| Author | Message | ||
     Wolfridgerider |
The front tire is thrashed!!  A better look...  Back tire is not so bad...   I was talking to the suspension man at LVMS and described my problem... front tire looks like shredded wheat. He told me to add more trail by dropping the forks in the trees and that would cure my front end illness.... any thoughts?? | ||
| Babyhuey |
switch to michelins!  | ||
| Sd26 |
What about tire pressures? Have you checked your tire pressure gauge against your track side tire vendor too? And what's your spring rate vs your weight? I use Michelins also. (Message edited by sd26 on January 04, 2009) | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I have not checked my tire gauge with the track side vendors, but thats a easy fix... spring rate? I have switched to the Buell race springs.... set the sag and went from there... Buy the time the first race comes around, I should tip the scales at 215 in full gear. | ||
| Slaughter |
Raising the front (dropping the forks) is worth a try. Are you racing in a class that requires DOT's instead of slicks? I mean - are those the tires that you're going to be using to set the bike up for the coming season? ONLY CHANGE ONE THING at a time - unless the bike is totally handling wrong. I'd listen to the suspension guy AND the trackside tire vendor. They were there, they know the temperatures and tire pressures and most likely also know your suspension settings... speaking of which - I am assuming your front end sag is about 30-35mm, right? Too much static sag can give you the same sort of indication on the tires... and also the LVMS classic course does use the brakes a bit - so IF you are a little light on compression damping, you might also see the same wear (though less likely) If you change tires, you start all over again but that's your call. I'm on Pirelli slicks. Blue/Green for Winter and Green/Green when it heats up. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Just to be clear... I wasn't racing at LVMS. I was in Vegas for my 16 wedding anniversary.... that I spent a part of at the WERA race... I have my priorities ya know!!  (truth be told.. I have a great wife) The suspension man had some free time and I told him my problem and he told me to drop the forks.... NOW.... this season, I plan to run Bridgestones to save some $$$.$$ So I may be starting over... I am running the DOT Race tires so I can run in a couple of races with out changing tires. | ||
| Slaughter |
Cool beans. Spend time talking with the 'Stones vendor at the track. THey're going to have the best inputs on your setup. Raising the front is not a bad idea regardless... but make sure your sag is properly set before going any farther with ANY other changes. Forget the "lines" on the forks, measure sag directly. 16 years with an understanding wife... we're envious!!! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I started with this..  ...and ended with this...  I was also told to remove the this clip from caliper for better cooling... Is that fact or fiction?  | ||
| Sd26 |
I'd think that the Buell springs are good for me at 175# plus gear. At 215, my intuition is that you might be under sprung. What's your sag? Front and rear, if we're gonna go this far. Looks like you have the preload maxxed out. I like lots of trail in my chassis, and I don't have the forks dropped that far. It might compensate for a lack of spring support in keeping trail in the chassis in addition to keeping the center of gravity back a little further. Bandaid, though, as you've got to have the correct springs first. Front and rear. | ||
| Sd26 |
I've raced with and without the caliper clips. I can't say with any certainty that doing either makes a substantial difference. I usually lose them for the weight loss. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I usually lose them for the weight loss. I have other areas that need that alot more.... mainly my fat arse... When it comes to sag, I went with the Buell specs... 1" in the rear and almost 1 1/2" on the front. After a test run with the forks dropped I may add another line of preload..... | ||
| Sd26 |
Why are you adding more preload? | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I might, just to compensate for my girth... | ||
| Sd26 |
Preload only changes the starting point. It doesn't change the rate until the spring coils start contacting each other, and that increases the rate dramatically. Moving the forks changed things already: increasing trail available through your suspension stroke and moving weight backwards off the front. Not a lot. You still might need a heavier spring to support what's happening rather than beating up the tire. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Wolf, I don't have any issues with handling, but my rear tire (Corsa III) looks like your front tire. I am running 31 PSI. Not sure if it because it is a street/ trackday tire. I may switch to some 002 Stones though. | ||
| Babyhuey |
are you having any handling issues? are you checking your tire pressures right after coming off the track? i'd get with the tire vendor and make sure that your starting cold tire pressure is not to high. if your gonna get serious about track riding you should get the front and rear suspension done for your weight and start adjusting from there, working with for trackside vendors is invaluable. i had the same problem with my rear tire and was able to make tire pressure/compound and suspension adjustment with the vendors to fix the problem quickly.-andrew | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Not having any real handling issues. I do get a little slippage in the rear tire eveyonce in a while, but I have been attributing that to too much trottle with too much lean angle. My hot PSI for the rear is 31/32. Unfortunately at all the track days I have been to, there have not been any Pirelli vendors or suspension people. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Unfortunately at all the track days I have been to, there have not been any Pirelli vendors or suspension people. When you start racing that should change... Each major tire brand "should" have a track side vendor.... I did say "SHOULD" | ||
| Babyhuey |
I have never run anything other than michelins but my understanding after talking with other racers at the track is the pirellis do move around alot. the michelins tend to have a higher overall grip but due not breakaway as predictably. are there not any local racers at your trackdays? i'm sure that they could give you some pointers by look at the bike or even recommend you to a local suspension tuner that they use. once you get it dialed in you'll go faster switch will open up a whole new set of tire and suspension problems. congratulation your screwed just like the rest of us. |
