Accelerating hard around a bend on an undulating surface will seriously test the best of bikes especially a sharp handling 600. One thing that can make a big difference and costs nothing is a smooth throttle application to make the weight transfer to the rear less aggressive which will help keep the front tyre on the road and tracking ahead rather than wagging like a dog chewing a slipper.
I must admit that I too found some of the earlier 600 Kawasakis a bit too twitchty for my liking on the road but they were great on track.
It could be any number of things mentioned above already or it may well be something more simple like a few suspension tweaks needed. Pop down sometime Steve and we’ll have a look and find out if there is anything wrong before you splash the cash!
I was thinking the same. I know this bit of road well and love it…the bumps and boy they ARE bumps will catch you out if you’re not expecting it. Maybe that’s what happened Steve, I know they caught me the first time as there’s no potholes to warn you, just the way the road has gone over time it’s like a long session of whoops. :w00t::w00t::w00t::w00t:
Booked in with B to have suspension adjusted, see how it goes but I think Ang may have it, that was a very odd bit of road. Anyway, an hour with B doing his stuff can only make it better and there could possibly be a problem which will be picked up.
I put my R1 through some testy situations but never a hint of a slap, I now have a Ohlins damper but i got it because I wanted it, not tank slappers as such, I have experienced a really bad tank slapper many many years ago on my CBR 400 Gull arm, i was showing off and over took my mates car and it went crazy the entire bike twitching trying to throw me off like a rodeo, but it settled as suddenly as it started, so i was shook up but ok.
Afro seems to have bought all the ‘What Tractor’ magazines so ‘What Roadsign’ might be interesting, could try and work out which one I hit by remembering what it looked like from behind :DGrapes give you wind which is very painfull wih a cracked pelvis, so maybe just some nice coffee thanks :P:cool:
I know this section of road too, it is incredibly bumpy and makes the shocks work very hard. If I have a passenger and they are light I may even hold them as we go over them. They will have you out of the saddle if you’re not careful.
On the V-Twin ride the other wednesday I stopped and warned the others that this bit of road was really bumpy.
For some reason it is far worse on the way down (heading away from Huendons) than on the way up…
Had an appointment with Brian today… first off the rear wheel bearings are shot so that will be contributing to the problem. Would never have thought to check that, it’s only done 20k miles and is a year and a month old. Booked in tomorrow to have them changed.
Then Brian adjusted the rar sag, there was far to much, the rear of the bike even looks higher now after adjustment. Then adjusted the damping.
Boy what a difference ! Even with the dodgy wheel bearings it’s much firmer, far more stable and on the A41/A1 tonight, being heavy handed to see if I could make it waggle over undulating bends, there is the slightest shimmy but nothing like it used to be, probably 95% reduced. More stable under braking too.
Overall a fantastic improvement ! Very happy, it’s like having it back to how it was when it was first adjusted but with some decent tyres on it, just awesome again ! Thanks Brian
Good to see you yesterday Steve! What a cracking bike the Kawasaki 636 is, a pleasure to ride, perfect road or trackday tool.
It appears that the rear spring has got a little tired and was sitting down a bit too much on the rear so this was unloading the front under acceleration (making tankslappers more likely)as well as slowing the steering.
It’s only a 599cc Brian Had the wheel bearings changed this morning but not sure I can really tell the difference, the suspension changes have improved it so much.
Just been out on some local roads and it’s cornering better than ever, seems to tip in quicker and holds a line well, previously, I think I posted this somewhere, it seemed to be understeering a bit on some corners. That’s gone so it’s more neutral in a bend under power.
I was expecting an improvement but to get it this much better is fantastic
Oops! It’s a 599cc, it’s hard to tell the difference.:DYes your bike responded really well to the adjustments, credit to how good the Kawasaki is. The switch to Michelin Pilots was a good a good move as well from the std tyres.You were right when you noticed the understeer. When the rear squats too much under power, that will cause the bike to run wide on the exit of corners.Raising the rear also brought the weight bias back in sync that’s why you’re noticing the steering requires less effort and is more neutral. I’m curious to how good it is on track, fancy Brands 30th October?
so ‘What Roadsign’ might be interesting, could try and work out which one I hit by remembering what it looked like from behind :DGrapes give you wind which is very painfull wih a cracked pelvis, so maybe just some nice coffee thanks :P:cool:
Very happy, it’s like having it back to how it was when it was first adjusted but with some decent tyres on it, just awesome again ! 
Thanks Brian 