Anyone got on of these? If so , have you found a way to make it handle a bit better? I know it’s a lardy old thing but mine feels very heavy into corners.
Back end is fine but the front almost feels like it has too little tyre pressure. It leans and grips well enough but it’s a constant fight to pull it round.
There is no way to adjust the front and limited adjustment on the back…
I have a GSX1400 which has a similar issue and I found by adding 40mm jack up blocks to the rear suspension it makes cornering a pleasure. It can affect straight line stability so you may need to fiddle with the front suspension settings a bit to get it right.
I use to have the 1300, and also found the suspension to be shite, I put some R1 USD’s on and it changed it completely, but it still flexed on the swingarm, so I had it braced and put the R1 6" rim on the back.
If you dont want to do anything as big as that you could try changing the fork oil to something a little thicker, or even new springs? Kinda depends on your budget.
Sorry, just re-read it and you said you cant adjust the front suspension:pinch: The jack up blocks still make a massive difference to the bike turning in so it may be worth adding them and then fitting progressive springs and different oil in the forks - about £100 worth.
Like the R1 idea…found a pair on Ebay item 270444028962 at 37 quid with 9 hours to go so maybe…What mods are needed to fit them?
Nice looking bike E d d. Mine is fairly standard and not entirely sure why I bought it…an XT or the like would suit the roads here better:)
Quite happy to spen a bit of money on it but no point in going too far given the roads it’s used on (at least they are very sunny roads nearly every day!)
Not a great image that…dog has more shine than the bike:D
You’d need the forks obviously, if you get the 2000 model forks you can use either the xjr, thunderrace, or R1 calipers and wheel. But you would need the R1 spindle.
You’d just need to press your current xjr stem in to the r1 bottom yoke, you would need to have a top yoke made up tho’ as the diameter of the fork legs are quite different.
What year is your 12?
Think mine cost, 300 for the forks (as I did it in 2001 and the forks were pretty new), £250 for the top yoke. It dropped the ride height bu about an inch at the front, which gives the similar effect of jacking up the rear.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for that…I will look into it further.
The bike is a 1996 with 14K on the clock. I’m quite happy with it most of the time and it makes the ZZR1100 feel light so not all bad !
It’s got Hagon units on the back which I’ll replace then maybe just polish a fes bits and pieces…
end of the day there not made to corner (very well, lol)
why not just try a change of bars, drag bars or summat?
You could just drop the front end slightly, by raising the forks through the yokes.
Also, tyre choice makes a huge difference on heavy bikes. Maybe try a set of tyres with a pointier profile.
The bike is running 180/55 17 on the back and 120/70 17 front…Standard sizes are 170/60 17 and 130/70 17 front. Michelin Hi Sport.
Been playing around with pressures and 42 / 35 seems to be best.
Would these different sizes upset the handling (what there is of it ) much?
It’s about due new rubber anyway so any advice on make and size will be helpful.
If you go back to a 170 on the back, the bike will tip into corners better … and the pointier the tyre, the better it will tip in.
