Torque steer?

[Larne]

Thanks to everyone for all the responses.

I have long planned to take some advanced riding instruction, this just highlights the need to stop putting it off. I guess as with many riders I have learned how to manage a bike through practical application, no doubt some good habits and some bad ones. This bike if by far the biggest I have ever been on (both in terms of physical size and power) and yes it could easily be showing up what could be some limitations in my riding style from my previous parallel twins.

In the end I took up motorcycling because it is a challenge and because it is something I want to learn to be good at. Posting on here is part of that learning experience and I want to thank those who recognise it as such and responded in kind. (Those who chose to be sarcastic rather than helpful probably already know what to do with themselves so I won't rise to the bait.)

Since I opened this thread I have done another 300 miles on the bike and already my experience is very different. The main problem I realised was that I was trying to engine brake on downshifting. On either of my previous bikes that was fine but with the R1200 it just doesn't work, not for me at least. Trying to get the revs right for a downshift, while braking, is a bit much. So what I have learned to do is get my braking out of the way and then change gear afterwards when I can feed in a bit of throttle if needed to help with the downshifts. Changing up isn't really a problem unless I get the revs wrong but that's just basic clutch control and experience.

As a parting shot I would like to mention that in 6 years and probably around 35-40k miles of riding I have never once come off my bike despite riding in all weathers. My riding might be open to improvement but I ride well within my limits, which in turn are well within the limits of the bike. I have never pulled a wheelie - don't even know how I would go about doing so - and when I hit 80mph this voice in the back of my head say: "easy lad, that's fast enough". I reckon I'm a pretty sensible rider and if there is something I don't understand I plan to ask - even if some people think that makes me look stupid.

Thanks again for all the help and advice.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

You can actually engine brake very well on the 1200, just a blip of the throttle as you downshift. The engine braking is awsom on these bikes and if done right doesn't half save a lot on the brakes. If the bike doesnt want to blip crisply as mine didnt get the throttle balance checked. Once this was done it transformed the downshift. If the bike is new then its probably just still a bit tight.

 

[Giles]

Persevere with the downshifts Larne, as Mark says, big twins have huge engine braking potential which can make a great mannered road bike. (Practical things like slotting back into the traffic after overtaking). Do you give the throttle a hefty blip on your down changes? Keep working at it! I'd rather you came back in a month or so and say 'ive been practising and have cracked it', than 'I've compromised my riding and now brake a lot more'!

You mention 'trying to get the engine revs right on down shifts while braking ..'

I'd suggest that for the moment you don't try and brake and change and match revs at the same time. There is a place for that, but to be honest, I very rarely do that myself. I think the only time I would do that would be if I was steaming into a roundabout or a junction from say a motorway slip, braking hard and coming down from say sixth or fith. For most of the time though, I'll seperate the two, and on a nice biking road I'll hardly touch the brakes at all

 

[The Nutter]

Hi Larne,
First off, well done for admitting there was a problem and then putting it on the forum for all to see/criticise. There is some excellent advice given and the one that rings truest is the 1200's excellent engine braking. With practise, you should be able to go for long rides without hardly touching the brakes and just rely on the engine braking. This is best acheived by being smooth and 'tuning yourself in' with the bike. You did mention the engine being a 'fore and aft' but that is not accurate. This best describes an engine where you have cylinders sticking both forward and rearward like that in a Ducati. The torque reaction you feel when blipping the throttle at a standstill can be quite unnerving for someone not used to a boxer engine, but once on the move you will find it does not interfer in any way with the handling of the bike. I have ridden for 30 years and have owned GS's for the past 6 and, once I recaliberated my riding technique, I haven't looked back. Take some advanced tuition, take on board the good advice from others and, most importantly, just ride. There is no substitute for experience so get out there and ride as often and as far as you can. Good Luck and welcome to the wonderful world of the Boxer engine.

 

[davnjud]

lots of well meaning advice about riding but I wouldn't be surprised if you are cringing a little bit. The arrangement of the cylinders produces a torque reaction with abrupt changes in the moment of inertia of a longitudinally mounted crank. not like a straight four at all.As an engineer you'll get this. more noticable as you run it in and change up more fiercely. ride safe and enjoy..they all do it sir...