Author Topic: What's wrong with me? or my bike? (Read 5210 times)

1200 bandits · « **on:** June 11, 2006, 09:32:30 PM »

I ride a Bandit 1200S, stock, with Michelin Pilot (Road) tires.

No "chicken strips" on the rear tire; but about a 1" chicken strip on the front tire.

So I'm out enjoying an excellent ride today. I think "Dammit; I'm going to lean over farther and eliminate that chicken strip on my front tire!"

I leaned over (slow speed turn) until the rear end started sliding and brought her back up again.

Checked the tires when I got home; sure enough I can see where I was right off the edge of my rear tire. Still a big chicken strip up front.

Whats the secret to getting the front end to work with me?

Thanks.

Ride Safe & Ride Often,

1200 Bandits

Swamp Rat · « **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2006, 12:04:32 AM »

400 grit sand paper

Cruisecontrol · « **Reply #2 on:** June 12, 2006, 03:21:05 AM »

Chances are you are running a 180-55 on the back and a 120-70 on the front.
Different profile sizes means different lean angles between front and back. I have run my rear out to the sidewall and have a mile left on the edge of my front too. Par for the course, I am afraid.

curiousmike · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2006, 03:24:34 AM »

It's not inconceivable you can't get the fronts edge to edge.

Different profile tires "allow" for different results.

If the rear tire is getting edge to edge, you're doing the job.

Jason F. · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2006, 08:34:02 PM »

I am no expert rider but from my days of auto racing cars I know a fair amount about tire profile, contact patches, rim width, and suspension dynamics.

In short you will probably never get the front strips out as far as the rear. Reason one, you have a more narrow and more rounded profile to the front tire. The rear tire is a wider and flatter profile so it takes more lean angle to edge the front tires than it does the rear.
Reason two is bike dynamics. You should be neutral or accelerating through a corner which transfers weight to the rear of the bike. About the only way to get more angle and force on the front tire would be to brake hard mid corner which would not be a good thing.

jeepskate99 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 13, 2006, 08:38:19 PM »

I don't have any strips on my front. Same sizes as you. I did have a hard time with them though. I started taking corners faster, meaning I could not lean any further. I started slowly but forcefully push steering harder in the turns. After I got used to it I was cornering WAY faster than ever and had no strips on the front. However this does strain the tires for traction so I would not do it unless you are on a HOT pure sort tire.

1200 bandits · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2006, 09:22:01 PM »