Making a sportbike more friendly
Discussion
I recently bought my first proper sports bike. Its a gen-1 RSV Mille. I took it for a test ride before I bought it, loved the noise and the speed, thought it was very good looking so bought it!
Its a weekend toy as I have a car and a BMW r1100rs sports tourer which I take to work.
I have done about 1000 miles on the Mille now and whilst I really like it, I find that I can throw the BMW around a lot more and I am far more comfortable and maybe faster, through corners on the BMW.
The BMW just seems to turn faster/more easily with a slightly more upright position.
Is this something that I will just get used to or is there anything I can do to make the bike a little more compliant? The tyres are all good and I am comfortable sitting on the bike.
The suspension is quite hard. would softening it make it a little easier turning? Or do I just need to do more miles and get used to the bike! I am enjoying riding it just want to get a little more out of it!
Its a weekend toy as I have a car and a BMW r1100rs sports tourer which I take to work.
I have done about 1000 miles on the Mille now and whilst I really like it, I find that I can throw the BMW around a lot more and I am far more comfortable and maybe faster, through corners on the BMW.
The BMW just seems to turn faster/more easily with a slightly more upright position.
Is this something that I will just get used to or is there anything I can do to make the bike a little more compliant? The tyres are all good and I am comfortable sitting on the bike.
The suspension is quite hard. would softening it make it a little easier turning? Or do I just need to do more miles and get used to the bike! I am enjoying riding it just want to get a little more out of it!
Funny but twist of the wrist turned up yesterday so it is on my even viewing list!
I think getting the bike set up is a good idea! It might be perfect but who knows. I also used the bike for the commute this morning - 15 miles on A-roads - sounds odd but being slightly braver and physical with the bike did make it feel better!
More miles and set up me thinks!!
I think getting the bike set up is a good idea! It might be perfect but who knows. I also used the bike for the commute this morning - 15 miles on A-roads - sounds odd but being slightly braver and physical with the bike did make it feel better!
More miles and set up me thinks!!
kev b said:
I don't want to paint the picture black, I love my Mille, it's very reliable, as cheap to run as any sportsbike, way less finicky and demanding than Ducatis, has more grunt than most bikes but still revs enough to reach 165mph (I am told).
Any bike has characteristics, the Mille just does not reward passive riding, it's a sportsbike not a cruiser.
Many bikes have foibles, BMW agricultural gearboxes, snatchy big singles, cramped Jap bike riding position, trail bike high seats, naked bike wind blast, HD V- Max slow steering. The Mille has none of these but it is set up purely to go fast on smooth roads, you just need to understand this, if it's not for you then there are other bikes that may suit you better.
WRT changing springs and fork oil, all bikes leave the factory with compromised settings, the buyer may be 70 Kilo or 170 Kilo, that's a lot to accomodate on a 195 Kilo bike. The OP asked how to make his bike more friendly and I posted my experience of 10 years ownership.
And it was very useful and i do love the bike. Pushing it about a little more is certainly helping - bike feels much more stable and happy!Any bike has characteristics, the Mille just does not reward passive riding, it's a sportsbike not a cruiser.
Many bikes have foibles, BMW agricultural gearboxes, snatchy big singles, cramped Jap bike riding position, trail bike high seats, naked bike wind blast, HD V- Max slow steering. The Mille has none of these but it is set up purely to go fast on smooth roads, you just need to understand this, if it's not for you then there are other bikes that may suit you better.
WRT changing springs and fork oil, all bikes leave the factory with compromised settings, the buyer may be 70 Kilo or 170 Kilo, that's a lot to accomodate on a 195 Kilo bike. The OP asked how to make his bike more friendly and I posted my experience of 10 years ownership.
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