Ok, something is definitely up.

Yaayuh! · 14 Apr 2015 at 08:01

Another squeaky bum moment this morning, second time in a week I've felt the front slip on right handers, not at much speed or lean angle either.

Not sure why, road conditions were fine and wasn't doing anything silly. Not sure if it's related to my drop which was right sided: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18638743

Any ideas what would cause this? Tyres are Bridgestone Battlax and have done 3200 miles, they look ok.

Yaayuh! · 14 Apr 2015 at 09:19

I'm still not convinced on the tyres tbh. Both times were early and first 1/3 of the ride, could be heat and the fact it's on the right could be a red herring.

Doesn't help that one of the first hits on googling this, a guy is having a slippy front end with.... Bridgestone Battlax tyres...
http://www.kawiforums.com/2007-2008-zx-6r/127430-front-tire-tends-slip.html

Fireskull said:
Could seriously just be all in your head, trust me I know the feeling, after an off the bike feels horrendous and you don't trust the tyres* at all, get out when the road is warm to a nice roundabout and lean it over, you will either get the confidence back or crash, then know you for sure its the bike or you are just being a pussy

Failing that as above check the supension, you could put a cable tie around the fork leg and check its not bottoming out or anything.

*I am not a fan of bridgestone as it is, never got on with their tyres, I would be swapping them out anyway

Haha!! Thanks mate

The zip tie idea is good, i'll try that today. As for the tyres, i've been looking at the Mich Pilot Road 4's, seem to be a great all-rounder.

Yaayuh! · 14 Apr 2015 at 11:38

DanF said:
yeah depends on the BT model, there's still some old bt020's floating around, they are pretty terrible compared to modern tyres.

Front is a BT011F, rear is the BT020 though!

wazza300 said:
What tyre pressures you running? Slightly less might help in slippy conditions,or switch to a better tyre?

Standard 36psi last time i checked.

Yaayuh! · 14 Apr 2015 at 13:01

Looks like I'm going to ring a couple of garages later and ask them how much they'll fit tyres for

Yaayuh! · 14 Apr 2015 at 15:18

acemastr said:
Which Battlax? I had 21's on my CBR and I could spin the rear at 95 in the rain... horrifying tire.

These:

Rossi~ said:
Front is a BT011F, rear is the BT020 though!

Standard 36psi last time i checked.

ElliorR said:
Any chance you've been unlucky a few times and hit some diesel or such on the road? If not and it turns out it's all in your head may I suggest this....

Also if you've got 023's I had them on a previous bike and thought they were great tyres.

http://i.imgur.com/Hwkivq2.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

The roads looks fine and dry on both occasions from what i can remember.

I'll change the tyres and keep my eye on the suspension in the meantime, see if i can spot anything out of the ordinary.
It might be worth me going out in the afternoon for a longish ride and concentrate on right handers, see if it's a tyre warmth thing.

Yaayuh! · 14 Apr 2015 at 15:28

acemastr said:
Never even heard of a BT011

It's the Bandit OEM front tyre.

Yaayuh! · 14 Apr 2015 at 16:14

tom_e said:
I imagine your forks will be a lot more sturdy than the ones on my YBR but just as another suggestion are you sure you've not bent them slightly, I had a similar off at around about the same speed over Christmas and until I had my forks straightened I had a similar feeling.

I went for a 3 hour ride on Sunday, it feels absolutely fine generally. I would've thought if there suspension was damaged/not right in anyway i would have noticed.
It's just now and then like people have described, feels like hitting a wet painted line or join.
I'll have to test in the warm because as i said, it's happened early on in rides, so could be just **** and unpredictable when not warmed up. Come to think about it, there are far more left turns on my way to work than right.

ElliorR said:
Just so you know you're not the only One suffering with this, here's a link to a recent thread on the Tiger 800 forums with the same problems.

http://www.tiger800.co.uk/index.php/topic,13323.0.html

Sounds very familiar!

Yaayuh! · 15 Apr 2015 at 08:21

Dogbreath said:
I'm a little surprised that the GSX650F doesn't have at least basic cartridge forks, but apparently Suzuki fitted dinosaur suspension to them.

It's a bandit with a fairing. It's a dirt cheap all-rounder bike.

I don't think i'll mess around with the suspension, as it can get quite costly and it's really not worth it on such a bike i don't think. Unless of course you could tell me it can be done cheap and relatively easily?

Interesting video:

In an ideal world, i'd like to get some decent tyres on it and keep it as a commuter. Then get another bike that i can tinker with and use for fun/weekend tours.

Yaayuh! · 15 Apr 2015 at 14:43

Going to adjust my pre-load on my front a notch before i leave work, see if being a little stiffer helps in any way.

Yaayuh! · 23 Apr 2015 at 15:10

Local garage/dealer (where i bought the bike from) want's £288 to buy in and fit the Pilot Road 4's ride in/out.
I can buy the tyres for under £220 so i think they're having a laugh for the fitting costs.

Yaayuh! · 28 Apr 2015 at 10:47

**** it. Just booked it in for some PR4's @ £270. I don't have any fork stands, nor can I be bothered in general. So I'm dropping the bike off on Thursday for them to deal with it and pick it up later in the day. It's within walking distance of work, so that's okay.

Hopefully the weather will be good on Saturday so i can take it out and scrub them.

I got 4 other quotes.

£280
£288
£320
£380!!!

Yaayuh! · 28 Apr 2015 at 11:22

I did mention this to a couple of them, they didn't know there was an offer on. Also, i can't seem to find one other than the Fuel card one, which isn't for motorcycles.

Yaayuh! · 28 Apr 2015 at 11:35

Buying Michelin tyres looks to be for car, van or 4x4 tyres.
Fitting cost one sounds good, but none of places near me are on that list it seems

Yaayuh! · 28 Apr 2015 at 11:46

Ah i see.
Well that's annoying, i'll search the list for someone remotely near me, none of them stand out for me at the moment.

Edit: Found one in Stevenage. Will give them a call.

Yaayuh! · 28 Apr 2015 at 11:54

wazza300 said:
is there plenty meat left on your old tyres? if so sell them as part worn on ebay,dont let the fitting shop keep them

There's probably 750-1000 miles left maybe, depending on how they're ridden. The rear is squared off pretty bad as well due to the commute. Nobody should have these tyres, they're **** lol.

Yaayuh! · 30 Apr 2015 at 20:17

Got some rubber!

Yaayuh! · 30 Apr 2015 at 20:29

ElliorR said:
Why did they put the front tyre on the wrong way round?

They didn't :confused:

Yaayuh! · 30 Apr 2015 at 20:40

ElliorR said:
Just trying to wind you up. Have you noticed a difference yet?

Oh right, lol. I check everything on my bike before leaving garages so knew they were what i ordered and on properly

Haven't leant it over properly yet. Want to take it out on Saturday and do at least 75 miles to scrub them, lean it over gradually and maybe do some 8's in a car park.
Then in a couple of weeks I'll do a long trip and be able to give feedback on them.
They are however quite predictable even though they're new. There's a short stretch of road near me with a few bends either way and it was nice a smooth. They feel different regardless as they're much higher pressure than the ****stones.