| Author | Message | ||
     Scoobysnack |
Can anyone advise on how to stop the XB12S diving so much under hard braking.. I have tried to load the bike with gentle braking then harder but it still seems to dive a lot.. Not really up to speed on suspension so would appreciate any advise Thanks J | ||
| Jlnance |
Did you or your dealer set the suspension up for your weight when you bought the bike? | ||
| Scoobysnack |
Only had bike 10 days... but previous owner was a few stone more than me. I'm 12st 5lbs plus leathers...  It will be in with a HD dealer in the next few weeks so are they capable? J | ||
| Bubabuell |
Scoob: post some pics of your bike! For you yanks: 1 stone = 14lbs (Message edited by bubabuell on April 02, 2005) | ||
| Slaughter |
You are dealing with a combination of preload and compression damping. Put a tie-wrap around a fork leg so you can see how far the forks have compressed. You should see the tie-wrap about 3/4 inch above the bottom after most very heavy braking situations. You may have to increase preload - but if you are already sitting at about 35mm sag when loaded, you may need to increase compression damping - just make sure any changes you make in preload or damping are small - damping do not make more than 1/8 turn at a time and then ride the snot out of it over the same course at same speeds before making another change. Other damping changes need to be made with some thought as to how the bike handles mid-turn and on the exit under power. Sneak up on suspension gradually | ||
| Scoobysnack |
Here you go........ photos don't show the carbon chin spoiler or tear drop mirrors now on the bike I think when I cleaned the bike I noticed some marks on the fork leg that suggested definitely more than 3/4 inch of travel. I understand gently does it  | ||
| Scoobysnack |
and another for luck J  | ||
| Jlnance |
It will be in with a HD dealer in the next few weeks so are they capable? Well, they should be, but that does not necessarily mean that they are. You can always ask and see if they give you a blank stare. :-) I do not own an XB, so I am not the best person to give you advise. But I have read many posts to the effect that proper suspension setup is important to ensure that the XBs handle properly. I assume there is a section in the owners manual about how to do it. If not I am sure the service manual has one. Perhaps someone who actually owns an XB can elaborate on this. I'm a bit out of my league here. | ||
| Slaughter |
Scooby - just to be clear - I was referring to travel within 3/4 to 1-inch of the bottom - not ONLY 3/4 inch of travel. Sometimes words don't do as well as pics! The red line is kinda where I'm talking about the forks stopping.  I must mention that if you have proper preload and are close on damping, when you are braking hard enough to compress the forks that hard, the rear is ALMOST off the ground. YMMV - but a good reason you shouldn't be using the rear much in hard braking. (Message edited by slaughter on April 02, 2005) | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I too was getting a lot of front end dive. I weigh 230 lbs and had not re-set my suspension after weight gain... Last I set it up I was 210. I added compression/rebound dampening up front as well as adding compression rebound and preload to the rear all as suggested by the manual. I could not believe how the bike was transformed. All over 20 lbs... It is truly flickable again. Now, I just need to get back down to 210...  | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Oh, if you don't know what you're doing, just follow the owners manual. That's what I did. It's potato head if you know what I mean... | ||
| Opto |
Scooby, set up the front end as all said above, but these bikes do a lot of rock'n'roll if you know what I mean. Get used to it, they dive under brakes more than anything else I've owned, feel like they're trying to throw you over the handlebars, but you get used to it then you enjoy it, the XB's still outhandle most others even when they're "diving" don't worry about it. | ||
| Xring |
My XB9S dives more than the Japanese bikes I've owned. I'm not sure if it is a characteristic of the front suspension or if the brake is stronger and/or more sensitive. Good luck, Bill | ||
| Fullpower |
it is the wheelbase. short wheelbase means more weight transfer, and quicker moment of rotation. simply stated; 52 inch wheelbase will dive more and quicker than a 56 inch wheelbase. | ||
| Ingemar |
From the picture it looks like the forks have been lowered in the triples (raised the front end). I can't see the lines for preload. What is front preload set at? | ||
| Scoobysnack |
Preload is set at 3 lines showing.... J |
