| Author | Message | ||
     Dktechguy112 |
I got a pilot road 2 to replace the stock pirelli on the back of the bike. I kept the stock pirelli up front. My bro took the bike up to palomar and said the pr2 didn't inspire confidence. Last time he took it up to palomar he wrecked it on the stock pirelli. I also put high bars on it instead of the stock clubmans, which my bro said adversely effected the handling. I am wondering if i should have someone set up the suspension. My bro said it won't help, but from what i have read on this board, having the suspension set up correctly can transform the handling. I am going to be using the bike mainly for commuting, which is why i put a pilot road 2 on it, but i do like to got to palomar. Even though I don't drag my knee, i would like to have a good tire on it. And, for those of you that have the pilot road 2 on the back, what tire do you run on the front? I have the stock pirelli on the front, and i am wondering if i should switch the front to a pilot road 2, or should i switch the front to a pilot power 2? And on a positive note, my bro said the bike is running great, and he got a lot of complements on it from the other riders. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
If he crashed last time he was up there, I'm guessing the lack of confidence is in between his ears. He's also dead wrong that proper set up won't make it feel better. Suspension and air pressure adjustments mean a lot. | ||
| Dktechguy112 |
his crash was due to confidence that he had because he had just gotten a one piece race suit, so he was pushing it. I am running the pressures per the manual at 34 front and 36 rear, i know the values in the book are for the pirelli's, so should i have the pr2 at 36 psi? | ||
| Cowboytutt |
I've never found the stock Corsa III's to be very confidence inspiring as they take a long time to warm up. Neither did my friend Chase McFarland who is a pro racer. That being said, probably ANY sport-touring tire is not going to feel as sticky as a dedicated sport tire so I'm not surprised about what your brother had to say about the rear Michelin. I'm not necessarily convinced that changing to the higher bars adversely affected the handling of the bike, at least not until you feel you have the suspension set-up correctly. Its really not necessary to have someone do it for you, it just takes a lot of time, trial and error to do it yourself. But if you have more money than time, perhaps pay to have someone do it. The front tire does last a long longer on the 1125 it seems to me, so it may be worth going with the softer Michelin front. However, there may be a difference in the profile between the two Michelin tires, and that COULD be a problem. Probably your safest bet is to go with the matching Pilot Road II on the front and just ride the bike within its limitations. It is after all your bike and not your brothers. This is just my opinion and I'm sure others will feel differently. -Tutt | ||
| Cowboytutt |
I'm with BadLion too in that suspension set-up and tire pressure makes a HUGE difference on this bike. -Tutt | ||
| Hughlysses |
As a first step, make sure you've set up the suspension according to the owner's manual. Fine-tuning past this takes time and effort, but you may find your present adjustments are not even close and this change will make a world of difference. | ||
| Jules |
I got a pilot road 2 to replace the stock pirelli on the back of the bike. I kept the stock pirelli up front. My bro took the bike up to palomar and said the pr2 didn't inspire confidence. Last time he took it up to palomar he wrecked it on the stock pirelli. I also put high bars on it instead of the stock clubmans, which my bro said adversely effected the handling. I am wondering if i should have someone set up the suspension. My bro said it won't help, but from what i have read on this board, having the suspension set up correctly can transform the handling. You're a good brother that's for sure.. If my Bro wrecked my bike I'd never let him on it again. I'd also be tempted to take what he says with a pinch of salt.. Just set the suspension for your weight & riding style, fit the tires that suit your riding ability and tell your brother to buy his own damn bike and stay off yours. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
I can tell you from experience crashing effects your confidence, especially the first few rides on the offending bike/ area of roads that the crash occurred on. Set the rear tire pressure per Michelin specs, and set up the suspension for your weight. Then tell your bro to stay off your bike and stop getting into your head. Riding is as much mental as it is mechanical and physical. | ||
| Dktechguy112 |
thanks for the advice. I can't really blame my bro to much for the wreck, because at the time he wrecked the bike it was his, after the wreck, i fixed it myself and bought it from him. good point that crashing effects confidence, when he went up palomar after the wreck i could tell he was not pushing it at all. I am honestly afraid to mess with the suspension, because everyone i have talked to that has tweaked their suspension has only made it worse. I am mechanically inclined, i just don't want to screw it up. I don't know how much it costs to have someone set up a bike's suspension. What weight is the stock suspension set to? I am about 230 in gear. | ||
| Tpoppa |
I ran a PR2 rear with the stock Pirelli front for 2,500 miles. I've leaned it to the edge many times on tight techical curves and high speed sweepers. I've never had it slip. The PR2 has a very round profile, which means more deliberate turn in. I find it predictable with plenty of grip. | ||
| Dktechguy112 |
tpoppa, what did you switch to after the stock pirelli front wore out? and did you like the replacement front better then the stock pirelli. My bro told me that when exiting corners he could feel the pr2 slipping. | ||
| Ccryder |
Set it up per the chart in the owners manual. You will probably be amazed at the difference. BTW, if all it takes to inspire confidence in your brother is a new set of leathers........ Well never mind. The suspension was not set up for your weight from the factory. Take 20 mins and do it. Later Neil S | ||
| Dktechguy112 |
ccryder, thanks for the advice. And it wasn't just a new set of leathers, it was his first set of leathers. And he has got skills, but he has more balls then skills, and that is a bad combo. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
well i can tell you that once i got around to printing out the instructions and actually setting the bike up WOW was a totally different machine still trying to find the best combo of pressure for it though | ||
| Ratbuell |
+1,000,000 on SETTING UP THE SUSPENSION PROPERLY. The suspension is NOT set up - for ANYTHING - when you buy the bike. Unless you got it from a good salesperson who actually took the time to do their job and set every suspension personally before the walkaround demonstration....but I digress  They put that neat-o little chart in the owners manual for a reason...same reason they put all the tools you need in that little blue pouch under the passenger seat. And, they have pictures for the big words - a feature I find especially helpful LOL. You won't break anything, unless you screw the adjusters in too hard. LIGHTLY bottom them out, then make the adjustments. I found that the 1125 suspension settings - at least on my '09 CR - were VERY stiff when done by the book. It is a GUIDELINE. Read the suspension theory section immediately before the chart, learn the terms, learn what the adjustments do. Then: Baseline the settings per the book, for your bodyweight, in gear. Ride a road you know. Not at 10/10ths...but ride it at a good pace so you work the suspension a bit. Make a mental note of what you don't like, and of what you do like. Go back to the garage, with the manual, re-read the theory section and adjustment section, and make ONE adjustment to try and make it better (remember those things you didn't really like?). Make one adjustment (i.e. front preload), then go ride the road again. Better? Good, move to next adjustment. Worse? OK, put it back where it was and adjust the other direction, or make another adjustment. ONE AT A TIME, remember. Repeat until the you and the bike become one. It will happen. Trust me. And...with all your newfound "smarts", you can set your bro's new bike up for him, too, when/if he gets around to getting one!  | ||
| Highlander51 |
"his crash was due to confidence that he had because he had just gotten a one piece race suit, so he was pushing it" What? | ||
| Jng1226 |
Highlander51, You ever get that feeling, when you wear full leathers after riding in just a jacket and jeans for a while, that you are "Iron Man" or some other comic book superhero? I still get it a bit when I go on those serious weekend morning rides when I put on my back and chest protectors and my full suit with all the armor, especially after riding all week with just shorts. I know, I know, ATGATT (all the gear all the time) but man is it blazing in Central Florida this time of year. Maybe he'll lose that false sense of security after he's ridden a while and/or crashed enough to know that dropping a bike while still on it sucks no matter what you're wearing. Jeff | ||
| Bosshound |
Check out Dave Moss Suspension..........Google it. Find out where he is at and let him set up your ride. Trust Me !!! | ||
| Highlander51 |
Devin, check out some of the recent posts about suspension set up. I think you will find some really good info for your weight. I've been slowly softening mine with good results, and I'm close to your weight. I have a early 08 that has stiffer front springs than your 09 and have found this to help. | ||
| Tpoppa |
tpoppa, what did you switch to after the stock pirelli front wore out? and did you like the replacement front better then the stock pirelli. My bro told me that when exiting corners he could feel the pr2 slipping. I mounted the PR2, haven't put many miles on it yet. Slipping on exit doen't sound right, unless he is trying to spin rear on exit. Maybe he is feeling the rear end compress, could need a bit more rear preload or compression. 1st step is to setup the suspension for his weight. | ||
| Jdugger |
> Maybe he is feeling the rear end compress Yup. I've known many a new rider to come off track just absolutely sure their tire was sliding. One look at the rear tire confirms it didn't happen. One push on the rear end of the bike and it bottoms out.... Ah hah! It takes a good long while -- at least it did me -- to feel the difference between the suspension moving and the tire actually stepping out. | ||
| Ecm1125r |
+1 on suspension, air pressure. I have pr2's f/r and notice big handeling changes from set up changes. Also let the tires break in. Mine fealt greasy for a while. I have put a good few hundred miles on mine and they feel much better well broken in than when new. The pr2 sides are the same rubber as the single compound power pilot. I have a few friends that use the power pilot and have no problems with slipping. Good luck. | ||
| Ron_luning |
I live in San Diego and put PR2 front and rear on my bike for commuting purposes as well. The rear tire has a much flatter profile than either the Corsa III or the Bridgestone BT015 that I have had on the 1125R. The profile is very similar to a full sport tire that has been worn down in the center from a lot of straight line riding. I noticed that shape immediately, and realized that the PR2 tire took a lot away from the bike's sporty handling. After riding on that tire for a few thousand miles, I don't notice it anymore but that doesn't mean it got better. Regardless of tire pressure and suspension set up the PR2 rear tire may provide ample traction, but will never have the feeling of agility (and the confidence that goes with that)provided by a sport tire. |
