Greatly improved handling

[Rolltide]

Finished my winter maintenance and mods about six weeks ago and love the handling. In '13 I changed levelling links and noticed some improvement in handling with them alone. This year I was due for a new front tire and loved the Michelin Commander II that was installed late previous season on the rear, and decided to go with the Michelin Commander II 130/90 16. This is after multiple sets of Metzlers front and rear. I also installed the 1.5" risers found at Dennis Kirk, and changed the front fork oil to a 85% 15w, 15% 10w for a best guess 12/13w synthetic fork oil blend. The pulling when starting out, the low speed handling issues, and the heavy breaking nose dive, all have gone away. The bike is easier to push backward when seated also and it feels 150# lighter over all. I highly recommend this set up and think this should be how it comes new/stock.

[Rick Haywood]

I put the 130 on the front of mine and did like how it changed the handling of the bike at slow speeds. But I ride 2 up most the time and we travel for 3-4 days many times with gear and also pull a trailer and I did not like how the bike felt and rode at higher speeds. Wish maybe they made a 140 so I could split the difference LOL

[friesman]

I put the 130 on the front of mine and did like how it changed the handling of the bike at slow speeds. But I ride 2 up most the time and we travel for 3-4 days many times with gear and also pull a trailer and I did not like how the bike felt and rode at higher speeds. Wish maybe they made a 140 so I could split the difference LOL

 

Rick, mine felt a bit squirrely when I was carrying a passenger the first time. I played with air pressure in the back shock and in the forks and found if I kept the back shock pretty high in air pressure and bumped up the front a bit, the bike handles great now with a passenger. When I don't have a passenger I drop the air pressure down so it gives a smoother ride. To me the tire performance is worth the little bit of fiddling with air, its so improved over what it was before.

 

Brian

[Rolltide]

I ride mostly one up w/ 19 psi in rear and 0 front, and I agree with the slight squirrely feel especially when tire was brand new. I allowed for the break in period and adjusted air to 39 front and 40 rear. I have not rode two up yet but expect a large improvement over stock set up.