I was out getting acclimated to my 1200 last night. Not being too aggressive, but more than I was on the test rides and highways. In the tighter turns, I felt this odd looseness in the back end. I can recreate it easily, but I cannot diagnose it.
I cannot tell if the rear end is slipping, wallowing, or loosing traction. The tire is brand new and manufactured in 2013. Tire pressure is 40 lbs cuz I am big. It's a Dunlop and I have never ridden on those before. Always had Pilot Road 2's. Tires should have been warm, 20 minutes on a highway to get to the curves.
How do I start to diagnose this? Do I take off all preload and test it? Lower tire pressure? Is it in my head and this is how a drive shaft feels? (I kind of doubt this one) Any tips appreciated guys.
Stand behind it and leave the side stand down . Then level the bike out and push down(passenger handles)and then let it return to normal position and see if there any resistance going downward and then see if the rebound is about the same as the damping. Since you just bought it you need set your sag also. Your preload is probably wrong .
Here are the factory setting .
Front preload front rebound damping damping rear preload rear rebound damping
VFR1200F('10) 9mm of adjuster 5 clicks out 13 clicks in . .75 turns out
The smart arse answer would be eat less curry - then your rear end would not be so loose :)
But in all seriousness - set the pressure to the standard pressure - it's the same single or two up riding - I am a heavy guy too and I have no issues - then set rear shock setting to the standard in the manual and then 5 clicks more on preload and 2 clicks more on rebound
Then give that a go
Which rear tyre? Roadsmart or roadsmart 2? Or something else?
Maybe not factory but these are suggested setting .
Stand behind it and leave the side stand down . Then level the bike out and push down(passenger handles)and then let it return to normal position and see if there any resistance going downward and then see if the rebound is about the same as the damping. Since you just bought it you need set your sag also. Your preload is probably wrong .
Here are the factory setting .
Front preload front rebound damping damping rear preload rear rebound damping
VFR1200F('10) 9mm of adjuster 5 clicks out 13 clicks in . .75 turns out
My '12 owner's manuel says 36/42 psi and I've noticed that the tires are sensitive to pressure. I've taken to run 45 in the stock Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart tires and that looose feeling isn't there. I use the above suspension.
Ah, all excellent information. Thanks all! I will do that tonight. Might be able to get out and right tomorrow afternoon on a nice curvy road and just run up and down it while dialing in theses things. All I should need is an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver, correct?
Something else that took some time for me tobget used to was the transition from chain drive "squat" to shaft drive where it wants to raise the rear end.