, the thing feels like a sports bike rather than a speedboat now
____________________
2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[The Tot]

Yeah,

Once I've got my MOT out of the way, it'll be my next project. It all depends on where I'm going to be locationwise for work. WILL probably be the best £50-100 quid spent (more if i need a rebuild).
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[lnewland]

im still yet to ride the camber road. bareing in mind i only live in folkestone its not far. driven it mnay times so need to get my arse into gear and get down that way.
____________________
Cg125 stolen and returned trashed
Cb500
Yamaha R6