Handling advice

[dern]

As things start to warm up and I start to push on a bit more on my commute I'm noticing an odd trait my bike has developed. When cornering hard (this is by my own standards and not by you chaps), probably harder than I ever have before at this time of year, I'm getting this odd sawing back and forth of the bike. It doesn't feel like the bike is pitching back and forth on its suspension at all more like the front wheel slides a tiny bit then grips then the back tyre slides a tiny bit and then grips if you see what I mean. The bike is perfectly stable though.

Is this normal? Is this what the beginnings of the end of grip feel like mid-corner (only ever experience sudden losses of grip before now, nothing gradual)?

The bike is a 5 year old blade with 25k miles on the clock. I've had it from new and it's on factory suspension settings. I haven't touched the forks or rear shock and they both appear to be working perfectly ok and have no leaks. I recently changed the head race bearings as the old ones must have been done up too tight and had a huge notch at dead ahead. This quirk has manifested itself since I put the new bearings in.

I guess I'm about 5-10mm from the edge of the tyres (BT014s) which are at the correct pressure. It's at about 8.30 in the morning darn sarf so it's roughly 2-5 degrees C.

Regards,

Mark

>> Edited by dern on Wednesday 15th March 09:19

[Carrera2]

I'm no where near as experienced as some of the guys on here but I'd start by looking at the rear shock.

If you lift the back of the bike up and drop it - does it bounce around when it lands? If so it's a new shock you need.

[dern]

Carrera2 said:

If you lift the back of the bike up and drop it - does it bounce around when it lands? If so it's a new shock you need.

Doing all the tests that don't involve taking the shock off indicate that there's plenty of damping.

Problem with these this is that they all decline gradually and unfortunately the radical new ability of the front end to steer has thrown a wobbler into the equation

[Carrera2]

dern said:

Carrera2 said: If you lift the back of the bike up and drop it - does it bounce around when it lands? If so it's a new shock you need. Doing all the tests that don't involve taking the shock off indicate that there's plenty of damping. Problem with these this is that they all decline gradually and unfortunately the radical new ability of the front end to steer has thrown a wobbler into the equation

I completely agree with the gradual decline bit - I've had shocks go and not been aware of it untill someone else has ridden it and got off laughing

Having said that - someone will almost certainly come on soon and give you an exact diagnosis...and remedy.

[dern]

Carrera2 said:

I completely agree with the gradual decline bit - I've had shocks go and not been aware of it untill someone else has ridden it and got off laughing

Lol.

I'll pick up a newish shock off ebay and change the fork oil and go from there. The tyres are also getting towards the end of their life too and have been used all through winter. Maybe it just needs a refresh.

Cheers,

Mark

[F.M]

mmm...I would suggest that the tyre is slipping across the surface due to the cold tarmac..slightly soft suspension would pitch the bike as the tyres bite into the tarmac...Suspension does go off...It`s probably worth uprating the fork springs and oil and the rear shock which usually have a lifespan of 3-4 years after which the performance drops off..The headbearings should be tight with enough play to turn the handlebars left to right...Tyres are prime suspects of course...they have to work at a wide range of temps/loads/surfaces ......
Try new hoops...then look at the suspension.

[wackydo]

Hiya,

I was having a similarish problem with my bike a few months ago, having a small slide of a few inches on wet corners at slowish speeds (sometimnes front & sometimes rear). A set of new Bridgestones and the problem was completely gone.

Not sure if this is the same problem as yours, but if your tyres are getting on, it seems easier to get the tyres changed than do the rear & front supension.

cheers
Tony

[dern]

wackydo said:

Not sure if this is the same problem as yours, but if your tyres are getting on, it seems easier to get the tyres changed than do the rear & front supension.

I understand your thinking but this is my 3rd front and 6th rear on this bike and have never experienced this problem before... it's not like they're down to the wear markers or anything like that and they're wearing a lot more evenly than my old 010s, the front tended to wear into that horrible feeling stepped pattern which this one isn't doing. Admitedly this is my first front 014 but my second rear 014. Dunno, don't really want to be throwing tyres away only part worn

Cheers,

Mark

>> Edited by dern on Wednesday 15th March 11:29

[Andy Oh]

Maybe a change of tyres to say Pirelli Diablo or Diablo Corsa.....

The last set of Diablo Corsas I had on my R1 I strecthed to 5,000 miles on the rear and 8,000 miles on the front and you could notice the degradation in handling...I recently replaced the front and rear with Diablo Corsas again and it is a completely different bike and handles like a dream....

[yoda954]

Silly idea I know - but have you checked tyre pressures?

>> Edited by yoda954 on Wednesday 15th March 14:03

[dern]

yoda954 said:

Silly idea I know - but have you checked tyre pressures?

Not at all silly but yes I have.

[yoda954]

dern said:

yoda954 said: Silly idea I know - but have you checked tyre pressures? Not at all silly but yes I have.

OK - was being slightly flippent there.....and grossly negligent in not having read the post properly eevah!

Perhaps the head race needs tightening or at least torque settings checked....I think the setting is relatively high? Other than this I've no idea really :-/

[dern]

yoda954 said:

Perhaps the head race needs tightening or at least torque settings checked....I think the setting is relatively high? Other than this I've no idea really :-/

I think one of the things I need to check is if the headrace bearings have settled and the nuts needs tightening a bit.

Regards,

Mark

[rsvmilly]

As I understand it, most of the handling problems on bikes are due to the rear - even if they manifest themselves in front-end quirks.

25K is a reasonable life for the shock so it probably needs replacing / refreshing.

You could use it as an opportunity to upgrade to one of these;

Ohlins

[yoda954]

dern said:

I think one of the things I need to check is if the headrace bearings have settled and the nuts needs tightening a bit. Regards, Mark

Yep - apparently they do settle in a bit....something I think that would be checked on a new bike at the first (free) service.

[itsadeal]

Out of interest?

I know we are all on the shock tyre thing,,, but, does it do more one way then the other? ie better on lefts then right corners?

[dern]

itsadeal said:

Out of interest? I know we are all on the shock tyre thing,,, but, does it do more one way then the other? ie better on lefts then right corners?

Nope, exactly the same. I nipped up the head race bearings and the problem hasn't reappeared but it hasn't been dry enough on the way to work to push it hard enough to really find out.

[itsadeal]

Oh, Its a blade thing mine was the same. Great fun good for your buttock muscles.

One thing with my blade it was an early one with the smaller front wheel, and it was an bu**er for tyres, slight wear on em and it handled poo. Mine used to V the fronts for some reason, meaning you were upright or scraping your lid with no in between!
However I dont think your model has the same issues, but its too damp really for Fireblades this time of year.

I will keep thinking,

Paul

[iguana]

How the rear tyre for wear? my handling is really odd when the middle is squared a tad, its not so much you can visably see & there is lots of tread meat left- just not as much as the sides, (& given yr winter motorway commute yours must wear far more in middle) but the handling is just plain odd when that happens. New rear tyre & bingo sorted again, its been exactly the same no matter what tyre type ive run too.

[dern]

iguana said:

How the rear tyre for wear? my handling is really odd when the middle is squared a tad, its not so much you can visably see & there is lots of tread meat left- just not as much as the sides, (& given yr winter motorway commute yours must wear far more in middle) but the handling is just plain odd when that happens. New rear tyre & bingo sorted again, its been exactly the same no matter what tyre type ive run too.

Hello,

The tyre is pretty round as the commute was along the a4 rather than the motorway... much better than in tha past anyway. Perhaps we could meet up on a sunny day and you could have a go and give me your opinion on the state of the shock if you get a minute.

Speak to you soon,

Mark