| Author | Message | ||
     Wpadave |
I have about 2000 mi on a Lightning XB12Scg with the suspension settings per the manual. I'm noticing on the rear tire I am down to less than 1/4" of untouched rubber. The front tire has roughly twice the amount of the back. Is this an indication the rear preload is too soft? Have other people noticed the same thing? I guess after years of kart racing I tend to try and read what my tires are telling me to look for handling improvements. Any information is appreciated. Thanks, Dave | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
My strips are exactly the same on my 05 XB12Scg. You can see it in the pic on my profile. My suspension settings are set up per the manual for 170 lbs, which is what I weight in my gear. I too was thinking I should click up my rear preload a notch. | ||
| Chadr81 |
Lean it over a little more in the corners and grind those pegs a little. That should get rid of those for ya!!  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
It's pretty hard to get your front to match the rear as far as chicken strips go. I have NO rear chicken strip but still have a little over a quarter inch on the front. The front strip depends on how hard I am pushing into turns. Here is the front and rear from Memorial Day weekend. I would have had a really hard time scrubbing the rest of the front chicken strip off on the street.   I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think changing your suspension changes will make that much of a difference. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
From my experiences, this is normal. I assumed it was because of the very different widths, and therefor different profiles. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
Dang Fat B, like to slide on the edge of your tire a bit do ya?  The name we give the unused portion of the tire fits my situation exactly. The only good road I know of near me is about 50 miles away in the middle of nowhere that is 12 miles of constant 15mph curves, but since it's so far from the nearest hospital I'm too CHICKEN to really rip it up beyond 1/4" strips on the rear. Plus I don't know a soul I could ride with around here, so if I eat it out there, I'm on my own. Dying in a field of cowpatties is not my idea of a good time.  | ||
| M1combat |
It's pretty normal... I've been at the edge of the front tire but it was when it was cold and it gave out on me. Luckily the bike caught itself and I didn't go down. It removed the chicken strip all the way around the front tire on the right side. I generally end up with about 1/32"-1/16" strip on both sides of the front with none on the back. The only other time was at the track. The rear let go on me for about 25-30' coming out of turn four at Firebird. The bike layed over a few extra degrees. I didn't think about it until a few turns later and just finished the session. When I came in I checked the front and sure enough there were no strips on the left side. On a somewhat related note I was riding my friends Scg tonight and scraped the right peg with Metzeler MEZ6's... I didn't think they would stick that well. They were nice and hot though. I don't think they would do it if they were just warm. They're a tad squirmy until they really get up to temp. I don't know if raising the rear pre-load would help too much but maybe lowering the front tire pressure? What are you running for tire pressure? | ||
| Buelltroll |
Suspension / tire pressure wont help IF YOUR A CHICKEN! Lean it over like a man squidly...  | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I'm running Corsa III's at 32/36 psi. They're good and hot when I get there after 50 miles of highway riding, and so far they stick like glue. I'd imagine if I could ride with an experienced rider one time and see for myself that those tires really will hold traction all the way to the edge and beyond I'd be more comfortable with pushing her a little harder. I have noticed that every time I go out there I do push it a little faster through the curves. The problem is it's so far away, I don't do it very often. My job and grad school really eats into my ride time and makes it hard to take a half day off to go play in the countryside. I suppose a track day is what I really need to see what she'll really do. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
Does the fact that I represent myself as a Rooster and not a hen make it any better?  How about one of you local Texas guys let me know when you're up for a ride and let's go do some strip removal. | ||
| Cgocifer |
Mine are the same. I don't remember such a big difference in my R6's chicken strips. Interesting... | ||
| M1combat |
I think it has to do with the rake angle. I'd go to a trackday Tx... It's safe. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I was actually trying to work on my technique. I'm coming into the turns too hard on the breaks and then powering out of it. I'm working on carrying a little more corner speed and less brakes. It keeps the front light and keeps it from digging in and making them boogery on the front. The North GA roads also don't help much. They are 100 grit sand paper at best and chew tires pretty well. They're a little "worn".  | ||
| Js_buell |
I can't explain how to do it but I had the same problem on my yzf750 and then on my gixxer 750 with probably a way different setting I had both tire at the same level which was no chicken strip at all after a track day and my buddy who is alot faster then me had still a difference between the 2 tires so yes in some sort it's a suspension setting thing but I can't tel you how since I suck at settings. | ||
| Brent_crossbronkos |
I was recently told by a long time road racer that the front tire on most all bikes (even those ridden by professional racers) will tend to have a small chicken strip on the front with nothing on the rear. I was commenting on his Buell road racer at the time when he informed me of this. He raced for the BMW factory team last year so his opinions I value (plus he has been racing for 30+ years). | ||
| No_rice |
the 180's seem to leave a strip on the front. everytime i had a 190 on, the front would be equal to the back. now that i put a 180 back on they are different again | ||
| Chessm |
only 2 ways to get rid of the chicken strips in front... trackday or a beltsander. your choice  works great for kneepucks too! (Message edited by chessm on July 16, 2007) | ||
| Wpadave |
Thanks to everyone for the information and pictures. I have the suspension set up for 160 lb rider, original Dunlops with 36/38 Front/Rear tire pressures. Sounds like uneven strips front and rear is common. I ride primarily on the street so it is hard to get completely to the edge and leave a margin for safety. I ride maybe 30% of the time with my son on the back. This adds another 100lbs. What do most people do when carrying passengers? I have not tried increasing the rear preload for the extra weight. Thanks again, Dave | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I usually add 6-7 clicks when I have my wife on the back. | ||
| Buelltroll |
I ONLY ride on the street and i have ZERO chicken strips front and rear.    Maybe you need better tires,I run pilot power 2ct now but used to run regular pilot powers and with the regulars I DID have about 1/4 inch on the front. | ||
| Interex2050 |
I have run: Dunlop 207: Front:  Rear:  Pirelli Diablo: Front:  Rear:  Michelin Pilot Power: Front:  Rear:  Michelin Pilot Power 2ct: Front:  Rear:  After track: Front:  Rear:  Modern tires are more then happy to go through quite a bit of hell without getting upset, this also includes the Dunlop 207... What will determine how much one will lean over (elimination of chicken strips) is how comfortable the profile of the tire makes one feel (which the 207 are really bad at doing). As well as how much one moves around on the bike, for example the front tire after the track has less tire used because I moved more on the bike at the track. An important note: Its GOOD to have chicken strips, basically that means that if something is to unexpectedly come up you have more tire to save yourself with before overwhelming the tires. So if you have chicken strips, GOOD for you! But if your like me and can not resist using up everything you have, be especially careful out there. Of coarse this does not apply on the track, there heck use everything! | ||
| M1combat |
That Diablo front pic is about like my Metzeler M3's look. | ||
| Jkkj |
I just took the factory rear diablo off my XB12R with S pegs. I had never drug a peg, but the three little arrows were gone on both sides. The front looked like Interex's diablo. | ||
| Jkkj |
Did not mention. When I am going to get serious I run 30psi front and rear. dave-at least you don't have chicken filets. | ||
| Wpadave |
Wow, thanks for all the pictures with different types of tires. I can see there is a lot of variability based on tire type and riding style. At least I'm past the chicken filet stage and working away at the chicken strips. It's nice to leave a little something on the table for extra surprises in the corners. Tire pressure is something I have not started to adjust. I'm using the 36/38 F/R from the Buell owners manual on the Dunlops. What is a safe range to move around the tire pressure? Also what is the effect when changing pressures? Thanks, Dave | ||
| Isham |
Anyone have pics of no strips running a 190 rear? | ||
| Buelltroll |
Dave your first step should be canning the junk Dunlops. You'll be AMAZED at how crappy they felt once you switch. | ||
| M1combat |
Agreed... Get rid of the Dunlops. Now. I like to keep the rear two lbs more pressure than the front. I generally run somewhere between 30/32 - 32/34. | ||
| Wpadave |
I here ya about the Dunlops. I have about 2,000 mi on the Dunlops now and was planning on keeping them thru the end of this riding season. It's hard to gauge how much better Diablos will feel. I do not think the Dunlops feel squirmy on the edge or resist turn-in. I believe you the feeling will be better. I guess I will put these ahead of the Drummer on my wish list. Dave | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Pressure Gurus I have been working to increase tire life. The suggestion I received, and the recommended pressures for the Avons, was to run 36 front 42 rear. The idea was that the higher pressures would decrease tire flex, reduce heat, and increase tire life. The trade off is that the tires take longer to heat up. What other trade-offs do you guys see from the lower pressures compared to the higher pressures? What would I gain by going with lower pressures? |
