Do they all handle like this?

[b.walker5]

Yeah, not sure I'd be comfy with that either. I think the line would change allright, from vertical to horizontal

[tw1980]

Finally got my bike up and running last night (81RH Sports) after some minor clutch woes. Took it for a quick fang around the block, just finding its handling.. well.. a bit unusual. Its smooth and balanced in a straight line but sweeping corners it seems like the front wants to turn in the further I lean it. Hard to really discribe, I lean it left and the handlebars want to turn in left as well (very slightly). Just feels a little strange, not at all dangerous, but in 12 years of riding I've never had a bike thats wanted to do this.. Had a XJR1300SP a few years ago, (the XS's grandson) and it was nothing like this. Also had a 1981 GPz1100 and that also handled differently for a similair sized bike and setup.
Other than that it goes like a windstorm, the previous owner spent a lot of $$ on the engine and it shows, the bikes up to 100 in a blink and dispite its very heavy and clunky gearbox it goes like a cut cat

Also wondering with the petcocks, it has bilateral petcocks on either side of the tank (What the..??) just wondering do they both need to be on the same setting? What is the reason for this?

You mean all bikes don't handle like this?There are some that handle better?The hell you say!Witch bikes handle better

[fredintoon]

You mean all bikes don't handle like this?There are some that handle better?The hell you say!Which bikes handle better

Hi tw,
any of the "big four" 4 cylinder 600cc sport bikes steer like they are on rails.
You will of course have to put up with people saying
"Why is the monkey in the clown suit humping a football as he rides?"
But a real man will shrug that off.

[Yard Dogg]

When I first got my bike the fork seals were leaky so I released all the air to preserve what was in there until I could replace the seals. I had a really soft front end, I just got em fixed and added 20 lbs air, I weigh 200 lbs. It is a totally different bike. But I can say that riding style can make a difference.

When the bike was still squishy in the front I learned ways to deal with it. A solo seat moved me back and down on the bike and improved my center of gravity which helped my riding style cause I like to lean back a bit. When I initially leaned the bike it would start to hook up then sort of throw itself out a bit, so I'd adjust and lean according then it would hook up. One day on the twisties from Mabton to Bickleton, I was in racing mode and discovered on this bike with the sqishy front end and unpredictable stability, it was best to tuck my inside elbow a little more and lean my body more than the bike. Pretty soon I was dragging my kick stand with ease. Also remember these are shaft drive, so when you let off the gas, the back end will come down and throw a little momentum towards the front and cause a bit of dive when it happens. Stay smooth on the throttle in the corners to solve that. Slow before the corner then charge it.

[cywelchjr]

Hi tw,
any of the "big four" 4 cylinder 600cc sport bikes steer like they are on rails.
You will of course have to put up with people saying
"Why is the monkey in the clown suit humping a football as he rides?"
But a real man will shrug that off.

That's why I won't buy a modern bike. I don't care much for the cruiser stance and I really don't like humping footballs.

[BigDick]

That's why I won't buy a modern bike. I don't care much for the cruiser stance and I really don't like humping footballs.

You can't beat those awesome clown suits though!

[cywelchjr]

You can't beat those awesome clown suits though!

I don't know, I like a nice conservative grey and black myself, if not leather. Black leather that is. With that and the two days beard growth I won't disabuse anyone of their biker stereotypes.

That said, I love my XS, actually both of them, both the 400 and the 1100 although I am more comfortable on the 1100, but I'm not getting rid of the 400.

[bikerphil]

Fork brace simulation....

http://www.superbrace.com/simulation.html