| Author | Message | ||
     12r |
Sometimes, both wheels on my Firebolt drift out at the same time while going around a corner. Curiously, the bike feels perfectly controlled, as in I'm comfortable with the situation, and it doesn't feel like the bike is going to crash. The tyres are hot, the roads are clean & dry and lean angle is moderate, but something makes it happen. Does anyone know if there's a certain methodology involved in drifting? I don't want to get into doing this just to find out I am doing it wrong (which could come back to bite me in the ass later). | ||
| Glitch |
Inertia, and possibly bad tires. Backing it in a corner, without trying is not good IMHO. | ||
| Ebuella_virus |
How fast are you going into the turns? Pretty hot? Using the "times two plus ten" formula for figuring how fast I can enter the turns, I don't ever feel drift in the tires. Even if I'm going a bit faster than that. The only times that I have felt the bike drift is when there is a groove in the asphalt about a centimeter in width in the lane. I don't know what it was left by in the asphalt throughout the foothill roads around here, but that is the only time. I had a buddy whose bike did that (CBR1000rr), but that was due to under-inflation of his rear tire (like 10 lbs!!! IDIOT!). Is the bike dialed in for your weight suspensionwise? I would kinda freak if my bike was doing that. I'm really wreckaphobic... especially in the corners. | ||
| 12r |
Tyres, pressures and suspension are all spot-on I'm not going into the turn overly hot, but it generally happens during the turn-in period; braking and setting up for the turn are all complete. I'm not such a hotshot to think that I'm provoking the drift and it could be just debris on the road, but it all happens so controllably it's almost like it's a feature LOL | ||
| Angelwild327 |
Wreck-a-phobic...Amen brotha-man!!! | ||
| Slaughter |
I wonder if the front is actually drifting or if you're getting some other suspension feedback. When the front end actually slides, you usually have only a half second to whack the throttle open to lighten it enough to re-stick it before it tucks. When you lose the front, the wheel INSTANTLY turns in - and it happens fast! I've not got a good track record on front end slides on the race track. During practice, I'll try it in areas where I can throttle up to lighten the front end to keep it stuck. I've run off the track a couple times in order to keep it stuck and when I can't lighten the front back up again, I just crash. Front end slides are a pretty advanced maneuver to try to keep under control and are rarely taught except in advanced race schools. Again, I wonder if you're getting some other form of feedback through your front end. | ||
| Ebuella_virus |
Slaughter..... Huevos Rancheros!!! Big 'ens!!! | ||
| Slaughter |
I prolly ought to clarify - with high traction tires, the wheel really tends to tuck rapidly - with lower traction street tires, you may experience a less sudden loss of traction but it's likely to still put you on your head if it's truly sliding. Slding the front is a complex thing to execute. | ||
| Illyhaskel |
What kind of tires are you running??? I had a similar problem with the stock Dunlops that came on my Firebolt. | ||
| Surveyor |
12r, If you're actually sliding both wheels on Michelin Pilots on the road you're either a potential track god or insane! (or both) I don't doubt your ability but I'd check your suspension setup. | ||
| 12r |
Insane maybe, but as for track god - definitely not ! 'Slide' is perhaps too strong a word - it's more of a gradual sideways movement towards the outside of the corner. I still have traction because I can counter steer or modulate the throttle to correct the line. Maybe it's related to turn-in speed; if I throw it into the corner it's fine but if I'm cautious it seems more likely to 'walk to the outside'. Then again what are the effects of really hot tyres ? It's in the low 90's here in England and the roads are baking. I have plenty of experience with cold/rain/ice/snow but this is the first time I've ridden my Firebolt in very hot weather. | ||
| Gearhead998 |
You guys can flame me if you wish, but doesn't the bike pivot on the CG. So that turn in actually pushes the bottom of the bike outward a bit. The center of gravity on the bike is just below the crank shaft centerline, of course this varies with the different exhausts being that they weigh differently. Maybe I am over thinking | ||
| Nasty73z |
I thin kwhat you are experiencing is natural. Any object going at high speeds around a corner will have a tendecncy to push itself towards the outside of the turn. Maybe you as a rider need to get more aggresive with the steering to hold the line better. Not saying you are doing anything wrong, but next time really focus on keeping a line. Get in a car and go run them. You feel it push to the outside every time. | ||
| Imonabuss |
Actually IMHO the XB is one of the best bikes at being able to feel and control front wheel drift. Especially with Pirellis on it. I wish my TZ750 would have been like that!!! It was always either an Oh S*** save or a F*** I've crashed! Now Kenny could do it well, but he was on another planet at that time. | ||
| Sflabuell |
I know I slid both wheels on turn 12 Homestead, and then thought, oh, yeah, street pressures. Checked my drawers, and lowered both to 30 PSI per the instructors recommendations for track setup, no more sideslides. I do agree it's very easy to lose a front end once it's washing, but it's not impossible to have those same tires controllably linkup again. Done it more than once on Pirelli Diablos. So I'd check tire pressure, lower it a few pounds, then check it out again. I'd rather stick like glue than hope for a tire to grip up again, especially gradually. And what's tire life among friends... |
