| Author | Message | ||
     Froggy |
Ok, I need some help figuring this out, I assume its suspension related. I ride one of my four Buells to work every day, and there is one section of road that cuts through a cemetery that is nice and twisty. Being that I hit this road every day, once in each direction, I have plenty of experience on it. It is a 30mph zone, and this is the one time of day I do try and break the speed limit. Coming through this section, I can easily maintain just over 50mph (GPS confirmed) for most of it on my Blast. I have the bike at its limit, I feel the suspension and frame begging for mercy as they feel like they are flexing excessively while I have it leaned over, easily catching my boot or the rubber footpegs with little effort. On my 1125's however, I can only best do the section in the low 40's mph, 45mph best. The bike is nowhere near its limit, but it seems almost as if the bike is fighting me, to prevent me from going faster. It feels much harder to turn in, and I end up running wider on turns. I got both of my 1125's setup per the settings in the book for my weight, but honestly think they are too stiff for the roads in upstate NY. I remember my CR handling fantastic at Buelltoberfest in Georgia, where the roads are smooth and perfect. I am sure I just need a suspension adjustment, any advice on where to start? | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I got both of my 1125's setup per the settings in the book for my weight, but honestly think they are too stiff for the roads in upstate NY I don't put much faith in the book settings. Getting it setup by a knowledgeable suspension person is much better. Too stiff would cause the symptoms you describe. Or you could just be just more comfortable on the Blast? } | ||
| Froggy |
Yea I have always wanted to get the bikes setup by a pro, but I do not know of any in my area. My dealer was going to have a suspension class, but as far as I know it never happened. I am very comfortable on the Blast being that I've done 15k miles on it in just over a year, but it also is quite a bit lighter so I don't have to muscle it around as much. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Froggy - I run my CR for a person 1.5 weight ranges LIGHTER than me, because I thought the suspension was too stiff for my tastes when set by the book. I don't know if there *is* a setting 1.5 ranges lighter than you, though.... However, if it were me, go as light as you can in the book and see if that helps. For quicker turn-in, either drop the nose or raise the tail - more rear preload, or less front preload (or you could slide the forks up in the trees a couple MM). Riding position makes a difference, too. I have masterful control of my Uly with the tall, wide bars. The clubmans on the CR make it "feel" slower turning-in because of where they put my body. My S1W feels lightning-fast (no pun) turning-in now that I pulled off the race bars and put the stockers back on - and that's the only change I made. | ||
| Jules |
It'd also be worth taking a quick look at your tires Froggy. I know you manage some pretty breathtaking miles from yours so if the profile has squared off it'll impact the turn in. I just replaced my rear tire and it's had a huge impact on the speed of turn in (surprisingly so). | ||
| Froggy |
Rat I am gonna try that, I will go to the lightest setting (off the top of my head I am running the second weight range). Funny thing about the bars, I had high bars on my CR when I bought it, and switching to clubmans improved everything for me. Jules, I am running the Corsa III tires, while my 1125R is more bald and squared off than my CR, they both feel pretty much the same. The CR got new slicks only 2000 miles ago, so they are pretty much brand new (I got over 7k on the first set). I got a set of trackday wheels with race rubber on them, I will probably swap them on and take it for a spin to compare. Also, I was reminded of a local Buell racer who may be able to help, I will have to give him a ring.  | ||
| Dannybuell |
Froggy "It feels much harder to turn in, and I end up running wider on turns. " don't move the forks around. First soften the front w/ less preload. Do the compression and rebound later once you have the preload where you like it. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Try this-- http://a1264.g.akamai.net/7/1264/1354/b9d9bf6d6c2b 8b/www.buell.com/en_us/_media/pdfs/experience/Fuel l-2009/fuell_Suspension.pdf | ||
| Juniorkirk |
I know what your talking about Froggy. My friend has a Blast and she let me ride it a couple of times when it was acting up to see if i could figure out what was wrong with it. I noticed within the first 5 seconds of riding that it just FALLS into a turn with NO effort what so ever, and then when i get back on my 1125R i have to push it into a turn. I think it has to do with the gyroscopic effects of the wheels. the Blast has small thin wheels that change directions really easy, but the 1125 has 2 big tires, and the back one is almost twice as wide as the Blasts. I really dont know, but ever time i ride her bike i just keep wishing it had a better lean angle, or that my bike handled like hers. | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
Pilot 2CT's. Or Conti-Road Attacks. Anything with a more peaked cross section. Froggy, that's really got to screw up your gas mileage, no? <grin> R | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Froggy, more mass means harder directional changes. Skinny tires help make the steering more acute as well. There is no doubt the XB, 1125, and others will drive out of the turn faster, but I think a lil blast can carry really good corner speed. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
Honestly froggy the book seems way off to me. Far to stiff. I had almost no sag on the factory settings. I would guess that someone of your weight would have to have the front preload at 0 or 1. my rear wasnt nearly as far off as the front. I dont know if mine is as good as it can be but its way better than it was. Im 225lbs ready to ride. I currently have the front at 2 turns in on preload (factory rec is 7) 1 3/4 rebound and compression.(factory rec is 1 1/2) Shock preload 3. (factory rec is 6) Compression 18 (factory rec is 14) This is my best handling setup to date. Im surprised how far off the factory recommended I had to go. I am no pro and Im sure it could be set up even better but I do know this is drastically better than the book settings. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
Another possiblity is you just dont care if you go down on the blast so you ride it that much harder. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Don't bother fiddling with your suspension any more--get a set of 2CTs. They took my 1125 from being an unwilling turner in the tighter stuff to a bike that flicks around much better than you'd think it could. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
I agree with thefleshrocket. The profile of the 2ct is quite an improvement. I did that first. Now Im playing with suspension settings. | ||
| Xodot |
Go to a pro for suspension set up - Best $50 spent ever. | ||
| Redduck124 |
It's probably the same reason a motard is usually quicker than a sport bike on the type road you describe, like Deal's Gap for instance. The 1125 is really made for a road where it can stretch it's legs. The semi-explosive power delivery combined with tight, low speed turns and bad pavement is not it's forte'. Unless you enlist the aid of a suspension guru and probably quite a bit of cash, you might never set the bike's suspension up where you are satisfied with the handling on that type road, and on decent pavement, without major readjustment. | ||
| Dannybuell |
You can soften it up so it will fall into the turn at whatever speed you want. what happens when you go into that turn faster than before? Pressure may build too quickly, the suspension will easily collapse and you will think that your steering has become twitchy. There are trade offs either way. | ||
| 01lightning |
i had my cr set to my weight by the book and the front would push. When I had my bike set up at the track by a pro I was surprised by how soft the settings were. I was also surprised by how much better the bike felt ON THE TRACK. On the street its too soft but thought you could use this info in your quest. | ||
| Pwillikers |
It's the tires. A set of Michelins will fix it. | ||
| Ezblast |
Sorry to come late to this, however, I had the same question - asked Erik Buell Racing and their response was as follows - a modified Blast is a lot lighter than a CR, due to its lack of power and weight, they carry a lot less inertia into a corner, and being a smaller, tighter, smaller bike, they will handle goat trail type twisties better than any supper bike, more in line with a super-motto in handling. The super bikes make up for this with power and hi tech suspensions, but a highly modified Blast (upgraded suspension, rear-sets, and motor mods) will beat it in the twisties. A few folks on Blasts proved this in Buell rides in the back road/twisties as well - lol EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
Also they said they could tighten up the 1125's suspension with racing pieces and that would solve the problem, however, that's 5 grand I don't have right now - lol EZ | ||
| Ratsmc |
Something that I recently learned and I think a lot of people are confused about is that a bike, unlike a car, should be set to the softest possible settings and should only be stiffened up if the bike is wallowing or bottoming out in corners. Racebikes are only stiff because they are pushing so hard into corners. | ||
| Aseecobra |
Frank, I had just the opposite occurrence but maybe for different reasons when I went from riding a larger, heavier, 1100cc Honda sport bike. I could ride the piss out of the Honda in the corners. When I got the 1125, I was not so aggressive. The light weight, short wheel base and high bars of the 1125 took me about 3K miles to feel comfortable riding fast in the corners. | ||
| Bueller4ever |
If you are 170 or less, you should have zero front preload set. Measure the sag, don't trust the book, it's wrong. If you are 170 with full gear, you'd be hard pressed to have more than 35mm of front sag with zero preload set. I'm about 160 with gear and even with zero preload and compression pretty soft, I've never been able to bottom the front forks. I've come down hard from a wheelie and i mean hard, but still had 19mm of front fork travel left. I used this article to set up my suspension. http://www.gostar-racing.com/information/motorcycl e_suspension_set-up.htm Corsa III's require more effort to turn, compared to similar brands, but feel great once leaned over. | ||
| Pizzaboy |
go to a track day and make your first stop in the pits the suspension guy. suspension guys make your bike work for YOU. also, tires can had to do with it also blasts are super light and easy to throw though corners.. you SHOULD be able to pin on through a corner with no worries! it takes more skill to do it on a heavy bike like the 1125 | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL - that's what I'm learning. EZ | ||
| Rt_performance |
I FOUND THE PROBLEM " Froggy Posted on Friday, September 17, 2010 - 02:57 pm: If your 1125 falls short in the 2-4k range, get it fixed. Both of mine never see above 4k in a normal day of riding." The bike just barely begins to run at 4k LMAO The Blast doesn't have a tach (Message edited by R/T_Performance on September 23, 2010) | ||
| Pizzaboy |
well that explains a lot ^^^^ | ||
| Froggy |
Ok I've been meaning to reply, been lazy
4k is still over the speed limit in most areas. I am sure I am not exceeding 4k on the Blast though despite its lack of Tach
I still haven't gotten around to playing with the suspension, I will give that a try.
I don't think comfort is an issue with me, I have equal riding time on both the Blast and my 1125's combined.
I might have to get your suspension for my Blast then! I had no problem hanging with the 1125's till highway speed, they I just lack the horsepower.
True, I really don't give a damn if I wad up the Blast. Hell, sometimes I park behind illegally parked SUVs and wait to see if they run it over  Regarding tires, I got the tire plan on my CR, so I'll see what I can get swapped on next time I hit a nail. I was planning on putting a Diablo Strada/Angel rear on my R with the Corsa 3 front, but I will see about a Pilot Power 2CT front instead. Also, my Blast's rear tire is square and bald, yet it still handles fantastic. Thank you for your input guys |
