Strange handling - help needed!

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by mattyL

I think you are spot-on Rictus - it really does feel a bit like a 'sports-chopper' at the moment, like the bars are a bit too high, so I suspect its sagging nicely, that is exactly what it feels like. Might be time to treat myself to a Hagon . Is it worth paying out for a hagon or should I get a GSXR/Ninja shock on the cheap? Is it worth the extra hassle of cutting the battery box?

To be honest a purpose made shock will always be better, although having said that, I used three resprung Gsxr ones on mine and 4 with just a shed load of preload on, the SV is never going to be the best handling thing on the road, so a good replacement is possibly a bit of a waste, oil & springs for the front and a low mileage Gsxr/Zx for the rear should be fine.

One word of caution on the tyre front, the Avons are great tyres, but owing to the variable sidewall banding the greater the pressure the less the flex, so be aware they will give less warning on the limit, so if you're going that route, feel them out gently and don't rely on what they did before.

Cheers Mark.

[Luckypants]

FWIW I got a brand new ZX10R shock off eBlag for £80 delivered. It had come off a bike to be raced. Will fit it next weekend.

If you really want to save money, the shock on my bike has only 5k miles on it Most of that two up, so worked hard for it.

Think I'll give the used SV shock a miss, tempting as it is - thanks for the offer though, so generous .

Let me know how you get on with the ZX-10R shock, sounds like you got a bargain! Will it lift the rear end a little? I wouldnt mind having a little bit more ride-height, not too much though, I aint the tallest of guys! What rear shocks should i be looking for on ebay then - all recent GSXR/ZXRs ? I'm liking the idea of paying £50-80 for a new shock rather than the £250 of a hagon .

[Luckypants]

I went for the ZX10R shock as it is stiffer than stock spring and I take a pillion a lot (plus I eat pies....). It is about 2mm longer than stock, so no effect on ride height.

If you want ride height, get some shorter dogbones - £14 on eBay.

[northwind]

Nothing to add on the handling, just curious about the new Avons- what did you have on before to compare them to?

I have owned a 1999 SV before this one and I so I have been through a few different tyres in my time!

BT-020s - I loved them in the summer, amazing grip, but in winter/heavy rain they took about 20 miles to warm up and I was almost at work by then! Also, a mate of mine slid off at low speed on these in cold weather, I never liked the feeling of them in winter so I wouldnt go with these again.

D207s - crap!

Michelin Macadam 100 - even crapper, worst tyre I have ever used, felt like I was gonna crash every ride

Avon Viper Supersport - Superb tyre, only used them in summer, so no idea what they like in winter. Amazing grip but only lasted around 3000 miles so too expensive for my budget, superb if you only go for weekend blasts though.

The Avon Azaro STs are probably the best all-round tyre I have ever had - when its raining I trust them, they seem to warm up very quickly, feel very good in the twisties and when its dry they perform just as well and gives me loads of confidence. For the money they are really excellent - I'll certainly be having the same tyres again when its time to replace.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by mattyL

The Avon Azaro STs are probably the best all-round tyre I have ever had - when its raining I trust them, they seem to warm up very quickly, feel very good in the twisties and when its dry they perform just as well and gives me loads of confidence. For the money they are really excellent - I'll certainly be having the same tyres again when its time to replace.

I take it you mean the Avon Storm STs (AV55 / AV56) that you have on now by this?
The ones that rear look like this

not the Avon Azaro ST (AV45 / AV46) that look like this

oops yes you are right

Its the Storm STs that I have on at the mo. My bad

Originally Posted by hovi5

try 36- 42 ?

Way too high Hovi5, I'm on Azaro's and use 34/36, that high and you will be taking too much rubber off the road.

Ignore this probably got it wrong

[Kylie]

Don't think you can get the Azaro STs anymore, or at least I just got my rear replaced under their "replaced free if punctured" scheme and thats what my tire man said so I got a new Storm ST instead.
I only got the Azaros in November so I didn't use much in the dry, I had come from RoadAttacks and I didn't like the Azaro much, felt way slippier, I had the rear spinning up and skidding which the Contis never did. But the Storm seems to be a lot more re-assuring, be very pleased with it so far, but not thrashed it as only been wet riding this month