More nimble styeering

[Landy100_imp]

Hi,

Has anybody dropped their forks by 5-10mm to steepen up the steering angle and maybe get a more nimble bike?

I do a lot of city commuting and would be interested in getting more manoeuvrability. Ive got the type pressures correct, slightly stiffer pre-load on front forks - its good but interested if anybody else has tried or experimented? Any loss of stability/wobbles or weaves introduced on high speed long curves?

Bike is rock solid with no steering flutter at the 40ish mph at moment.

Regards Landy

 

[rboe]

A buddy just got a Griso with the forks dropped. But the Griso has index rings on the fork tubes for just this sort of thing. The CB is much more nimble than the Griso so I have not been tempted to make her more nimble. If you don't have a stock front tire, you may have changed to a tire with less of a rounded profile which can also slow the steering.

Some bikes don't take to dropping the fork tubes, not sure if the CB is one of those, but in any event, you need a way to make sure both tube are dropped the same distance. I did it on a 81 KZ550 and it worked rather nicely so I'd recommend giving it a whirl. You will loose some ground clearance.

 

[TINK_imp]

I dropped the forks in my 1992 CB750 Nighthawk by about 1/2" (12.5mm) and it made a world of difference on that bike. Same thing for my Suzuki Bandit 1200/S.

 

[rmack_imp]

I dropped the forks in my 1992 CB750 Nighthawk by about 1/2" (12.5mm) and it made a world of difference on that bike. Same thing for my Suzuki Bandit 1200/S.

Same here on a cb1100 ,12 mill on front and 1/2 higher at rear with gazzi remote res shocks and massive transformation , I don't do much touring just head for the hills at every chance and its brillant a slight wiggle at the very extreme lean angles and hit a fair rough patch but nothing really to worry about.

 

[AzBob_imp]

Probably better off going with a wider, more round rear tire, which should get you exactly what you want.

 

[kevbroce_imp]

Probably better off going with a wider, more round rear tire, which should get you exactly what you want.

Wouldn't a wider tire slow down steering?

 

[redbirds_imp]

I would simply drop the front about 12mm and see how it feels. A Guzzi Breva I had responded nicely to a simple change in tire brand, went from stock Metzler to a Pilot Road 2. Turn in was much improved.

 

[rboe]

That has been my experience, a wider tire slows down steering (mostly because wider tires are less rounded than skinnier tires) but the profile is critical so, in general, a skinnier tire is more likely to have a profile with a smaller radius curve giving it a quicker feel.

 

[AzBob_imp]

Probably better off going with a wider, more round rear tire, which should get you exactly what you want.

Wouldn't a wider tire slow down steering?

Wouldn't a wider tire slow down steering?
Normally, yes, but the tire we have on our bike (which is spec'd specifically for it, and very "vintage") is very square. A wider tire, usually spec'd for a sport bike, is MUCH rounder. See this thread for some real-world experience. By switching to the wider tire he experienced exactly what the OP is looking for.

 

[rboe]

Switching to a different brand tire may do the same. Now I gotta go look at my tire. See what you mean by square.