"Run road in reverse. Will feel like a totally different road"...mine doesn't have a reverse....I'm game though....guess a good downhill would solve my problem,yes?. Doesn't the bigwing honda have a reverse?....

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 8/2/2014 @ 6:11 PM *

Trailboss. I agree totally. If you read my post I made a distinction between the 2. But for those that don't go to the track there is a kinda safe way to pratice some of those same skills on the street. Lets face it most newer bikes 600's 1k, zx14 and busas can easily do 70-100mph in 1st gear. Yes you will have to be more aware on the street as there are many more obstacles to look out for. But you can pratice throttle control, lean angles, body position. .ect. truthfully on the street you really only need the fist three gears to move insanely fast. To ultimately test and ride the bike at the extreme a track is the safest environment.

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I didn't read through the thread but has anyone messed with the steering geometry? How much and what were the results?

Okay...not on my 14R's...but my 07.I dropped the front and back 1".Nah,I didn't like it.It was supposed to really improve the turn in and such.It didn't.NOW...on the 2012's and up?POSSIBLY lowering the front 1/2 to 1" may improve the turn in.But she turns in pretty darn good as is.Better turn in than my H2...if you can believe that.I know...sounds crazy.I was pretty surprised actually.The H2 is a bit top heavy.The 14 is more nimble...IMO.

I should clarify.At lower speeds-10-30ish,the H2 feels a bit heavier in the steering.That disappears after that.You might try 1/2 inch lower on the frontend Auron.Or 1".Just to see.I don't like messing with the 14's geometry.I've had no headshake problems or anything...yet.I don't want to find out 'the hard way'.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 6/1/2017 @ 11:02 PM *

I could never get as comfortable on my 14R as I could on my Blackbird, I could slam that thing into corners and it was 550lbs. I spent a lot of time setting it up though I'm wondering how far you could push the 14R with weight loss and set-up without spending too much.

Agree with Greeeeeeeenie 1/2 drop and /55 series rear tire helps and no impact on any other stability capabilities. my next rear will be a 200/55 tire also

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The 55 is 3/4" taller but that's divided by two and if I remember correctly roughly 3mm raised in the rear equals 1mm drop in the front respective to rake and trail.

Going from a 50 to a 55 we all know makes a very nice difference but I bet adding another few mm's via an adjustable shock would get it turning something wicked over the 14R I had previously if I also wasn't carrying around the OEM rocket launchers.

I think I might have to buy another one to find out

* Last updated by: Auron on 6/2/2017 @ 1:22 PM *

Yes--200/55 rear tire will make a change in steering that you will immediately notice. 190/55 is good but 200/55 is even better. You could go with an adjustable height shock to achieve the same effect, I'm sure. Brock's Window Links or Soupies Links would have more range and be a lot cheaper + you don't need to lower front sacrificing ground clearance.

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Putting this Ohlins in the back of my 14R was THE best thing I've done.
Re sprung front to match.
Full adjustment shock that really works & ride height adjustment I've got at its max.
Quickened up the steering nicely & no loss of ground clearance. She's never got out of shape with this set up. Got the shock 2nd hand ( $500 AUS )& gave it the experts to service & install.
I only ride on the road, in the hills / mountains mainly, need all the compliance possible from the bouncy bits.

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I've found that the further I raise my 919 up the further it likes to lean. Is that a function of ride height?

If I could get a 14R to drop in like my Bandit 1250 which also has quite a bit added to the rear I'd be sold.

* Last updated by: Auron on 6/2/2017 @ 3:29 PM *

I've found that the further I raise my 919 up the further it likes to lean. Is that a function of ride height?

I believe so. Rear ride height. What you are doing is steepening the rake of the forks when you raise the rear/lower the front. Straight up and down is road racing setup. The 14 has more rake than smaller sport bikes. At some point, you might find the front less stable like a smaller bike too if the laws of physics follow suit.

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Lifting the rear steepens the steering, making a bike turn in quicker. until you get to the point of going TOO far, then you.ll induce instability & a possible dangerous situation. Slowly does it, bit at a time, the beauty of the Ohlins set up, can adjust bit by bit. I personally wouldn't be dropping the front end & loosing ground clearance, need all ican get. but we all ride differently, & there's ALWAYS guys faster than you / me, doing it differently/ better.
Just my 2 bobs worth.

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The other bonus of the Ohlins is, a quick couple of turns on the remote adjusters, & your all set for touring Tasmania with the Mrs on board. Now there's THE place for riding a bike & the cops are also more lenient wanting the tourist dollars bike riders bring in there thousands thru the summer.

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Hey banknyand, what brand are the soft bag brackets? Looks like a nice set up.

Thanks,
ominousone

My soft panniers are from Venturer,they weigh like nothing ( the main reason for their use ) & are expandable, but of course not 100% water proof. We just stuff things in plastic bags then load those into the panniers.
They come with built in plastic D rings sewn into their edges that i loop cable ties through onto the frames, very quick & secure.They have wide velcro type straps that join them together over the passenger seat, my wife says they don't bother her at all.
The frames are not from the same place & weren't designed for the Venturer bags, my own set up.
They are for the Givi semi rigid bags, called the Easy Lock system.
The Givi bags are super wide & stick out a mile in my opinion, but i liked the light weight frames for my soft panniers.

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We seem to of strayed from the cornering subject of this thread, look out, we'll get banned !
As long as we don't mention politics or religion !! We may escape that fate.
Shh, don't do it.

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naw. Nobody gets banned. It's survival of the fittest around here.

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