Handling

[pitrat101]

Hi Guys, I've had my GS twin cam (2012) for just on a year now, I have come from a GSXR 1000. Although I find the position a lot more comfortable I am really struggling with front end confidence! Never had this on the Gixxer! Coming home from my first weekend camping on it the lads were pushing a bit more than usual to get home and for the first time I found myself falling quite a bit behind. After giving it a bit of welly come to a corner and I had to really back out as I thought I was gunna end up in the hedge! Any one got any ideas how to make the front more responsive? Just feels like it drifts all over the place. Really want to get this sorted as I love the bike otherwise.

Cheers

Steve

 

[stanley]

Hi Steve,
It may just take some time to develop confidence, and adjust, to the funny front end. The lack of dive under braking means that the steering angles dont become steeper, and so it can feel slow to turn.
Once you adjust to this, you realise that the steering is almost unaffected by braking: you can then brake deep into bends whilst initiating the turn.
But you never get the same feedback from the front tyre as with a conventional fork.
Are you using road tyres? And are your shocks in good fettle?

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

 

[pitrat101]

Shocks are standard and bike has only done 6500miles. Still on original Tourance tyres!(but looking at new set in few weeks) its not under braking where I have the issue, its more longer faster curves where I feel the bike has no front end grip(really light) and starts to drift away from the corner causing me to back out and brake! 20yrs riding and never had this feeling before! loaded or unloaded the feeling is still the same!

 

[GeorgeM]

I have a tc with esa , I found adjusting on the hoof you get to know the differences , personally I firm up the suspension saying I've got luggage when I haven't , have a fiddle with the shocks noting default settings.


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[patzx12]

A lot of us started riding before handling was invented.

 

[oblertone]

Consciously start to counter-steer; you'll be surprised how the GS responds.

 

[Tractors are go]

If, you want decent handling get proper road tyre's !

I was running round knockhill today on my gsa, and got to the edge front/rear of Avon Trailrider's, not a problem with them.

So it does handle, just in a different way to other bikes.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

 

[pitrat101]

If I cant get to grips with it soon I might look at the R1200RS see how that handles.

 

[mikeyboy]

:

Consciously start to counter-steer; you'll be surprised how the GS responds.

This

 

[Skid06]

I have a tc with esa , I found adjusting on the hoof you get to know the differences , personally I firm up the suspension saying I've got luggage when I haven't , have a fiddle with the shocks noting default settings.


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i use for me 2 rider setting on the ESA plus hard gets the right amount of sag and seems to work for me

 

[BigAlSoS]

:

This

I agree too.. I have never ridden a bike where counter steering is so effective

 

[stanley]

I'd suggest binning those 5 years old, 6.5k tyres.... They're shagged!
Try a proper road tyre; Dunlop Road Smart 3s are excellent, or maybe a Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2 if you want "rugged" looks. Both are trackday good, work well in wet or dry, and last reasonably well. The RS3s lighten the steering up loads.

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[Santa-2512]

Ive found you have to give it a push at speed to get it to go where you want.

It seems to want to sit upright the more speed you carry into a bend. (centrigugal forces from the engine?? )

I just consiously push the bike in a bit more ... (probably wrong, but works for me )

 

[Bumhead]

Change your tyres not the bike.

It will save you a small fortune and you might have some fun at the same time

 

[taminator]

Oblertone is spot on, counter steer and lean forward slightly with the gas on, good set of road tyres help, but to be honest its not a high speed sweeper bike, I would say past 115 it starts to feel a bit out of its comfort zone on sweepers , bit vague, buy a gixxer if you want to do the too end stuff, but on a good twisty road , I stick with the GS any day, especially the nick the roads are in.

 

[KP100]

I too have had every style of bike over the years including gsxrs. The best by far on twistys was a KTM 950sm, but the GS comes a second.

After you replace the tires, try raising the preload on the front a notch and check for front strut leaks. Its not the bike unless you are doing over a ton. I does also take a bit of getting used too.

 

[Mac One]

Hi Guys, I've had my GS twin cam (2012) for just on a year now, I have come from a GSXR 1000. Although I find the position a lot more comfortable I am really struggling with front end confidence! Never had this on the Gixxer! Coming home from my first weekend camping on it the lads were pushing a bit more than usual to get home and for the first time I found myself falling quite a bit behind. After giving it a bit of welly come to a corner and I had to really back out as I thought I was gunna end up in the hedge! Any one got any ideas how to make the front more responsive? Just feels like it drifts all over the place. Really want to get this sorted as I love the bike otherwise.

Cheers

Steve

Were your mates on sports bikes ?

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I'm going with the tyres as well. A GS should respond very well on fast turns and I have no issues with my old girl loaded or otherwise and have no problem keeping up with most stuff. My bike handles bloody well considering how big it is and I've always been confident chucking it into a corner.

Get those tyres sorted and you should find a big difference.

 

[pitrat101]

The other bikes are VFR 800's and 2 pan Europeans! Came away from GSXR because I wanted to keep my licence and go more touring than racing days out. 115 into sweeping corners! I cant get it past it past 50! It is me, I just don't feel safe throwing it into a corner. Have had 2 near misses with kerb so far. Will throw some tyres at it but really never ridden anything like this before! Not sure on this counter steer either never had to do that! I feel this bike has Knocked 15 of my riding! Haha

 

[DC]

Lots of riders come to the GS from sports bikes".......the GS is a superb bike, but it's not a GSXR 1000. It won't go like one , handle like on or brake like one. It will do a lot of things better than a GSXR though.

There's some good vids of riders at the ring on a GS , outriding sports bikes. Just take time to adjust, don't worry about keeping up,with your mates ,this is when it ends in tears.

Enjoy the bike ,you will get use to it