Same but Different

[tricky]

Just had quick ride on my brothers SV, 02 naked curvy same as mine (I had mine first), was suprised at how different the two bikes felt.

His bike has done 12000 miles and has not been particulaly well looked after by its previous owners. My bike has done 8000 miles (3500 last year) and was hardly used by its previous owner (4500 miles in 3 years).

Bro's bike has stock Metzelers on it whereas mine has Conti Road Attacks, subsequently my bike seems to steer a little quicker and is more eager to tip into the turns. The engine on brothers bike seems more willing and smoother than mine also throtlle is lot less snatchy. The gearchange on mine is a lot crisper though.

Ians bike dives less under heavy braking, though I know he has recently overhauled his forks and put some heavier oil in.

Suprising what difference a few miles and a set of tytres makes !

[rictus01]

carb balancing ? cleaness of air filter, greasing of gear linkage (oil level as well), adjustment of cables (& lubing), "sag" and preload setup, will all make a difference to the feel, even tyre pressures.

it's not hard to change the feel of the bike, thats why the dealer service makes the bike feel different, they put everything back to factory and lube it, most of us have our bikes set as we want, so aren't factory anymore, also we sort of get used to the gradual feel of the bike coming out of adjustment, so only notice when it's suddenly put all the way back.

Of course their's the life the engine has lead, some rev freely, some are more restrained, as are others just plain knackered :shock:

Cheers Mark

[Sid Squid]

The engine on brothers bike seems more willing.

If both bikes are standard, then the naked has slightly lower gearing, this makes a surprising difference to the way the two bikes feel.