I figured I'd post a question on this as this is something that has been bugging me for ages and is driving me a bit mad. I 'feel' that my X1 doesn't handle properly. Wieteke has got the same with her X1. How do I quantify this wishy-washy statement? Well... The bike feels like its resisting my efforts to tip it into corners. Its both nerveous at the front *AND* resists tipping into corners at the rear. I've no ideas how that can work but there you go. The issue really started when I got the bike. It had a rear 180 tyre on a standard three spoke rim which is too wide. Fitted a 170 but the rear tyre still feels like its pushing against me when I try to lean into corners.

The other issue I have is that the front seems to wash out too easily. I've had SEVERAL near wash-outs on that bike, which I have not had with any of my other bikes. I can clearly see by the chicken strip on the tyres that I am not getting to the edge. I have about 1/2 - 1 inch left on the rear and front. If I push any further than that the front washes out. The bit of the edge that *I DO USE* is well chewed up. So it's not like I'm pussy-footing about...

On any of the other bikes that I've owned I have always managed to ride them right to the edge of the tyre. These bikes were: Honda NSF125, Suzuki RGV250, Aprilia RS125, Kawasaki GPx750, BMW K75 RT, Aprilia Caponord, Harley FLT 1983 Shovelhead and Wieteke's Twinky Night Train. So, I know how to ride different bikes competitively, so I am looking at a TECHNICAL solution to what I feel is a limitation of my bike.

Anybody else experienced this or can you offer advice/things that I could test? I was considering raising the rear ride height to get more weight transferred onto the front and hence get more feel and stop it from washing out. But I have to admit that I am not a suspension technician nor have I access to a race track to test any of this. All my testing is done on the road.


TA!

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Illegitimi non carborundum

My X1 is probably the best handling bike I've ever had. I will stand by that statement but I don't think you will ever get two people to completely agree on what makes a good handling bike.

So much depends on your riding technique. For instance, if you ride as you were taught on your test (stay in the middle your lane, tip in gently, accelerate when you can see the way is clear) or if you have read " twist of the wrist" ( brake up until the turning point, counter steer, then accelerate)Then you will need to different set-ups. For instance, mine has different oil and different height of oil In the forks and an AST rear shock .

Are the front springs correct for your weight? Have you changed the oil ? Are the tyre pressures correct? What tyres are you using ?

Even top-class races can't agree on the right set up for the same bike. Best of luck.

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xxxx

What tyres do you use? There's no such thing as a bad tyre these days - despite all the forum bollox about one being 'ace' and others being 'shite', but they can give very different feedback to the rider. My X1 has Conti R/A and they're very neutral as are the Mich 2CT on the Duc. The 1125 has Dunny Sport Smart and if you believe the Press, they're the best things since sliced bread. Out of them all, I feel less confident on the Dunnies. After an arse clenching bend on them, I've hardened the fuck up, turned around and forced myself to re-ride the bend properly. Try some R/A 2, if they're as good as the originals, you won't go far wrong. Other tyres I like for the track are these, but they take a lot of warming up.





I forget what they're called, but they're very neutral again - they don't last long either before they go blue.

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

Tyre pressure?
(No handling problems with mine)

I've remembered, Metzler Racetech

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

Muffin handles fine ...maybe your head races need a few more miles on them to loosen up ...........how my bikes handle depends on my frame of mind on the day ......if you're in the right mindset you'll just throw the bike wherever you want it to go .....if you're having a bad day you'll find as sure as fuck the bike will not feel right and you'll stiffen up and it is then the rider that doesn't handle not the bike

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2001 X1 2009 1125CR 2006 Uly X3 2010 Uly a fully Maz'd S1 and a 1991 RS1200 Westwind.

mines great too , it must be the German that is zee weakest link

have a look at this , it may help you set it to your preferences Mich

http://www.roadracers.co.uk/suspension.htm

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Feros Ferio

A new front tyre helps - the X1 pushes the front and wears the side edges then its like falling over a cliff.
Rear shock the damping seals go and it rides like a pig halfway around a bend.
Put more weight on the front wheel when you ride, don't sit back.
The wider rear 180 tyre slowed the steering on my bike but it is fitted with PM wheels.

Well, thanks for that guys! I just wanted to find out whether this was something restricted to my bike (maybe it is psychological?) or whether it was a common thing on the X1. I have Bridgestone BT016's on the front and back. Tri compound ( I think...) and very soft on the edges.

The only difference between Ze Buell and the other bikes I've owned is that the widest tire the other bikes had was a 160. So it was easier to tip it into bends and get to the edge of the tyre. Weird....

The tyres are now on their way out so I would like to try something different. Can anyone recommend a neutral handling tyre? I think that would probably be the best start.

And I agree with the statement about sitting further towards the front. For some reason the X1 seems to require more weight over the front, despite having THAT PIG IRON of an engine hanging there....

TA!!

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Illegitimi non carborundum

Right, just had a thought. You know those flashes of electrickery that wander through my brain sometimes....

How about this issue could be rear-tyre pressure related?? I couldn't fire up the compressor tonight before going for a ride because it was already late, so the rear tyre was a bit low. Not low enough to squirm and fanny about, but lower than usual. And the bike really was resiting tipping into corners. I reckon if I push the rear tyre pressure up in increments and see how it behaves it might improve the issue. Will report back!

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Illegitimi non carborundum

It *WAS* rear tyre pressure related!!

When I got some fuel earlier I pumped the rear up to 35psi and the front to 32psi. And guess what? It 'magically' transformed the handling of the tyre. It now tips into corners much easier. Its not that I was running the tyre at 12psi (more like 28-30) but those 5 psi seem to have made all the difference

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Illegitimi non carborundum

Interesting - reckon it's all in your mind
Will try slightly higher pressure in my M2, personally think handling limitations are down to crap standard rear shock on mine - oh and me age and eyesight and the desire to carry on living. lol

You really worry me, but then you always have.

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Truly S1nthetic
Peccav1

Common, 30Psi isn't exactly running it flat, is it now? I prefer to run it a little softer to increase the grip levels of the tyre, but while that works, it does appear to have the side effect of making the tipping slower....

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Illegitimi non carborundum