What does Handling mean?

It just 'feels' right. I'm no expert at all, but I know when something feels wrong.

Hmm.. handling.... No it's not how fast it will go arouind a track! A 125 can have good handling where a bigger (read faster) bike may not but the bigger bike will beat it round a track.

I would look at handling as the way the bike goes, stops and 'changes' direction whilst being stable in the process.

OK tyres do make a difference yes, and so does suspension along with frame geometry and all that. So does the way that the engine delivers power. Try and think which handles better, a Challenger tank or a Lotus Exige.

From my point of view having owned the following:
-GSXR1000 K6 v Bandit 1250 GT. The GSXR wins the handling hands down because it accelerates quicker, stops better, and can change direction quicker whilst feeling more stable at the same time, more confidence inspiring if you like. However on the road, the Bandit is all day comfortable, can carry stuff and to be honenst will keep up with most well riddden stuff 90% of the time. But the bottom line is the gixer is the better handling bike, the Bandit is a compromise.

Now compare the GSXR1000 K6 to a Yamaha MT-03 (660 singe to those who are unfamiliar)
On the fast sweepers, the gixer leaves the MT for dead, chuck in some tighter twisties and the MT will be back in the challenge with a vengance. From my experience, on the tight stuff the MT will keep the gixer honest, on the faster stuff, no contest. Gixer gets the crown.

Oddly to get the best out of the gixer, the road is not the place, thats why I sold mine. It's just too dam easy to go faster than you should and feel completely safe but maybe not in the eyes of the law. My Bandit requires more planning and rider effort to go hooning which for me anyway gives me just a tad more saticefaction. For loony stuff on the tighter twisties, and commuting the MT for me anyway is way more fun than both.

[ogden]

If you don't understand what handling is, or how one bike can handle better than another, you need a go on my RGV to compare it with the 600s.

A bike that handles well will do what you want to do without you even needing to think about the input. It'll be compliant, it won't fight back, it'll ignore your mistakes. It'll do everything it can to eliminate the influence of the road surface and it'll absorb side-effects of the engine output. This isn't all down to tyres - ride a bike with perfect tyres and a knackered shock and you'll see that straight away.

First time I went for a quick ride on my old SV it tried to kill me as I went over a hump near Didcot. Front went light, bars started to flap. My old Bandit 1200 felt like it had a hinge in the middle of the frame. Switchback bends were a nightmare - by the time you were in the second bend, the bike had just about worked out you were trying to go round the first. Stonking engine, handled like a drunken pig.

The big weak point on the SV is the suspension, which you've replaced. So now you have two light, well-behaved bikes. Try something different. On which note I seem to have come full circle. My RGV makes my GSXR feel like an oil tanker.

one word confidence




going from sv1000s to gsxr600 i feel like i have bucket loads of confidence and my riding style aint changed.

Originally Posted by ogden

. My RGV makes my GSXR feel like an oil tanker.

Mmmm,rgv....used to own a black'n'silver one......fantastic bikes that just can't/won't be beaten on the country twisties.

Originally Posted by sv-robo

Mmmm,rgv....used to own a black'n'silver one......fantastic bikes that just can't/won't be beaten on the country twisties.

providing ur engine works.

Originally Posted by Stu

I did notice and appreciate the legendary front end of a ZX7R though

what year? early one had a really hard back end, but as you say, the front was amazing. Takes no effort at all to get them round bends, its almost like they read your mind and do the corner for you.

To me, thats good handling. Where as something like a knackered old GS500 you have to wrestle round corners

[STRAMASHER]

I remember James May saying , "A gentleman shouldn't discuss handling."

Bikes are all about the engine so I have two with "bad handling" with great engines. SV650 with two pogo sticks for forks so I can't use the brakes and a GSX1400 where every corner is a challenge and each of which requires a day of planning before turning in.

Both are fugging hilarious to ride.

[ogden]

Originally Posted by jamesrichardson

what year? early one had a really hard back end, but as you say, the front was amazing. Takes no effort at all to get them round bends, its almost like they read your mind and do the corner for you.

Doesn't really matter what year - other than the paint and graphics there was no difference between any of the ZX750Ps. The legendarily hard back end was on the ZXR750, precursor to the ZX7R (ZX750P). The H and J model 400s were afflicted in the same way, though the L was far more supple.

I'd disagree about the 7R being no effort at all to get round bends too. They were heavy old barges - 200-odd kilos dry - and took a bit of hustling. I wouldn't say they'd do the corner for you but they were certainly well behaved once tipped in.

Originally Posted by ogden

Doesn't really matter what year - other than the paint and graphics there was no difference between any of the ZX750Ps. The legendarily hard back end was on the ZXR750, precursor to the ZX7R (ZX750P). The H and J model 400s were afflicted in the same way, though the L was far more supple.

I'd disagree about the 7R being no effort at all to get round bends too. They were heavy old barges - 200-odd kilos dry - and took a bit of hustling. I wouldn't say they'd do the corner for you but they were certainly well behaved once tipped in.

Yeah I have a zxr750J1, thats what i was talking about in the bends