Added Power steering to the bike!

[baylensman]

Not really but I must say that the new tire makes a world of difference! Stepped from the 150 to 130. When I first rolled the bike down the carport to the street, the front end was so light I though I was still up on the jack. Low speed handling is very light, don't get me wrong there is still feed back, but the bike reacts quicker to inputs. A few people have said it makes the bike squarely, not so! It does "DIVE" into corners quicker, or in other words comes of center easier, but holding a given radius of turn or lean angle is almost a one finger job now. I'm a big guy so I really have to dial down the pressure i've been using for the past 10 years. The bike is very Flickable also now. This morning a turn that i usually take at speed from the inside right lane to the outside left lane when making a right, I did this morning from inside to inside lane at the same speed! The U turn I have to make to get to my office from the hi way I usually take up all three lanes, now i do it in two. I hope the learning curve is quick because the steering sure is!

 

I do have the leveling links also raising the back of the bike. I run 54 lbs in the rear shock ( I'm 285) and 6-7 lbs in the fronts. Still running factory rear shock and front springs ( front oil is next on the big list)

 

In summation, Have to echo what others have said about using the smaller aspect ratio tire on the front!

 

FYI I installed the Shinko 777HD front with the highest load rating bike bandit (74) had in stock. As a bonus the 130 series tires are Arimid (In 1973 DuPont was the first company to introduce a para-aramid fiber called Kevlar to the market) belted versus nylon belted on the 150 series.

[ragtop69gs]

Yep, that 130 does make a big difference. I don't have leveling links, I slid the forks up in the triple tree, rebuilt the forks using 15wt oil and sonic 1.2 springs. Handles way better now.

 

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[cecdoo]

When I tried the 130 it just seemed too light at highway speeds 70mph. Didnt want to hold a line. It was alot nicer at slow speed handling tho. I went back to 150 since I spend alot more time at 60-70 mph then I do in a parking lot. Alot of different opinions on 130/150 glad your enjoying the switch. At 6'7" 285 you could probably plant your feet pick bike straight up by bars and spin a 180 in one lane:thumbsup2:

 

Craig

[baylensman]

When I tried the 130 it just seemed too light at highway speeds 70mph. Didnt want to hold a line. It was alot nicer at slow speed handling tho. I went back to 150 since I spend alot more time at 60-70 mph then I do in a parking lot. Alot of different opinions on 130/150 glad your enjoying the switch. At 6'7" 285 you could probably plant your feet pick bike straight up by bars and spin a 180 in one lane:thumbsup2:

 

Craig

i'm not 6'7" i run 6 to 7 pounds of air in the front shocks;)

 

i'll try the speed run later today on the way home. only hit about 75 on the way in at 5:30 am.

[djh3]

I ran the 130 for 15k and never felt like it was unstable. When I did have to change tires I went back to the 150 up front, and dang near crashed the bike on the first couple traffic circles leaving my subdivision. Man that thing felt like it had 90w in the steering head.

The shock oil I went up one weight from OEM and it would let me go down a couple pounds on the fork air pressure and not bottom out. Its a pretty simple job on the RSV. Not so much as I read up on the Victory.

[baylensman]

So i ran the slab to get a speed run in. The bike is stable up to just under 100 MPH. where i backed off. Bike accepts inputs readily at speed. I found it very easy to hold almost any angle in a turn, the biggest difference is the "FEEL" of the weight of the front end.

[videoarizona]

Good to hear !

 

Let me add that, I think part of that power steering feel is coming from the 777 tire itself. I put the 777HD's on my 05 RSV 3 weeks ago (stock sizes) and have about 400 miles on them. The tires really do help with the handling. My RSV feels like a completely different scoot. Steering into turns and holding the line is no longer a struggle. We shall see if this continues to hold true as the tires age. For now, they are the best tires I've ridden on. Tar strips and irregular road ridges are a thing of the past. I no longer cringe when I see them coming. I'm re-learning my steering/ handling techniques and smiling a lot more. Gotta keep reminding myself that the Shinko motorcycle tire technology came from Yokohama racing experiences. Shinko has done a great job continuing the tradition, IMHO.

 

P.S. The 230 Tourmasters I put on the 89 VR are still holding true to great handling and a sticky soft ride.

 

Note to self: Those Pirelli Routes were not the right tires for the RSV! Nope. Nada.

[VentureFar]

I used to get tired in the twisters from all the arm work. Did the leveling links and that lightens up the bike about 50 percent IMHO and then about a month later went to the 130 and that did like you said “added power steering”.

I did notice that I couldn’t ride hands off as long with the 130 and in severe cross winds the bike moves around more. But the light steering makes a huge positive change.

VentureFar...

 

 

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