How can I make the steering easier / lighter? (ZX6R)
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:54 pmI have an ’06 ZX6R for the road and an ’08 ZX6R for the track.
The ’06 has had the front dropped by 5mm and the front and rear sag set for me.
The ‘08 has also had the front dropped 5mm and had my suspension guru look at it, as well as the S&W suspension guys that are often at the track. It feels pretty well set up geometry and handling wise, except for one thing.
Neither bike has a steering dampener and both run the correct profile tyre for that model (’06: 120/65 front & 180/50 rear. ’08: 120-70 front and 180/50 rear). The tyre profiles are pretty similar too. I’ve run the ’06 with Pirelli Corsa 3s and Michelin Pilot Powers. I’ve run the ’08 with Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slicks and Bridgestone BT015’s.
The steering is much, *much* heavier on the ’08 than on the ’06.
I recently jumped on ijuschill’s ’08, immediately after riding my ’06 and found the same thing. The difference between the two bikes is night and day when it comes to the steering (don't get me wrong, the '08 is awesome in every other way!)
I love the steering on the ’06. It’s almost a case of just thinking about it and it tips in nice and quickly. I would love to have the ’08 doing that on the track. After riding ijuschill's, it seems like it’s not a setup problem with my ’08 specifically, but that the ’08 model itself is heavier to steer.
The easiest way I can think to describe it, is the ’06 needs one quick and easy push on the bar to tip her in sweetly, while the ’08 needs much more force applied and is much, much slower to respond. Almost like it has to be bullied or forced into the turn, while the '06 just needs to be given the signal.
So, does anyone have ideas on how can I make the ’08 turn like an ’06 (and, no, I can’t get another ’06, or an ’09 for the track – I gotta work with the ’08)
The ’06 has had the front dropped by 5mm and the front and rear sag set for me.
The ‘08 has also had the front dropped 5mm and had my suspension guru look at it, as well as the S&W suspension guys that are often at the track. It feels pretty well set up geometry and handling wise, except for one thing.
Neither bike has a steering dampener and both run the correct profile tyre for that model (’06: 120/65 front & 180/50 rear. ’08: 120-70 front and 180/50 rear). The tyre profiles are pretty similar too. I’ve run the ’06 with Pirelli Corsa 3s and Michelin Pilot Powers. I’ve run the ’08 with Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slicks and Bridgestone BT015’s.
The steering is much, *much* heavier on the ’08 than on the ’06.
I recently jumped on ijuschill’s ’08, immediately after riding my ’06 and found the same thing. The difference between the two bikes is night and day when it comes to the steering (don't get me wrong, the '08 is awesome in every other way!)
I love the steering on the ’06. It’s almost a case of just thinking about it and it tips in nice and quickly. I would love to have the ’08 doing that on the track. After riding ijuschill's, it seems like it’s not a setup problem with my ’08 specifically, but that the ’08 model itself is heavier to steer.
The easiest way I can think to describe it, is the ’06 needs one quick and easy push on the bar to tip her in sweetly, while the ’08 needs much more force applied and is much, much slower to respond. Almost like it has to be bullied or forced into the turn, while the '06 just needs to be given the signal.
So, does anyone have ideas on how can I make the ’08 turn like an ’06 (and, no, I can’t get another ’06, or an ’09 for the track – I gotta work with the ’08)
