Thanks Champ.

The suspension advice worked well. Bike now stops progressively when
hard on the brakes with no swinging about from the rear. It's also
easier to flick through S bends and the front isn't as flappy on hard
acceleration. I didn't have to adjust very much either, I just did
little adjustments and then rode back down the same road at the same
speed and compared it to what it felt like previously. Half an hour and
it was sorted.

 

Champ says...

I went one ring up on the front preload, one notch up on rear preload, I
backed the rear rebound off by 4 clicks but left the rear compression
alone. I then went up 3 clicks on front compression and went to max
rebound on the front. I know the front rebound seems extreme, but I was
still getting a bit of flightiness from the front while putting power
down while still banked over and when accelerating hard over undulating
surfaces. I tried the compression damping but that made it worse when I
went up or down, so I started on the rebound and found that improved it.
So I just added more clicks til it went away. All these adjustments were
done one thig at a time and over a mile or so's testing on a swoopy
road. After that I went for a 30 mile hoon over the back roads and was
pleased with the result. Everything about the handling feels better now.

I'm fairly sure, now I've had time to think about it, that the front
flightiness was caused by the rear squatting too quickly, so I may back
off the front rebound and start adjusting the rear compression up to see
if that makes any difference. My only worry then is that the rear won't
squat much at all and give the tyre a hard time causing it to possibly
lose grip. It's a suck it and see job. I'm told that when the 207RRs do
eventually lose grip, they do so in spectacular style and if they let
go, then they've gone for ever.

 

Andy Bonwick says...

Thanks for that.

 

I've been going around in circles today trying to decide what tyres to put
on the Gixxer this week.
F-Rennsport RS1 / R-RS2
Diablo Corsa
BT012SS
Pilot Race S2
D207RR
D208GP
Azaro Pro.......
**** I just don't know. Trackday tyre that is excellent in the wet and warms
up fast for road. Bit of a contradiction in terms.

The 207RR probably cuts the mustard on wet/dry road but overheat on track,
know nothing about the D208. I know the 012SS and Rennsport are the dogs for
Road Racing but no idea about wet performance of the Bridgestone.

Multiple sets of wheels is the only right option probly.

 

'Hog says...

I've got BT012SS's on the CBR and they're fine in the wet. I'm not wet
weather[1] riding god mind.

[1] Or dry weather even.

 

Thanks Guys. Oh it was all so much easier with Bear around.

 

Just came back from "Harry's Tyres" in Belfast who knows his apples and he
convinced me 2 sets of wheels are the only answer. The info on compound
materials in track biased tyres like the RS1/2 sold me. For road he has sold
a pair of Bridgestone's new BT014, a supposedly improved and softer 010. It
looks nice anyway, particularly the front, just need to get some purple
engine bolts now....

He reckons that continuing to use my 010's on the track after they blued
from edge to edge (F&R) would have resulted in my particular downfall. It
marks a compound change brought on from overheating (apparently), a function
of abuse and pressure choice. I was running 32psi IIRC.

 

'Hog says...

Is this right. I used to blue the 020s on the 2 previous ZZR11s quite
frequently and never had a slide that wasn't caused by underinflated
tyres.

 

Hmm I dunno but it seems obvious that some chemical change has happened to
the rubber.
They were a bit blued on the previous set an hour before and appeared to be
gripping pretty well before letting go. Wouldn't mind an absolute answer to
this myself. It's easy for a tyre store to say "always change them".

 

Suzuki recommend 33/36 for my SV650. I run it 31/34, this is with BT
010s.

 

Why would you want them lower than recommended?

 

Dr Ivan D. Reid says...

IIRC 36/42 is the standard pressure for 010's on the road but Hog was
referring to tyre pressures on the track which is a whole different
kettle of mixed metaphors.

 

Last two track days I've done the "tyre guy" took mine to around 30/32.

 

Yeah I was following the advice of the RR fraternity. I may have already
fucked the tyre carcass running it at road pressure on the track.

 

My mechanic[1] recommended the lower pressures. They also run a track
school and have some experience in tires/pressure.

[1] Hare Racing <www.hareracing.com>

 

But just for track use, yes? You seemed to imply you kept them at the
lower pressure full time.

 

Well, no. I run them low all the time. I see no abnormal tire wear and
it sticks like glue to the road.