Bike wants to stand up....

[stevec677]

Last night I swapped rides with one of my riding buddies. I rode his 2011 Concours 1400. It is a nice bike, but it felt like it wanted to stay straight up. I really had to work to get it into a turn and keep it there. Is it just the difference in bikes? His tire pressure was a little high (43 front / 45 rear). He has changed some of the suspension settings from stock and I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what to fix. His tires are Bridgestone 021's with 3,400 miles on them and they still have decent tread. Any ideas? BTW, it felt great to get back on my FJR after riding his bike. Sorry buddy, no trade.

 

[Sparky.88]

Probably just difference in the bikes. The steering geometries of my VFR750 and FJR are different enough that the two bikes have completely different handling characteristics in corners. The VFR drops into a turn and stays there with no steering input required; I have to tell it when to pull out of the turn. The FJR takes a little more effort to keep it in the corner, but it comes out easier. The Concours probably isn't as different from the FJR as my VFR, but I assume it could still have completely different handling characteristics.

 

[Willie]

I had Bridgestones on one of my FJR (2007). I also came from a Concours C10 and felt the Connie was easier to initiate a turn and keep a line in the corners than the FJR. It got to a point on the FJR I felt I was doing way too much work to keep it in a turn. I finally switched the tires to Shinko Ravens because I wanted to experiment with the brand plus I would be changing the tires out in about 5000 miles for a trip out west. What a difference, the FJR starting dropping into the corners much more readily and held it line with very little effort. I put 4800 miles on those tires before I swapped them out for another set of Ravens for an extended tour. The Shinko's turning characteristics remained the same thru the 4800 miles. I still have them for mounting on my new FJR (2008). I experienced a similar feeling switching out a Dunlop that came with the 2008 FJR. I have stayed with the Ravens. I am not the fastest rider, but not a slouch either. I am thinking the C14 Bridgestones are making a big difference in what you are feeling between the 2 bikes. I figure the C14 is about 40% thru the tire life which is when the bad stuff starts forming and remains that way until you replace them.

I am sure you will get more scientific answers from the forum, I was just giving you my impressions with Bridgestones.

YMMV

Willie

 

[ScottyUSN]

Type of tire/tire wear/tire pressure, or a combination of the above.

The First FJR I test drove was a fight to get it to drop into a turn, and didn't want to say, it wanted to pop back up. It wan't the bike at all, it was the tires.

 

[Aasland]

Rode a brand new C14 which didn't exhibit this behavior. In fact, I thought it handled pretty nice for a large bike.

Suspension was a bit numb compared to the FJR, but really liked the smooth throttle response. Found it interesting that I felt "on" the bike, not "in" the bike (like on the FJR).

 

[HaulinAshe]

... He has changed some of the suspension settings from stock and I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what to fix. His tires are Bridgestone 021's with 3,400 miles on them and they still have decent tread. Any ideas?

You already answered your own question. He has the ride height screwed up with the front too high, or the rear too low, or both. And he needs a new set of tires with fresh profiles.

I have not ridden the 2011, but the 2010 handled very well for a stock bike.

Always go to fresh tires before passing judgement on suspension settings. But if fresh rubber doesn't fix it, tell your buddy to lower the front end until she steers closer to neutral.

 

[RaYzerman19]

My strong suspicion is the BT021's. Rode an 2010 FJR a month ago which had these as OEM, and you could not turn the bike. Awful... New set of z8's were installed.

 

[stevec677]

Thanks for the responces. I will make the suggestion to try a new set of tires and see how that works.

 

[3dogs]

When the C14 came out in 2007 MCN wrote a review in which they mentioned that the bike stood up (or tried to) during cornering. They blaimed in on the chassis geometry. I rode a C14 that year and found that it was difficult to keep it leaned over in a turn making it difficult to hold a cornering line. The next model year different tires were fitted (nothing else was changed as far as I know) and the standing up during cornering became less of an issue but was still present. I don't know if any other changes (other than tire choise) have been made since 2008??

 

[Dorian]

I had Bridgestones on one of my FJR (2007). I also came from a Concours C10 and felt the Connie was easier to initiate a turn and keep a line in the corners than the FJR. It got to a point on the FJR I felt I was doing way too much work to keep it in a turn. I finally switched the tires to Shinko Ravens because I wanted to experiment with the brand plus I would be changing the tires out in about 5000 miles for a trip out west. What a difference, the FJR starting dropping into the corners much more readily and held it line with very little effort. I put 4800 miles on those tires before I swapped them out for another set of Ravens for an extended tour. The Shinko's turning characteristics remained the same thru the 4800 miles. I still have them for mounting on my new FJR (2008). I experienced a similar feeling switching out a Dunlop that came with the 2008 FJR. I have stayed with the Ravens. I am not the fastest rider, but not a slouch either. I am thinking the C14 Bridgestones are making a big difference in what you are feeling between the 2 bikes. I figure the C14 is about 40% thru the tire life which is when the bad stuff starts forming and remains that way until you replace them.

I am sure you will get more scientific answers from the forum, I was just giving you my impressions with Bridgestones.

YMMV

Willie

I found a similar tire issue. I have a new(this spring) 2010 FJR that came with the OEM bridgstones. now at the 4000 mile service mark the front tire was worn down to the wear bars and scalloped. Part of that was my fault as the tire pressure was a little low at 35psi instead of 38psi, but I also think the from factory balance was way off as the front tire would wobble badly if I went hands off. I replaced front and back with Pirelli Angel ST's. WOW what a difference. The bike handles as if it were 150 lbs lighter. No muscle on the bars to start turn in and holds a line beautifully. We'll see how well they wear over time. I had a great experience with the Angels on my Kawi Versys but they are even better on the FJR.

 

[Greb]

I can say with confidence it is a combination of his Brickstone 021 tires and his altering the geometry of the suspension. The OEMs must get a serious wholesale discount on the 021s because that is one POS tire.