What is safe speed to make regular ~45 degree highway turns on monsters?
I feel safe at 75Mph, but at faster speeds it feels like bike is flying above the ground.. other words I feel not safe.
I riding m696 and as you know it has narrow back wheel. I have about 2\3inch "chickenstrip" at backwheel and no "chikenstrip" at front one.
I don't want to "test" myself turning capabilities at higher speeds as it can be harmful to my health.
Somethings a bit odd here. Because of a bikes geometry through a turn, you should be using more of the rear tire than the front - re lean angle. So you should have a wider chicken strip area on the front tire than the rear one. Every rear tire I've had, looked over etc has showed more wear from lean than it's mate.
Have you ever had the suspension set up for you? have you had it serviced in the last year?
And what's a 'regular' turn on the highway? Without some more detail, that description is very subjective.
Stop worrying about it and just ride
concentrate on form and the bike will handle almost all street riding
Not sure about the newer generation, but my older (1999) generation Monster has a bit of an "organized chaos" feel when pushed hard. Granted, mine was a Dark, and has the bargain basement non-adjustable Marzoochi forks.
What happens, is there is a faint slow oscillation when it is thrown into a fast corner with lots of lean. I've just gotten used to it.
JM
There is no front suspension adjustment on m696 except oil viscosity change..
Lee Parks Riding book says that motorcycle capabilities are far above average rider's mental sense of control. I am a second season rider and I have new tires with pressure about 38-39 PSI which makes me feel safe on bad roads(once i critically damaged rim at 31-32PSI).
I just want to find comfortable place between fear and low-side.
Yes I want to know if monsters(especially m696) are ok with more aggressive riding than just "cafe riding".
If they can pass something like this at ~90mph(and even higher [roll])
(http://s23.postimg.org/v91mb8yq3/turns.jpg)
Yes, you can ride a 696 hard. Learning to do so on the street probably isn't a good idea...too many variables. I'd suggest you do a trackday or 10 if you can to improve your skills (no idea where you're located).
If possible, talk to your local suspension guru about what can be done to the forks and shock...there may be options beyond oil weight.
38-39 psi is too high IMO if you're trying to ride hard. I'd be more in the 32-34 range.
Quote from: kokis on August 16, 2013, 06:44:26 AM
Yes I want to know if monsters(especially m696) are ok with more aggressive riding than just "cafe riding".
If they can pass something like this at ~90mph(and even higher [roll])
Can't speak for the 696 but in general Yes, they are built to steer very well at high speeds. Mine certainly does. Well, 90-120mph, anyway.
Often the issue with wider-handlebar bikes with precise steering such as the Monster is the rider holding on too tight.
Not saying this must be so in your case. Just something to think about.
Quote from: Moronic on August 16, 2013, 09:33:57 AM
Often the issue with wider-handlebar bikes with precise steering such as the Monster is the rider holding on too tight.
This turned out to be a lot of my issue. Once I got myself to relax my grip & use my back & legs to hold me up rather than my arms, my form improved, so did my ability to corner faster.
JM
Quote from: Raux on August 16, 2013, 06:18:11 AM
Stop worrying about it and just ride
concentrate on form and the bike will handle almost all street riding
+1 [Dolph]
Whenever I have that feeling I try to think about what I did and if possible copy what just happened to get an idea of what's going on. I can't remember the last time I didn't end up with the same answer... RIDER INPUT!!
Wrong grip, tense body, flapping jacket, car/truck turbulence... you name it.
Back to big chicken stripes in the rear, none in front. Let me start by stating I am far from an expert rider, just want to get the discussion back to the original problem.
I was having that problem at one point and asked the same question on the old board. I went blank on his name, the guy with the boat in Buffalo said something to the effect of not enough throttle or braking in the apex. As it turns out, I realized I got into the habit of following poorly skilled cage drivers into curves too closely. They slowed, I had to slow. They braked, I had to brake. I started leaving enough space so I could properly roll on the throttle through the turn. Problem solved.
38, 39 up front doesn't help either. If your roads are that bad, 34, no more.
Thank you, everybody! [thumbsup]
Quote from: howie on August 16, 2013, 08:22:05 PM
Back to big chicken stripes in the rear, none in front. Let me start by stating I am far from an expert rider, just want to get the discussion back to the original problem.
As it turns out, I realized I got into the habit of following poorly skilled cage drivers into curves too closely. They slowed, I had to slow. They braked, I had to brake. I started leaving enough space so I could properly roll on the throttle through the turn. Problem solved.
I learned a little trick to deal with being to close to the rear of cagers ages ago. It works well on all but the busiest of twisties. Whenever I run up behind a couple of cars in an area that it is not safe to pass for a while I simply pull over to the shoulder and watch my rear view mirror. When there is a decent gap between cars I pull out just in front of the one coming. This gives me more time to enjoy the turns, I actually slow down in the straightways lol.
Quote from: Skybarney on August 20, 2013, 11:27:29 AM
I learned a little trick to deal with being to close to the rear of cagers ages ago. It works well on all but the busiest of twisties. Whenever I run up behind a couple of cars in an area that it is not safe to pass for a while I simply pull over to the shoulder and watch my rear view mirror. When there is a decent gap between cars I pull out just in front of the one coming. This gives me more time to enjoy the turns, I actually slow down in the straightways lol.
You too !?!?!? ;D
Funny. I do the same thing.
My 796 corners awesome!! A tip, don't look at your speedo, read the road (vanishing point), use that as a gauge to your speed and ability! As stated, don't use the road, especially an unfamiliar one to find the limits of your bike or any vehicle!! Track track track....
Guys.. I have some chicken strip on rear tyre.. but none on front one... on old tyre set it was different.. there was not chickcenstipe on rear but som 2-3mm wide on front.. I have not changed ridng style.... I have just changed tyres from dunlop to contis... I drive fast enough on my monster 620... but I am affraid I will soon loose the grip on the front.
Same size? It is almost impossible to not have chicken stripes on the rear of a Monster with 160/60 on the rear and 120/60 or 120/70 on the front with stock wheels, headers, footpegs, etc at stock ride height. Ummm...do check tire pressure though, particularly in the front.
I do not have chicken stripes... but when I am warming up chickenstrips on front disapear sooner than on back wheel... I found out that I have changed my exhaust... so I have reduced weight on back wheel...
Somebody please help a newbie: what are chicken-stripes, and why are they important? I've ridden about 2k miles on the street now. And planning on my 1st trackday in June.
Chicken stripes are the unused tread portion on the sides of your tires. Many think no chicken stripes means you are a skilled rider. Not necessarily true.
Frequently observed idiots trying to get a knee down, by hanging off their ass, but resisting/counter leaning their upper body.
Besides looking like fools, that's also a way to get rid of chicken strips without going fast - leaning the bike more than required for the speed.
No chicken strips on the street is a sign something is wrong with the riding technique and/or the rider's brain (IMO.
My s2r1000 shop manual states the tire pressure should be 30f and 32r psi. Am I reading it wrong? Seems awfully low compared to my RC51 which was 36f 42r psi, even though I ran 30f 32r on and street.
I have to say 30f 32r feels good and 28f 30r also feels good at the track in mid intermediate group. I also have a fully setup suspension
Quote from: SwiftTone on November 15, 2015, 05:56:12 PM
My s2r1000 shop manual states the tire pressure should be 30f and 32r psi. Am I reading it wrong? Seems awfully low compared to my RC51 which was 30f 42r psi, even though I ran 30f 32r on and street.
I have to say 30f 32r feels good and 28f 30r also feels good at the track in mid intermediate group. I also have a fully setup suspension
You're reading it right.
My 96 M900 manual states only slightly higher. I run 32f/34r. I ran 30f/28r on the track when I rode the Monster at the track
Quote from: ducpainter on November 16, 2015, 04:34:34 AM
You're reading it right.
My 96 M900 manual states only slightly higher. I run 32f/34r. I ran 30f/28r on the track when I rode the Monster at the track
Pretty odd but at least some reassurance.
Just mounted some Dunlop T30 Evo sport touring tires. I've always ridden on sport tires such as Michelin Pilot Power 3s or Pirelli Diablo Rosso IIs, but got sick of getting new tires every 3-4k miles. I've done over 5k miles so far this season.
So far I like these new Dunlops. At a semi spirited street pace they feel pretty good. I've heard sport touring tires are good for fast intermediate group on track days. I'll put these to the test next year on the track!
I have a slightly different problem on my 695, I regularly scrape my boots on my favourite corners which when it first happened was a little disconcerting to say the least..
The 695 can handle speed and corners well for sure, for me personally some new rear sets seem to be in order to make the most of this though
Quote from: Ken Masters on January 22, 2019, 08:47:07 AM
I have a slightly different problem on my 695, I regularly scrape my boots on my favourite corners which when it first happened was a little disconcerting to say the least..
The 695 can handle speed and corners well for sure, for me personally some new rear sets seem to be in order to make the most of this though
Get your suspension sorted, that'll improve your ground clearance and make your bike work better, all for the same money.