| Author | Message | ||
     Jraice |
Hey guys... I was just riding some and now that I am totally used to the bike (really only took the first 100 miles or so) and feel as comfortable on it as the R6, as well as the fact that I am approaching 400 miles (end of break in) I started really opening up the bike the most I have yet... tonight. Opened it up a bit in 1st gear, not sure I did WOT. A bit in 2nd WOT, not to redline but deep enough into the power band and a bit of WOT in 3rd gear up to 75-80mph on the freeway. Bike definetly pulls more then I thought, maybe not like a crotch rocket but closer then I thought... Its the perfect amount, not overkill but there when you need it. Anyways I am finding that I feel I worry to much about the front end lifting... I saw video's of the R6 lifting the front in 1st gear at 12,000rpm, thus never went WOT in the power band on the R6. I worry about the same thing in the buell... What will make it pop up? Will a smooth roll on in 1st up to 6,500rpm or redline? What about the same thing in 2nd? Does it take a quick twist? I just want to be able to slowly work my way towards being comfortable going WOT through the first few gears (not looking to get any speeding tickets), as the torque is a blast... Also if the front does come up under heavy acceleration whats the proper way to settle it down? | ||
| Jeffroj |
My 12s will sometimes float the front wheel in first under hard acceleration, but not all the time. Depends on temperature, if it's around 60 it will come up. But, I have never had it come up more than 12" under hard acceleration. I have only been able to float the wheel in second a couple times. Cracking the throttle around 4500 in first is a different story, it will come up. Second gear is very, very hard to lift the wheel by cracking the throttle at any rpm. To settle it down, shift, let off the throttle, or try and shift your weight forward. | ||
| Happy1 |
ummm..........let off the gas. no brainer btw, don't freakin kill yourself we don't want the next thread to be rip jraice. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Actually, the easiest way to settle the front down after an unexpected fron wheel loft is to grab a bit of rear brake. While it's woefully underpowered IMHO, it's enough to settle the front wheel down safer than just chopping the throttle. Just don't panic. | ||
| Andymnelson |
let it go man, just let it go... for real- ride, ride, ride. imo, this is the best part of out bikes! they hate having that pesky front wheel on the ground  get to know your bike so that you know when it is going to happen and it doesn't surprise you. ease you way into it, even beyond your break in period. don't get yourself into a scenario you can't handle. | ||
| Jraice |
Thanks guys and I appreciate the 1-2 of you worried for my safety. Im being careful, only using this bikes power where its safe... staying on the legal spectrum of speeds as well. Ride ride ride it is! And yeah logic would say let off the gas but I was thinking that could be to abrupt or something... but I guess as long as its smooth... Thanks guys... | ||
| Andymnelson |
your first reaction will of course be "oh crap", quickly followed by an instinct to release the throttle- don't do that part! of course, don't keep it wide open if you're headed over backwards, but do keep a steady control on the throttle, i wouldn't recommend shifting as another poster did since you will likely be releasing the throttle too quickly if shifting, and by all means keep the front wheel straight so you don't bring it down turned- you'll be surprised at how easy it is to have that wheel turned when it's up. like steve_m said- just don't panic. actually imo that's the best riding/driving tip in the world. as soon as you panic you're not thinking straight any more. stay calm and enjoy the ride! | ||
| Jraice |
Yeah that was my worry Andy, having the wheel not be straight and wobbling... Never felt worried with the jap bike, but this thing just feels like it could wobble easier. Just on the freeway at 65mph I can push on the bars back and forth quickly and make it feel like what I would imagine headshake feels like, kindv'e scary... I used to downhill skate and know what its like to be standing on a plank of wood at 55mph on one foot, dragging the other on the ground to stop when that thing starts wobbling... Dont want to experience that on a bike! | ||
| Saratoga |
I have yet to experience this front end that won't stay on the ground phenomena. You have to either be riding like an ass or trying to make it come up intentionally. 1st gear and wick it open from about 20 will make it come up for sure, other than that it takes work with the clutch. As someone else said... just ride the thing. If you're riding like a dinkus, then yes expect it to come up. Other than that, there is nothing to worry about when riding normally. Please don't experiment in traffic either, we don't want to read any "I landed on my arse and got run over" stories. | ||
| Swordsman |
I do WOT in first on my Ss all the time. Not punching it, but a quick, steady throttle roll. It'll completely unload the front suspension, but it's never come off the ground. Maybe it's that extra 2" of wheelbase..... ~SM | ||
| Xbgeorge |
Jraice, I used to worry about the small headshake feeling. I only noticed it under hard throttle and when I pushed it into it. I figure under hard throttle the front end was lifting so there was less weight on the front end. I think the feeling at speed comes from the rake of the bike. More rake provides greater straight line stability, less rake makes the bike more responsive. A 23.1 degree rake and a 21.6 degree fork angle (XB12Ss) will give better responsiveness but leaves something to be desired in the high speed straights. For reference the R6 is 24*. Mine, 12R with a 21* rake, usually feels light around 80. This worried me at first, but not anymore. The bike feels the same at 120 as it does at 80. | ||
| Hammer71 |
If your front wheel wont come off the ground in first or second with just throttle then you have a problem. On a 12 you can loop the bike if first if not careful and second should be no more of an issue. I can loft the front of mine easily in 1st or 2nd and Ive got a 9. Some clutch work to lift in 3rd. Once broken in you will find that the torque on these bikes out perform any 600 class sportbike. You also have to realize that 12grand on the r6 is somewhere around 4 to 5 grand on the buell. Ride it, learn its power band, what it can and cant do and you will be spanking 600's in the twisties and up to around 115 in the straights, after that they pretty much take over untill the next curve. | ||
| Rah7777777 |
the missing part to the wheelie formula for me is...........balls! I lack in that area! i can clutch it up in first but it comes right back down :-( mainly b/c dont stay in it. get that scarred sensation and let off. its hard as hell to power mine up, but it is a 9. the new rotax........different story there! ive powered that up in 1st and rode through 2nd....but only once..... so, if anyone has some good size balls for sale............ | ||
| Xbgeorge |
Rah, I have 1 for sale. The other is normal. | ||
| Hammer71 |
Rah, Dont clutch up in 1st. If anything clutch up in 2nd right around 4grand, it will float the front up nice and easy. | ||
| Srwitt |
Hammer, I've got an 08 12R, the only way I can seem to get the front up in 1st is either by clutch or bounce methods. Bouncing is easiest at 3.5-4k, 35-40mph. Clutch I could do from a stop, just too scared. The only times its come up on me other than bouncing or playing with the clutch is once coming out of a corner in second, it lofted while still leaned. I don't think nothings wrong, theres 7600 miles on the bike, could the fueling issues of the new bikes cause some missing power in there? Second gear I can barely get it off the ground with the clutch, maybe its technique, 1st and 2nd? | ||
| Hammer71 |
I'm no expert on the issue but i am on a 9 and have no issues at all and can get 3rd up with a bounce and clutch. Not too familiar with the newer fueling issues or if there are any at all. Power comes on nice right around 4 grand in 2nd slight pull and release on the clutch and it should come up nice and slow( do this around 40 mph). Hopefully Duff will chime in here as he has these wheelie things down to a science, if I can find some of his youtube vids I'll post em up | ||
| Hammer71 |
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids. individual&VideoID=14820643 | ||
| Froggy |
The 08+ bikes do it exactly the same as previous years. This one was no effort, just popped the clutch while doing about 40mph in 2nd gear on my 06 Uly My SS takes a little more effort to bring up but will do it no problem too. | ||
| Ripdog28 |
You scare me saying you have 400 miles on it and your as comfortable as you were with your R6. I really hope you do not ride with that attitude because it will bite you. this bike is not an 600 anything or a 4banger. we do not need another one going RIP soon after getting one. They have a totally diffrent power range. I have 6500+ on mine and i still get suprised sometimes. and after a while of riding it and earning the power wheelies are easy. I have some good 60mph+ ones and they were easy. | ||
| Juniorkirk |
Well, Rah, i think we found some extra balls, he that guy in the vid has enough for 10 guys | ||
| Hammer71 |
we do not need another one going RIP soon after getting one. +1 on that. I was looking forward to meeting that kid. As stated in my above post....Learn the bike | ||
| Froggy |
Indeed. We had a kid on here last fall, just got his bike, talking about how hes going to be a marine and things like that. He had good goals in life, but unfortunately his life was cut short in a wreck. | ||
| Jraice |
Guys I think you all are thinking I am riding more like an @$$ hat then I really am... Compared to a lot of you guys, and any japanese sport bike rider I am very conservative and like to just go out and ride. And yes after 400 miles of riding I do feel as comfortable in the twisties as I did on the R6, this bike is very confidence ispiring but that doesnt mean I ride with the mindset that I'm the god of biking and invincible. I dont want to hear any of you say that within the first 400 miles of owning your bike, unless it was brand new and you wanted to break it in easier then I am, that you didnt open it up a bit... Especially if you had several thousand miles experience on another very fast bike. Im not doing power wheelies, I am not exceeding the speed limit by excessive amounts. I am just giving it some gas! And some of you are giving me advice on how to wheelie, I dont want to wheelie  . The whole point of this post was to ask what will make it wheelie without the clutch as I want to prevent that... For now atleast. | ||
| Juniorkirk |
Marines, or Marine wannabes are such a stupid bunch.....just a bunch of retards that are thickheaded and think they're invincible. Take a look at this link and tell me what you think....(careful, graphic pictures, and some of a busted up knee too) http://fyad.org/y9fz and that's the SECOND wreck AND it's from doing wheelies (Message edited by juniorkirk on March 30, 2009) | ||
| Jraice |
That is one gnarly looking knee! ATGATT!!!! Thats why I wear all my gear even to the market, cold tires around the corner at 25mph and you could still end up with nasty rash (maybe not that bad). | ||
| Biffdotorg |
The line that makes me realize you are not real sure what sort of power you have between your legs was, "Bike definitely pulls more then I thought, maybe not like a crotch rocket but closer then I thought... Its the perfect amount, not overkill but there when you need it." My 12s with Race Kit walked on my buddies 2007 R6s up to 110mph. Of course it walked past me at that time, but the point was, it's like driving a supercharged Caddy. You go 0-60 like a freak, but it doesn't sound or feel like you just did. Don't fool yourself, these are very powerful bikes and you can hurt yourself real easy. Keep the front end on the ground, and keep that power in check. We have seen this thread before with another bueller and we don't want it to end the same way. Rubber down at an extreme angle, that's the motto. | ||
| Court |
>>>Marines, or Marine wannabes are such a stupid bunch... •••• you. Court Canfield Semper Fi United States Marine Corps 1974-1980 | ||
| Boney95 |
Marines, or Marine wannabes are such a stupid bunch.....just a bunch of retards that are thickheaded and think they're invincible Who you calling stupid/retarded? Keep those comments to yourself Devil Dog. I may think I'm invincible, but that's only because the Marine Corps told me I was. Cpl Boney USMC 97-01 | ||
| Juniorkirk |
Hey, you know from looking at my profile that I'm a Marine myself, so i get to say it for 2 reasons: 1. it's true, 2. it's true.... lol And it's always fun to bust a few balls, not to mention seeing who gets offended and find out they are/were in the corps (Message edited by juniorkirk on March 30, 2009) |
