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Junior Member
Handling woes...
2007 XB12R with 10k miles. Handling is funky. It is not comfortable cornering. It is not locked in. Seems to want to stand up in corners. Small irregularities in the road really upset it during turns. Going around a turn from a stop at lower speeds one handed and trying to flip down my visor the bike starts to oscillate and I have to grab the bar with my other hand. Tires are not worn much but are older (mechanic believes 2011) Pirelli. I adjusted the suspension to my weight according to the manual.
Anything special I should look at? Head bearings? Swingarm? Wheel bearings? Tires?
Thanks for any help or advice.
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Senior Member
Well I was start with the tires, if there that old it's not worth the risk anyways. As far as the cornering goes if the bike feels heavy it could be a tire pressure issue? I'm sure others will guide you... Good luck and ride safe... With new rubber.
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First off 86 those Pirelli's......2011. You're asking for trouble right there from jump street! Buells will want to stand up in corners if you grab some front brakes, you will figure out how to deal with it. Short wheelbase handles amazing but BE COMMITTED! Short wheelbase bikes do not take to kindly to mid corner corrections! Take it easy and take baby steps, these machines are different animals than the proverbial I4 jap bike, don't chop at the throttle on these things, roll into everything on the throttle, hold your line and carry good corner speed and you will be fine. You will fall in love with it sooner or later....lol
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Senior Member
Listen to Wally^^^^^ aka wicked. You need new rubber on that bike for sure.
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Thanks Rich....hopefully this won't turn into a tire war thread. I run Q3's and totally agree w Dave. I also have a personal vendetta against Pirelli. There are a boatload of good skins out there. Q3's, PP3's, some of the BATTLAX line for sure. I wouldn't even ride that machine w 6yr old hides on it, plywood would probably grip better. Shinko honestly makes a hell of a good tire on the cheap. I truly believe your problems lie within your tire situation right now though. Get some new skins and report back.
Last edited by wickedchop; 11-23-2016 at 11:32 PM.
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Senior Member
I agree with the tires, even though I am running the originals (2009) while I break mine in. New tires on my S3T corrected exactly what you are experiencing (the S3T had the original tires on it as well when I bought it).
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Junior Member
Assuming your tyres and suspension are all good. Firebolts are set up to radically in the front end, if you drop your forks through the clamps it will slow the steering and gives a lot more stability mid corner.
These bikes come with ball roller steering head bearings which flog out fairly quickly. Install a set of tapered needle bearings and that should stop the oscillations.
Last edited by buelllord; 11-24-2016 at 02:29 AM.
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Senior Member
Tyres, tires......yes, tyres. Spend the money on new rubber before an accident causes a bigger problem.
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Senior Member
I agree with buellord. Install a set of tapered needle bearings and that should stop the oscillations
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Banned
If the tires are in good condition and inflated properly the new set of tires won't fix the issue. Put the motorcycle on the jack under the muffler and measure steering head resistance force. Make sure the throttle cables, the clutch cables and the wiring harness are not binding anything and do no interfere with another parts when you are turning the steering head. Follow STEERING HEAD BEARING INSPECTION in the service manual. You have to perform steering head bearings check every 5000 miles.
Last edited by TPEHAK; 11-24-2016 at 03:42 AM.
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