New tyres and fresh forks, feels dangerous...

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

So the Varadero was overdue a set of fork seals and a rebuild on the front end along with 2 tyres so I did that today.

All went well, everything seems to be perfect, apart from it feels so damn dangerous to ride.

It feels like it will flop over in the corners, I used to be able to hit corners at 50-60mph and have no worries, this was on square tyres and leaking forks...for about 4 months now.

Would changing the tyres really give me that much of a confidence hit? I genuinely am scared to ride the damn thing, its so eager to want to turn in but it feels far less stable than the R1 and that has a real evil turn in.

Tyres in question, Pilot sporty on the front, conti twist SM on the rear, front is 31psi, rear is 33psi.

Could be because I've got so used to the neutral and bad handling it had that I wasn't aware it could be like this Laughing

MarkJ · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Karma :

I'd give it time, I've given everything a service in the past and with new tyres felt completely different. Are the head bearings tight?

Hetzer · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Karma :

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Its far sharper than the R1 which is the scary bit, checked all the bearings, they were fine, greased them to be sure anyway.

The bar wobble I had has gone, I put it down to the unbalanced front tyre, but I genuinely felt safer doing any speeds on that bike with its bar wobble, slow punctured tyres and leaking forks Laughing

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

I can haz a go? Confused

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P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

DMCpro · Traffic Copper Joined: 16 Jul 2012 Karma :

Did you change forking oil if so did you use the right grade? Right amount? Head race set ok? Maybe your just used to having a lot more weight when turning in (1000cc v 125cc)
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Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Blackwolf · Burgerfist Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Karma :

Just don't break it.. Laughing

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SQL · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Aug 2012 Karma :

Lol paddy I was used to my buggered swing arm and wheel bearing, when i changed em it was like a new bike Laughing

Islander · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Aug 2012 Karma :

Islander · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Aug 2012 Karma :

Snorty · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Oct 2010 Karma :

On my old TZR, I was riding it on knackered front and rear wheel bearings, two squared tyres and a shocker that had no damping, would just bounce up and down. I was used to it like that and was even out-pacing my ex on her NSR.

I got all of this sorted at the same time. When I got on the bike it felt like it didn't want to be upright, like it would just tip in from the slightest of input, felt really de-stabilised. I soon realised that is how it was supposed to be. Got some really good cornering out of it after that. Followed by a lowside from getting too confident Razz

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Past: CB125TDC | TZR125 | GPZ500 | CBR600F3 | ZX9-R | GSXR1000 K4