| Author | Message | ||
     Cheesebeast |
Hello all, I have read all the motorcycle reviews I can find about the XB9R- from when it was introduced onward. The reviews in Motorcycle.com repeatedly mention an issue some riders have with "standing up in the corners." What is going on here? Is the suspension not set up to the riders' weight? I noticed that all of the reviews list using stock Dunlop tires (D207, I think). Is it the tire profile? I have noticed the factory is shipping with D208s currently. Is this due to this "issue"? Thanks and I apologize if this topic has been done to death- I am sure it has. I am not picking on Motorcycle.com, I just happen to subscribe to it. Thanks, Cheese | ||
| M1combat |
It seems to be caused by the tire profile because when you switch tires it disappears... That said... It's magnified by improper form. If you're really hustling and hanging way off, trying to put your head beside the mirrors and all that it also disappears. It'll show back up if the tires lose a good deal of pressure as well. The lever effort will increase quite a bit as well. In summary... Ride it like you stole it if you stick with the stock tires. If you switch (or not) be sure to keep on top of tire pressure. I like the Metzeler Sportecs myself but I may try the Dunlop Qualifiers next time around. | ||
| Drift |
That is what happens when you nail the rear brake in a turn. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
When the XB's first came out, many brothers reported that the motorcycle would "stand up in the corners" under braking. I have experienced this behavior when I first got my bike. Frightening. I seem to have eliminated this problem by doing the following. 1. Changed tires to Michelin Pilot Powers. Other highly rated tires are Pirelli Diablo and Metzler . 2. I set up the suspension properly. In my case, this required heavier springs as I weigh 235 in my riding gear. 3. I don't grab a big old handful of brake rignt in the middle of a corner: I just lean in more if I come in a bit hot. Anybody else? | ||
| Glitch |
Yes, it's the stock tires. The way I overcame this was to do all my braking before the turn, rather than while leaned over. It's a good habit to have either way. Once I changed to Metzler M1s it no longer happened. Also the Pirelli Scorpion Syncs, as well as the Pirelli Diablos. There are other good tires that take care of this as well, those are just my favorite tires. The Dunlops were made lighter for Buell. I'm not sure if Dunlops from the Dunlop factoy are like this also, I just don't care for Dunlops, so after I wore them out, I went with the M1s. | ||
| Glitch |
Wow I guess I type slow! | ||
| M1combat |
Not really... If you "nail" the rear brake in a turn you're asking for it IMHO. Just trailing the rear brake to lazily modify a line seems to work very well. I only had that problem using the front brake. If you need to nail any brakes mid-corner you made a mistake somewhere on turn entry or in the brake zone  . | ||
| Darkducati |
It has a rear brake? | ||
| Glitch |
That is what happens when you nail the rear brake in a turn. Low side. | ||
| Glitch |
Still typing slow  | ||
| M1combat |
Me too . Ten replies already . | ||
| Chadhargis |
"That is what happens when you nail the rear brake in a turn. Low side." Humm....don't you mean highside. That's what typically happens when you lock the rear tire up. Either way...it's bad! | ||
| Drift |
Well if you don't low side.... | ||
| Cheesebeast |
Thanks all- that was fast! The reason I asked this question is I specified I want Pirelli Scorpion Syncs put on a used XB9R I am buying from a dealer (the stock D207s are worn out). I had my choice of OEM tires and went with the Scorpions. Not that I knew much better, but luck trumps skill and knowledge on occasion. Thanks again, Cheese | ||
| Xbolt12 |
Scorpions should handle well. You might want to go to Diablos or Diablo Corsas next time though to get a more sportbike oriented tire. Me thinks the scorpion has a more aggressive tread aimed at the City X for occasional dirt excursions... | ||
| M1combat |
But my 12R goes like stink in the dirt too so it might be a good match anyway . | ||
| Xbolt12 |
M1's are better priced BTW, but not quite as stable as the Pirelli's. Grip and /turn-in and trail-braking are excellent. | ||
| Whodom |
The way I overcame this was to do all my braking before the turn, rather than while leaned over. That's what the MSF teaches in the beginning riders course. I'm sure hard-core racers can probably do faster laps by braking right up to the apex of the turn, but doing all your braking before the turn is much less likely to get you in trouble. | ||
| Metalstorm |
I have the Scorpion Syncs on my 12S & I love them, love them, love them. They stick really well, turn in wayyyy better than the dunlops & have great grip on wet roads. I was thinking about trying the Metz m1's next time but I'm so satisfied with the Scorps that I'll probably stick with them. (pun intended) | ||
| Cheesebeast |
I will give the M1s a look too. I have a long dirt driveway and there are a good number of dirt/gravel roads around here to boot. It isn't uncommon to be detoured onto a "road" during the construction season. | ||
| Lpowel02 |
i highly recommend the Metzeler M1's...since I've had them I've experienced the standing up once...but it was at high speed on a track...and was due more to me braking in a corner that I went into too hot more than anything else | ||
| Skully |
I'll have to second what Metalstorm said. I could not believe how much better I liked the bike with Pirellis. I have always run Michelin Pilots on my Honda F3 race bike. But, liking the Pirellis Scorpions more than the Pilots on the XB, I purchased Pirelli Dragon Supercorsas when I raced the XB recently. I can not say enough good about the tires. Keith | ||
| Starter |
Metzeler Sportec M1 are much better than the Dunlops in my opinion. Pilot Sports and Powers are also top tyres if you are not concerned about wear. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Metzler Roadtec Z6 is also superior to the Dunlop by far. Its similar in feel to the M1 but not quite as sticky but they wear longer. Works well in the wet and you get about 5k-6k good miles out of them. | ||
| Sparky |
The Z6 on my Firebolt rear is up to 9k miles and there's still mucho tread left. But then, they're mostly commuting miles. YMMV. |
