Just how "flickable" is the XS11?

[fredintoon]

Hi 'Blue,
I'd define flickability as the ease with which a bike will switch from being cranked into a corner one way to being cranked into a corner the other way.
Nostalgia says my most flickable bike was my 1937 KSS Velocette but truthfully the Velo's rigid frame, girder forks and pathetic brakes limited it's handling.
I'd say the most flickable bike I've ever ridden was a Yamaha RZ350. Boy, did that thing love the twisties.
Comparing bikes to horses, the RZ350 is a barrel-racer's pony while an XS11 is a Percheron.

[b.walker5]

Hi 'Blue,
I'd define flickability as the ease with which a bike will switch from being cranked into a corner one way to being cranked into a corner the other way.
Nostalgia says my most flickable bike was my 1937 KSS Velocette but truthfully the Velo's rigid frame, girder forks and pathetic brakes limited it's handling.
I'd say the most flickable bike I've ever ridden was a Yamaha RZ350. Boy, did that thing love the twisties.
Comparing bikes to horses, the RZ350 is a barrel-racer's pony while an XS11 is a Percheron.

Careful Fred, my wife has a Percheron X and if she gets wind of your comparison we're both in trouble...

[fredintoon]

Careful Fred, my wife has a Percheron X and if she gets wind of your comparison we're both in trouble

Hi Brian,
big, powerful, kinda slow in corners, fits the horse and the bike,I'd say.
BTW, Percheron crossed with what?
My neighbor's kids brought a puppy home one time, claiming that although it was a Boxer it wouldn't grow too big because it was a crossbreed.
Well the dog grew way bigger than a Boxer. Turned out it's daddy was a Great Dane.

[DeanR]

Compared to my former Honda ST1100...the XJ1100 isnt top heavy at all...My ST was not only top heavy but just plan heavier as well...makes the XJ/XS1100s' feel just right...so handling and flickability are not a problem IMO

I agree with Ben.
I like to think I flick em both.

[Poprock]

I pitched the pull-backs in favor of a Standard style bar, recommended by Bohn Fraser. Huge difference. Push right - go right actually works now. I'm having a lot more fun in the twisties, but it has also made me aware of the effort it takes to lean the beast over. I really have to push, but it works. TKAT fork brace helps I'm sure, but changing the bars out was the key. My KLR buddy rode my bike a week ago and he commented about having to push harder to get it over, but he rode it well. I read on another thread that, yeah, an 11 will do it in the curves, but you just have to work harder. I'm sure there are many more flickable bikes out there, but not many I'd rather show up on than the 11. JMHO, YMMV.

[b.walker5]

Hi Brian,
big, powerful, kinda slow in corners, fits the horse and the bike,I'd say.
BTW, Percheron crossed with what?

With this...



The mare is what we refer to as a Stationbred horse (bred on a high country sheep station) of questionable parentage and the stallion was a Percheron.

End result is this...a filly...Not sure where the colour comes from but the wife wasnt complaining



She's about 6 months old in this photo, about 9 months ago. She's a lot bigger now.

[oseaghdha]

I climbed up on a Perchie once. It was like sitting on a couch, 6 feet in the air. About pulled a groin getting my knees around it though.

[TheFrugalTech]

First thing I must say on this topic is that if you have to "man handle" your bike through curves, you're doing it wrong and need to learn how to countersteer. Knowing how to countersteer can save your life in some situations. Unless you are running slow in first gear, it's time to countersteer.
I will use myself and my wife riding 2 up on the full dressed 78E as an example.

Bike weight - estimated 750lbs
Me and wife - another 300lbs
Misc items for trip - at least 50lbs
Total - over 1100lbs.

Now, if I am trying to use just my body weight to make the bike lean, yes it will happen but it will happen slowly. Think of it as my 180lbs shifting to affect the inertia of the 1100lb total.

But, if I countersteer I am using the full 1100lbs against itself and the bike leans almost instantly.

IMO, "Flickability" has many factors. Rider ability, rider confidence, tire condition, and center of gravity of the bike are bigger factors than bike weight.

I have a 79F stripped down model and a 78E full dressed with Vetter equipment. The later obviously is more top heavy.
Being top heavy DOES NOT make it harder to throw the bike into a lean, it makes it easier. And new tires to the equation and you will find a top heavy bike leans VERY easy. Being top heavy and running brand new tires will make it difficult to run a dead straight line with the play in the forks of a stock XS1100.

[bikerphil]

the play in the forks of a stock XS1100.

Solved that problem with FJ1100 41mm forks. This bike can be "thrown around" pretty good. There is also a fork brace concealed under the fender.

[natemoen]

FJ1100 41mm forks

I have a tendency to look at pictures before reading words, I was staring at the forks trying to figure it out and finally I decided to look at the words....

[Crusty Snippets]

Flickable

It isn't.

Uncle Crusty

[T99Ford]

^ What Crusty said. Ride any sportbike newer than 1990, and you wil see what a handling pig these things are. Not that they weren't good in their day, but technology has improved. Bias ply, excessive weight, long rake, high rider position, all make this thing a lot of work to ride. And somehow fun nonetheless.

But when it comes time to really go, I don't take this bike, based mostly on handling alone. And anybody that says they can keep up with a modern sportbike in the corners has never really been tested--it ain't true!

[yamahansolo]

Once you put gold valve emulators on it it's very flickable. I live in the mnts and my one complaint was flicking back and forth in the curves. Now it flicks with ease just like a modern bike

[b.walker5]

^ What Crusty said. Ride any sportbike newer than 1990, and you wil see what a handling pig these things are. Not that they weren't good in their day, but technology has improved. Bias ply, excessive weight, long rake, high rider position, all make this thing a lot of work to ride. And somehow fun nonetheless.

But when it comes time to really go, I don't take this bike, based mostly on handling alone. And anybody that says they can keep up with a modern sportbike in the corners has never really been tested--it ain't true!

Totally agree. After riding the XJR for a while I dont even bother trying to 'flick' the XS through corners. Just not worth the effort trying to make it do something it was never designed to do. You need arms like Popeye and a whole lotta faith, and even countersteering is heavy and awkward. XJR on the other hand only requires the thought and it's half way round the corner on it's own. Can even keep up with Max on his Duc now, couldnt even get close on the XS.

[FJ111200]

Totally agree. After riding the XJR for a while I dont even bother trying to 'flick' the XS through corners. Just not worth the effort trying to make it do something it was never designed to do. You need arms like Popeye and a whole lotta faith, and even countersteering is heavy and awkward. XJR on the other hand only requires the thought and it's half way round the corner on it's own. Can even keep up with Max on his Duc now, couldnt even get close on the XS.

I totally agree with you b.
My XJR1200 is an absolute joy to ride aswell, but since i put on a FJ1200 front end, complete with 17inch wheel, the XS has been transformed into something quite flickable but still not in the same league as the XJR, even though they are both now using 17inch front and rear wheels. I've got a second XS which is using Standard front end and 16inch rear wheel and it rides quite well through the bends, although using an aftermarket set of shocks by Hagon, which are quite good quality, improves the handling, and i usually always ride with a pillion.