Vague front end

[SeattleOldboy]

I have put 500 miles on my 2007 AE that had 14k when I bought it. I am still getting used to the bike after 5 years riding a Suzuki Bandit. The front end gives no feedback in turns; it just seems to fall into the turn with no effort. Is this normal? I could imagine getting used to it, but it feels too loose. Should I have the front end checked? The Dunlops still have plenty of tred and are properly inflated. My Bandit required more steering effort and I felt more confident on it.

 

[Ignacio]

Air pressure in the tires? That's probably the biggest variable to check first and probably low.

 

[saxman]

I have put 500 miles on my 2007 AE that had 14k when I bought it. I am still getting used to the bike after 5 years riding a Suzuki Bandit. The front end gives no feedback in turns; it just seems to fall into the turn with no effort. Is this normal? I could imagine getting used to it, but it feels too loose. Should I have the front end checked? The Dunlops still have plenty of tred and are properly inflated. My Bandit required more steering effort and I felt more confident on it.

Despite "plenty of tread" a new set of tires can make a world of difference! Sometime only minor cupping on a front tire can cause weird feelings and even tire noise when leaning over. Every time I put on a new set I think, "Crap, I should have changed the tires earlier than this, the bike feels and handles amazing now."

I don't trust older tires either (3 or 4 years old) but it might depend a bit on how "sporty" you are in the corners.

Don't know about the Dunlops, but Bridgestone BT021's and Michelin Road Pilots seem to get thumbs up from the guys I know who run them.

Good Luck!

 

[phroenips]

Don't know about the Dunlops, but Bridgestone BT021's and Michelin Road Pilots seem to get thumbs up from the guys I know who run them.

Good Luck!

:blink:

The Michelin PR2's, sure, but the BT021's? I don't think you'll find many people on this forum that would recommend those.

 

[LAF]

BT021's are the biggest piece of shit that ever went into a tire mold. At 1000 miles on my new 10 the front is starting the feathering, cupping, scalloping, trapezoid, or what ever one want's to call it. They came on some BMW LT's too and all agree they are pure liquid shit in the shape of a tire.

Rant Off

I hate them! Wanted to get some miles out of them before my summer trip and put on the PR2's I have in reserve. I will continue to suffer through them for a bit longer but they are testing my patience and working on my last nerve. While the new front and rear suspension may have something to do with the wear as I push pretty hard, still they are worthless as a tire.

To the original OP I also find the FJR to turn in faster and with less bar input than I was used to, I pretty much think it a characteristic of the FJR and becomes pretty second nature.

Tire pressure as mentioned would be the first thing I checked and messed around with. I run 40/42 but you can mess around with PSI a couple of pounds either way to see if it helps. And I don't mean 30/32 or anything but 2-3 PSI either way wont hurt a thing.

 

[cruppelt]

Here is another possibility, it's been known that a very few Gen II bikes need their forks reworked early. I've finally had mine done at 24k, and the difference is so unbelievably big that it's definitely a statement to how bad I had let them get before. Both of my bushings were badly worn, one side very unevenly. Dave at GP also showed me a couple Gen II bushings that were badly worn after only 12k. Yamaha could have surely made these wear surfaces a little bigger for more longevity. :dribble:

 

[saxman]

BT021's are the biggest piece of shit that ever went into a tire mold. At 1000 miles on my new 10 the front is starting the feathering, cupping, scalloping, trapezoid, or what ever one want's to call it. They came on some BMW LT's too and all agree they are pure liquid shit in the shape of a tire.

Rant Off

I hate them! Wanted to get some miles out of them before my summer trip and put on the PR2's I have in reserve. I will continue to suffer through them for a bit longer but they are testing my patience and working on my last nerve. While the new front and rear suspension may have something to do with the wear as I push pretty hard, still they are worthless as a tire.

To the original OP I also find the FJR to turn in faster and with less bar input than I was used to, I pretty much think it a characteristic of the FJR and becomes pretty second nature.

Tire pressure as mentioned would be the first thing I checked and messed around with. I run 40/42 but you can mess around with PSI a couple of pounds either way to see if it helps. And I don't mean 30/32 or anything but 2-3 PSI either way wont hurt a thing.

 

[saxman]

Re the BT021's - Tell us how you really feel. . .

Anyway, sorry, I meant to say 023's - though I haven't seen them to the far side of their expected life yet. My 021's did cup badly too etc.

 

[LAF]

Re the BT021's - Tell us how you really feel. . .

Anyway, sorry, I meant to say 023's - though I haven't seen them to the far side of their expected life yet. My 021's did cup badly too etc.

Yeah pretty opinionated on 021's. I thought I had read the 023 was not bad. Thing with tires is everyone rides different and on different surfaces so one guys tire may not be another guys tire.

Like I said though the quick turn in was/is very noticeable to me coming off the LT which was very neutral. It is not anything I would knock the FJR for and I have become very accustom to it in a short time.

Hope you get adjusted to it and enjoy the FJR as I have in my short amount of seat time.

 

[SeattleOldboy]

Thanks for the suggestions. I bumped air pressure to 41 front & rear and it made a big difference. Will experiment a bit more, but overall feel more confident about the bike's handling.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I have put 500 miles on my 2007 AE that had 14k when I bought it...The front end gives no feedback in turns; it just seems to fall into the turn with no effort. Is this normal? Should I have the front end checked?

The Dunlops still have plenty of tred and are properly inflated.

Thanks for the suggestions. I bumped air pressure to 41 front & rear and it made a big difference. Will experiment a bit more,

Has your (used) FJR been lowered?

How much do you know about it/its history? Maybe having it professionally checked-over might be a good idea? :blink:

Don't know about the Dunlops,

The Dunlop Roadsmart* doesn't appear to be good enough (durable) for FJR use (at least, when used at 'FJR nominal'...).

Here is another possibility, it's been known that a very few Gen II bikes need their forks reworked early. ...Yamaha could have surely made these wear surfaces a little bigger for more longevity. :dribble:

Some small amount of empirical data (seem to suggest) -- this appears to be true.

The Gen II front forks seem to need the sliders well overlapped on the inner-tube to be better supported and to try to offset rapid fork-bushing wear.

Maybe a fork-oil change (early-on) would help...?

Re the BT021's I meant to say 023's

I thought I had read the 023 was not bad.

The 'Stone BT 023 "GT" appears to be 'tuff-enuff'...

Especially the front -- I've destroyed many front tires on my FJR and the 023 "GT" is great.

 

[Burnspot]

You may also want to check out Jeff Ashe's (HaulinAshe) excellent writeup about suspension settings on the FJR: https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=14779

When I originally bought my bike from the showroom floor, it didn't handle all that well. Part of it was the squared off/trapezoid tires from the previous owner (a slab runner) and part of it was the completely messed up suspension settings (I'm sure plenty of people played with the fork adjustment clickers while on the showroom floor). After following Jeff's recommendations on suspension settings, the bike's handling dramatically improved in spite of the tires.

 

[RadioHowie]

I've got a Michelin PR2 front with 15K miles on it that's becoming a bit of a chore to "turn" through the twisties, so when I pull it off next week, I'll send it to you so you can get back your "Zookie" feel.

 

[beemerdons]

I've got a Michelin PR2 front with 15K miles on it that's becoming a bit of a chore to "turn" through the twisties, so when I pull it off next week, I'll send it to you so you can get back your "Zookie" feel.

Seeing that it is indeed dog pile Friday here: Mrs. RadioHowie has been complaining for two decades now about RH having a "vague" front end! jes' saying and nuff' said!