IMPRECISE HIGHWAY HANDLING

[China Greg]

!st Gen B12...

Riding my second 1st Gen B12, (last one I put 30,000 miles... this one now has 18,000).. I've noticed a very slight, imprecise feel to both of these machines at highway speeds. I've changed tires, adjusted head bearing torque, fork oil... and almost enything else I can figure.

Strange... just a very minor "looseness"  that makes it tought to really hold a firm line sometimes. Maybe just a design issue.... ?

[Cruisecontrol]

Does your front tyre have a centre groove?

[pmackie]

Hey Greg

I've never ridden a 1st gen, but normally I would have pointed you towards the rear shock, not enough rebound damping, or too soft a spring, or both. But, IIRC you've already got a 3rd party shock on board. Have you got the forks dropped?

All the 2nd gen's I've ridden are rock solid at speed. The only issue I've ever had is a slight bit of headshake decelerating between 75-65 km/hr (45-35 mph). This was on my 2G 600, with 120/60 Bridgestone fronts WITH a centre groove.

Moving to a 120/70 front (like the 1200) with no centre groove (Michelin Pilot Road and Bridgestone BT-021) cured the issue, even with a longer B12 shock and dropped forks.

[China Greg]

I'm running Bridgestone BT-021's with no center groove.. (my second set). Actually the situation is most evident at SLOWER speeds: a TINY bit of looseness at SLOW speeds, like approaching stoplights, where it needs to be "tended to" slightly to keep a nice straight line. I don't think it's the head bearing adjustment (but I'll have to check that, as I just completed a 3000 miles trip).
But also on the Big Roads at speed, it takes a little effort to keep a really tight line. HAd the same problem with my prevous 1st Gen B12... especially after I added a used GSXR 750 shock, which is longer than B12 stock.