| Author | Message | ||
     Doylejj |
I've had an 06 Uly for a few weeks now and enjoy a brisk ride through moderate twisties except for tight turns. Something is making me uncomfortable about them, unlike any of my other bikes. I assume it has something to do with the steep rake angle. Is there some technique for tight turns you use on an XB you don't use on other bikes? (Message edited by doylejj on March 31, 2009) | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Look through the turn where you want to go. Do not "dirt bike" it, instead lean into the turn and do not try to stand up straight. Also, is your front tire new or near it's end? All my XB's feel a bit funky when the front tire is past its prime. | ||
| Froggy |
Not to mention the 06 Ulys have those nasty Dunlops. Have you setup the suspension yet? Night and day difference, and takes only 5 minutes. | ||
| Jraice |
Johnny, why not dirt bike style? I dont take tight turns dirt bike style but I do feel more comfortable in a neutral position rather then leaning in with it. At a brisk pace I dont think, on a uly atleast, dragging pegs is going to be a problem so I would say do what feels best, for me thats staying in line with the bike when it gets really tight. and +1 Froggy on suspension and dunflops. | ||
| Etennuly |
First check your air pressure. A low tire will make slow cornering feel odd. Next make sure it is set up for your weight. Make sure all of the suspension settings are equal side to side. Riding a Uly in corners when you first get it is different, depending on what you are used to riding. Chances are you are going faster than you think. The Uly handles so easy that I have seen some experienced riders say similar things. You are also sitting up pretty high compared to most bikes. I find that I can sit straight up and go for a peg drag or slide off the seat for a knee drag. The Uly does it all well. | ||
| Froggy |
*Whistles*  | ||
| Doylejj |
Good responses to get me thinking. I haven't done the suspension yet because it seems good in all other respects. Time to go by the book, I guess. Tires have 2500 miles on them and look good. I'm not dirt biking it (except for areas with a lot of winter crud still)and put body lean into turns but not nearly to the point of dragging knees. I do have a feeling of being uncomfortably forward on tight turns. I have bikes ranging form scooter to VStrom to R1150R etc and don't have this feeling on any of the others. | ||
| Jraice |
Froggy, thats a bit more then a brisk pace I'd say but I guess everybody's idea's of speed are relative and that turn is a lot less tight then I pictured from the OP... How tight are we talking? And if you have other bikes that are even larger I would guess its the suspension, if you havent checked it. Check tires and suspension, if they are dunflops look into the Pirelli's or other tires and I think it will be a huge improvement. I know my suspension adjustments were noticable and things were only around 1/2 turn off from the manual spec that I set them to. | ||
| Doylejj |
So none of you use a different technique on an XB than other bikes? I'm sort of thinking the bike dives too much entering a tight turn and the front suspension needs to be stiffened up. That might account for my feeling of being too far forward. It will be interesting to see how the current settings compare to the book. (Message edited by doylejj on March 31, 2009) | ||
| Froggy |
That was 30mph-ish, and thats Gixxer Killer Corner, its basically a U-turn. | ||
| Jraice |
Looks like a blast of a corner  I was thinking more along the lines of 15mph totally blind corners... Thats where I stay more neutral... But your form looks great and that looks like a lot of fun! Some nice corners similar to that on 9, where I road earlier today and will be riding some more this evening. I have a ways to go before I ride like that! | ||
| Doylejj |
Were you scraping anything in that shot? | ||
| Froggy |
Nope, I scraped on the next pass, almost lost the brake lever. | ||
| Doylejj |
Brake lever went first or the lean went that far? | ||
| Froggy |
Jrice you need to go to March Badness and check it out, its not really a blind corner because of the clearing in between. I am trying to dig up a photo of it. Also, my form absolutely sucked, I learned a lot about riding that weekend, and am a much better rider now. Doylejj, first the peg starts grinding, then if you keep pushing it, you boot catches, then if you lift you foot and keep going, the brake lever will start to get smaller. | ||
| Hammer71 |
How about 7 mph in a parking lot? Frogger has those pics somewhere. Also sharpened my shifter(deals gap) and brake pedal(gixxer killer corner) neither was more than 40 mph. Original ?... Find an empty parking lot and do circles and figure 8's and slowly tighten them, adjust body position while doing them and you will find whats comfortable for you. | ||
| Froggy |
Ok my website was down a few minutes ago, so I couldn't post the pictures, but now its back up:  You can see the scars in the peg going almost all the way to the mounting bracket, and some meat missing off the brake. I would not recommend this, as it means you are at the absolute limit of the bike. It is not safe and any more leaned over and you are not coming back up. Here is a few pics of Hammer:          | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
my troubles come from 180degree corners, i cant seem to find the right place to look at.... if you look too deep into the corner your staring off at the opposing lane, and not looking deep enough will have you going too slow possibly to the dirt.... (Message edited by ochoa0042 on March 31, 2009) | ||
| Brumbear |
Jraice you should see those guys at speed they are telling you straight up stuff. I don't know how the roads are on the left coast but here the roads are kinda tight rough and unforgiving at times so the suspension is critical and looking through when ya can is a must otherwise I just grit my teeth and try to keep up with Hammer and fail miserably then when we are done I wipe good Concentration with a good dose of prayer always works ok for me | ||
| 984gasm |
How fast (or not fast) is Hammer going in those pics?? | ||
| Brumbear |
7 or 8 | ||
| Brumbear |
serously I don't know but I have seen him do that at under 10mph and over 70mph and in the fricking pouring rain at over 60 for sure | ||
| Spdrxb |
Thats right guys no chicken strips allowed on buell bike tires right? Just kidding cornering is fun just keep it safe and do not ride to limits that are past your ability. | ||
| Jraice |
I ride some tight twisty bumpy technical roads, they are fun but I like the flowing twisty stuff more. And your form was no good for high performance riding but I think it looked a lot better then the squids who scoot there butts over 2' and then have their upper bodies on the outside (crossed up). But yeah I would love to do anything to improve on riding besides practice practice practice... I am planning to take a Keith Codes class with my dad, not sure if Ill use his ZX-6's or my buell (ideas?) as well as trying to get with some better riders in the hills to get their advice in person... | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
^^^^ (Dr Evil voice) RrriiIIiighHhtt....... | ||
| Itileman |
If you want a good education on tight turns and slow riding, get the Ride Like A Pro vid. I got it when I moved into bigger Harley's and it was a life saver. Techniques hold true for any bike and the guy who puts it out teaches law enforcement riders. | ||
| Jraice |
Ochoa... Right? I have that video, will have to watch it again and maybe go and do some of the drills with my father as well. And its not necessarily tight turns that I want to work on just overall cornering confidence I think a Keith Codes class (or I have heard) will be an awesome and FUN way to improve. Sorry to threadjack, back to the Uly talk but yeah I think you just need to check your suspension adjustments. Its softer then a super sport but shouldnt be compressing to much, atleast not enough to bother you. Just bump up the preload or other adjustments if stock still isnt enough and see how it goes! Remember, small changes in the suspension make larger changes in ride, 1/4 turn is enough. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
it was to spdrxb's comment, particularly refereing to his 'just kidding' part.... I found it kinda funny and what I have to say to him is RrriiIIiighHhtt....  0:47 (Message edited by ochoa0042 on March 31, 2009) | ||
| Jraice |
Haha got it! |
