handling? VFR750

[Jenks]

A quick question.

ive already spoken to two VERY helpfull individuals, but i would like some more help, incase of more ideas...

First off.

Bike is a 1993 Honda VFR750 (RC36)

The bike is fantastic... untill you REALLY give it some in the corners, or on a roundabout. (living near the alps, gives alot of very harsh corners)

When you get the bike over a fair bit (Peg DOESNT scrape.. but i dont have heroblobs)
the bike feels like its dropping off the edge of the tyres.... asif it was SO close to falling down.. (Lowslide...)

now ive never felt this before on a bike, apart from my old fzr600 (which had a 130section rear)

Here are pics of the tyres... so you can see exactilly where ive ridden upto.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v461/ylldeath/8bb680e7.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v461/ylldeath/34b2569a.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v461/ylldeath/a16768a7.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v461/ylldeath/ca75d868.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v461/ylldeath/a91490cf.jpg

now, im pretty sure that the rear preload is quite high - as to which way there are marks on the bolt... and that its quite an 'in' thing people do here... would this be it??

any ideas? input?
____________________
1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[mr.kris]

If you want to lean to ride fast then ur going to come off at some point it happens pushing the limits will eventually break the limit
____________________
TS50X---CM125---MZ150---Z250---RS125---ZXR250---BANDIT600---TRX850---TL1000S---CBF600---ZX6R---BANDIT1200S---CG125---VFR800---CBR1000F---CG125---CG125---CB900F---CB900F---CG125---TUONO1000R---KLR600---GSX1300R HAYABUSA---VFR400NC30---BANDIT1200---CG125

HAYABUSA now in use!

[MarkJ]

I once had a really badly squared off rear tyre that would feel like you were gong to fall off when you went over the point where flat part met rounded side. Not that is it? Felt fine once you were past it.

[unitynotsocri...]

play with the pre load,if its too hard then there's little feedback near the 'point of no return' ,just when you need the weight to sink into the shock .Alternatley try riding a tiny bit slower .
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nearly a normal tax paying tosser.......with ferrileness suzi100,cg125,cb125scb100n,cb175,cd100,cj250t,kh250,c15,125 bantam,super 6,rickman gs750,xt500,250rs,dt175,lifan125,dolomite1850,metro,Morris220ld,morrisfg,leyland princess,range rover,corsa,vw camper .now struggling with legs. MORE ORDER = MORE CHAOS

[bladerunner]

well the tyre aint looking angry at all on the edges. going by the wear on the treaded grooves your giving it a fair bit of gas when cranked over but not in long or fast corners either that or your tyre is to hard a compound for what your after ...try running a few psi less and see how it feels. it's worth experimenting a few psi either way to get the feel your after. the vfr is going to have soft settings as std and not a lot you can do about it on the damping front and TBH the bikes pre load should on that model ever be to much even though it's good at 2 up with luggage its still not track bike hard!

let me know how you get on
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Current bikes...cbr929, KDX200's, Rd125lc mk2, RGV250's

[weasley]

So, does the tyre 'slide' and you fill your pants, or is it just a feeling that it's going to?

A bike that old is going to have all sorts of worn and baggy suspension parts and, as you say, the adjustments could be all over the place.

Find out what the stock settings are and try to get it back to them. Then adjust it for your size, weight and riding preferences. Rear preload may be part of the problem but the so could a bottoming-out shock, a worn swingarm bearing or linkage bushes etc etc.

Word to the wise, preload does not change the stiffness of the spring, but does affect the stroke of the shock relative to its available travel.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Jenks]

im sure it doesnt actually slide, just feels like it is/going to.

ive just checked again, and the pre-load was quite low actually...

theres a plastic gauge that twists out the more pre-load you give, and it was only around 1 + 1/2 out...
____________________
1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[Frost]

Tire pressures and suspension settings are all it can be really. So check the tires are as they should be, check the suspension is okay with regards to oil thickness and level, preload etc.
More preload on the front i reckon.

[MarJay]

Haha, I love these threads. I love the way that everybody seems to give out conflicting and mostly useless advice.

Jenks, Here are things that you can do to try to improve the situation:

Check the condition of your suspension.
Consider replacing the fork oil with the correct level and type. Examine the rear shock and work out if it might need replacing. It probably doesn't need replacing, but its worth checking. Also examine wheel bearings, suspension bushes and linkages. Make sure there is no play in them. Knackered wheel bearings can cause all sorts of weird issues, as can knackered bushes and lack of fork oil, or old fork oil.

Set up the suspension correctly.
The suspension preload is the most important adjustment on any bike. Have a look at the PDF in the attached zip file. Its the simplest guide I've seen to setting up ones suspension.

Check the tyre pressures
Check that they are spot on to the tyre manufacturers reccomended settings for the bike. If these are unavailable then use the bike manufacturers reccomendation, but remember these are for the OE tyres, and so may not apply to more modern tyres that might have stiffer, or less stiff sidewalls for example. If your tyres are different makes and models front and rear, then this could well be the issue. Mismatched tyres can sometimes cause weird handling issues.

If these things don't help then:

Consider a different make and model of tyre.
I have found that Pirelli Diablos provide a good round profile and never make it feel like you're falling off a cliff. They are a confidence inspiring tyre.

It'll be something simple, but there is no point me trying to guess the exact cause after looking at a couple of photos of your tyres and hearing a very short explanation of the problem. Giving advice like "Its your front preload, mate" Is totally pointless. You need to work out what the problem is because you're the only one with all of the information.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Jenks]

Cheers marjay

Tyres arnt the problem, they are Pilot powers, not mismatched (Cant do that in germany! ) - and im not allowed to change... i can only have pilot power I or II, or pilot road

having looked at the preload again, inbetween work, it was around 45-65degrees from NONE.

ill see if i can work through the attached file , and try to breathe some life into her.

that or i change bike!

cheers
____________________
1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[unitynotsocri...]

as other posters ,but check the swingarm and wheel bearings,that should keep you busy next weekend.
____________________
nearly a normal tax paying tosser.......with ferrileness suzi100,cg125,cb125scb100n,cb175,cd100,cj250t,kh250,c15,125 bantam,super 6,rickman gs750,xt500,250rs,dt175,lifan125,dolomite1850,metro,Morris220ld,morrisfg,leyland princess,range rover,corsa,vw camper .now struggling with legs. MORE ORDER = MORE CHAOS

[stinkwheel]

[Jenks]

haha, brilliant.
____________________
1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[Jenks]

ok, right ive been doing some setups, at the moment only the backend...
So thats setup, dropped the front 10mm as everyone says to do it. and ive dropped the tyre pressure in the front.

Now for more tests, but seems better!
____________________
1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi