Turn In

[theboyracer6]

I have a 2004 r1 and a 2001 r6, and the r1 turns into corners alot faster than the r6, the r1 has dunlop 218 with no suspention adjustment, and the r6 has dunlop 208's with the fork tubes lowerd about an inch, is there any suspention adjustments that i can do to increase turn in without greatly effecting corner stability. Thanks

[gixxstar]

There's no freebees. I'm surprised that you're having trouble with turn in even after dropping the forks on an R6. They're known for having a very quick turn in stock. Possibly there's something wrong with your settings? Set the rear sag to your weight. I suggest anywhere from 28-32mm. Check tire pressure front and rear. If that's fine, you can raise the rear ride height by shimming at the shock mount to allow the back of the bike to sit higher. The more you do this, the looser the rear end will get.....so don't be too greedy. The R1 might have a better turn in regardless but I'm skeptical. Keep working with it.

[Jayson]

between my 03 r1 and my friends 02 r6, both set up stock, the r6 deffinatly turned faster... though the r1 was quick.

[RoadBlur]

Does it dive a lot under braking, or alternatively feel like the front just wants to wash right out when you brake (in a straight line)? Compression damping definitely comes into play during turn-in. I'd tend to look there first, but really only if I'd already gone through the process of trying to set up the preload and ballparking in all the other settings first. There are lots of good websites out there on suspension set up, search the site as I think they've been posted up a lot.

If I had no clue where they were set, I might go look on the sport rider website and see how they set them up for the track compared to how mine is currently set up (keeping in mind that those settings will likely be too stiff and unsafe on a bumpy road) just to get the gist of what directions I might want to go. Keep in mind that their settings aren't for a rider of your weight or anything so they shouldn't be used as a bible, they just happen to have a lot of settings for a lot of bikes so make a great resource.

Also your rear tire profile and pressure settings can have a large impact. Check your PSI and tire wear. New rubber can make a bike feel entirely different if the tires were all squared off.

Or find somebody locally that will go through it with you and set it up. If you want a pro I know John Bowman (J1k here) is a whiz at setting up bike suspensions over here on the mainland (my bike was bouncin around like a pogo stick with stock settings and now its feeling as sporty as my old new zx9 thanks to his help and insight). Or if you want to wait for one of the free 'suspension day' clinics in the spring some guys over at BK or other shops (and our very own TeeTee, among others) have been known to volunteer time to help people get things set up and thats usually a lot of fun.

Um yeah, ok no short answer sorry

[rgm]

Are the fork tubes lowered or raised? correct me if I'm wrong but if the tubes have been lowered, wouldn't that slow the steering down?

[gixxstar]

my interpretation is based on dropping the clamps down with more fork sitting above the tripple which shortens the steering axis, and makes it turn faster. I just noticed some WTB ads for race parts. If you're setting up a race bike, definitely talk to some pros in the business. Long time racers or experts in the business. It always helps if they've raced your particular bike. Steve Dick is usually really busy but Mosquito snitches all of his suspension settings I think. Shoot him a PM for some settings. I don't know any suspension pros on the island.

[TeeTee]

There is definetley something else wrong with the setup of that R6. If the whole suspension was set right then raising the tubes in the clamps, and thus lowering the front end of the BIKE, an inch should make the bike almost uncontrollable it would be so flickable.

[rgm]

Does the bike have aftermarket clip ons located under the top triple clamp, giving the illusion of the front end being lowered an inch? I heard of people lowering bikes by milimetres for better turn in, but I've only heard of drag racers lowering a bike that much.

[J1k]

ya a inch is to much.are you sure it doesnt have a lowering link on the rear as well??
someone shorter own it before?,i have seen it many times before.

[ssblade]

definately sumthin wrong if an '04 r1 is turning in faster than any vehicle except maybe a tractor.

[Jayson]

the tractor in the kawasaki commercial?

[theboyracer6]

I bought the bike bran new from the dealer with zero km on it. the only suspention tuning that ive done is increase compression damping and increase the rear spring rate. yes i did raise the fork tubes in the tripple clams (front end lower) about an inch
it does not have any lowering links or after market clipons.

[lowprofile]

Tires maybe? How's the profile of the 218's vs. the 208? I know race tires have a lot more steeper profile which helps with turn in lots...