Stability on bikes with 21" front tire
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Stability on bikes with 21" front tire
Are your bikes with the 21" front tire stable on the hiway?
The reason I ask is that my Night Train does not seem as stable as it should be. In NASCAR they talk about a "tight" condition where the car does not want to turn, as i'm at higher speeds and lean into a turn, the bike seems to want to keep going straight, sometimes forcing me to slow while in the turn. I'm talking about regular hiway speeds of 60-70.
The last bike I had, had a much wider front tire and I had no problems. I'm going to replace the front tire, due to another issue, and go with a Metz hopeing this will help.
Anyone else had this?
The reason I ask is that my Night Train does not seem as stable as it should be. In NASCAR they talk about a "tight" condition where the car does not want to turn, as i'm at higher speeds and lean into a turn, the bike seems to want to keep going straight, sometimes forcing me to slow while in the turn. I'm talking about regular hiway speeds of 60-70.
The last bike I had, had a much wider front tire and I had no problems. I'm going to replace the front tire, due to another issue, and go with a Metz hopeing this will help.
Anyone else had this?
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RE: Stability on bikes with 21" front tire
Hi Monkeyman
I have a 06 Night Train. Only twice have I had stability issues. First was low front tire pressure - The narrow 21 inchers lose pressure quickly and you don't need to lose much to affect stability. The Second was highway riding with buffering cross winds - got a litte twitchy above 120k (about 80mph). A Fork Brace fixed that. So far no other issues. Problem could also be loss of a wheel weight or a faulty tire.
Just my thoughts.
I have a 06 Night Train. Only twice have I had stability issues. First was low front tire pressure - The narrow 21 inchers lose pressure quickly and you don't need to lose much to affect stability. The Second was highway riding with buffering cross winds - got a litte twitchy above 120k (about 80mph). A Fork Brace fixed that. So far no other issues. Problem could also be loss of a wheel weight or a faulty tire.
Just my thoughts.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 625
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From:
RE: Stability on bikes with 21" front tire
ORIGINAL: monkyman
Are your bikes with the 21" front tire stable on the hiway?
The reason I ask is that my Night Train does not seem as stable as it should be. In NASCAR they talk about a "tight" condition where the car does not want to turn, as i'm at higher speeds and lean into a turn, the bike seems to want to keep going straight, sometimes forcing me to slow while in the turn. I'm talking about regular hiway speeds of 60-70.
The last bike I had, had a much wider front tire and I had no problems. I'm going to replace the front tire, due to another issue, and go with a Metz hopeing this will help.
Anyone else had this?
Are your bikes with the 21" front tire stable on the hiway?
The reason I ask is that my Night Train does not seem as stable as it should be. In NASCAR they talk about a "tight" condition where the car does not want to turn, as i'm at higher speeds and lean into a turn, the bike seems to want to keep going straight, sometimes forcing me to slow while in the turn. I'm talking about regular hiway speeds of 60-70.
The last bike I had, had a much wider front tire and I had no problems. I'm going to replace the front tire, due to another issue, and go with a Metz hopeing this will help.
Anyone else had this?
I agree low tire pressure and another thing I noticed I was subconciously sketched out about haveing A thinner tire up front and was scared to push it through a tight corner but found out it gos through corners like a breeze.If you are a newerrider counter streering is A beautifull thing, it took me a little while to figure it out . Youprobly already fig. that out . Not to mention my front rim is 3/4 of an inch offset!
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Between Chicago & Milwaukee
RE: Stability on bikes with 21" front tire
ORIGINAL: monkyman
Are your bikes with the 21" front tire stable on the hiway?
The reason I ask is that my Night Train does not seem as stable as it should be. In NASCAR they talk about a "tight" condition where the car does not want to turn, as i'm at higher speeds and lean into a turn, the bike seems to want to keep going straight, sometimes forcing me to slow while in the turn. I'm talking about regular hiway speeds of 60-70.
The last bike I had, had a much wider front tire and I had no problems. I'm going to replace the front tire, due to another issue, and go with a Metz hopeing this will help.
Anyone else had this?
Are your bikes with the 21" front tire stable on the hiway?
The reason I ask is that my Night Train does not seem as stable as it should be. In NASCAR they talk about a "tight" condition where the car does not want to turn, as i'm at higher speeds and lean into a turn, the bike seems to want to keep going straight, sometimes forcing me to slow while in the turn. I'm talking about regular hiway speeds of 60-70.
The last bike I had, had a much wider front tire and I had no problems. I'm going to replace the front tire, due to another issue, and go with a Metz hopeing this will help.
Anyone else had this?
I've experienced the same turning characteristics you've described at higher speeds and I noticed that the bikecorners easier when I shift my body to put more pressure into making the rear of the bike lean.The width of the 200mm tire changes the bikes handling in curves,it takes more effort.
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
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From: Rochester, NY
RE: Stability on bikes with 21" front tire
I think T 3 has it right. The earlier Softails and Wideglides with the 21" front tires had smaller, narrower rear tires and they were a bit easier/quicker to get to lean over at speed. One other thing that might have it "seem" harder is that the Softails and Wideglide's are longer, they have a greater rake in the front steering head, (32deg for a Softail vs. 29deg for a Dyna, and 34deg for the Wideglide).
TheSoftailsare also carrying about 40lbs more empty weight than nearly all of the Dyna's. We would even bother mentioning the Sportsters.
One thing more that hasn't been mentioned is that the Softails are lower and even a inch or too means a lot when your talking about the leverage your body mass can exert when you lean your weight over to turn or even shift lanes. Compared to a Buell or other"twisty" types of bike they are practically dragging their butts.
TheSoftailsare also carrying about 40lbs more empty weight than nearly all of the Dyna's. We would even bother mentioning the Sportsters.
One thing more that hasn't been mentioned is that the Softails are lower and even a inch or too means a lot when your talking about the leverage your body mass can exert when you lean your weight over to turn or even shift lanes. Compared to a Buell or other"twisty" types of bike they are practically dragging their butts.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 625
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From:
RE: Stability on bikes with 21" front tire
ORIGINAL: T 3
Ok....but have you ever had a bike with a 200mm rear tire like the Night Train's ? The gyroscopic effect increases with speed and the bike wants to go straight and upright,add the fat rear tire and it's even more difficult to lean into a turn.
I've experienced the same turning characteristics you've described at higher speeds and I noticed that the bikecorners easier when I shift my body to put more pressure into making the rear of the bike lean.The width of the 200mm tire changes the bikes handling in curves,it takes more effort.
ORIGINAL: monkyman
Are your bikes with the 21" front tire stable on the hiway?
The reason I ask is that my Night Train does not seem as stable as it should be. In NASCAR they talk about a "tight" condition where the car does not want to turn, as i'm at higher speeds and lean into a turn, the bike seems to want to keep going straight, sometimes forcing me to slow while in the turn. I'm talking about regular hiway speeds of 60-70.
The last bike I had, had a much wider front tire and I had no problems. I'm going to replace the front tire, due to another issue, and go with a Metz hopeing this will help.
Anyone else had this?
Are your bikes with the 21" front tire stable on the hiway?
The reason I ask is that my Night Train does not seem as stable as it should be. In NASCAR they talk about a "tight" condition where the car does not want to turn, as i'm at higher speeds and lean into a turn, the bike seems to want to keep going straight, sometimes forcing me to slow while in the turn. I'm talking about regular hiway speeds of 60-70.
The last bike I had, had a much wider front tire and I had no problems. I'm going to replace the front tire, due to another issue, and go with a Metz hopeing this will help.
Anyone else had this?
I've experienced the same turning characteristics you've described at higher speeds and I noticed that the bikecorners easier when I shift my body to put more pressure into making the rear of the bike lean.The width of the 200mm tire changes the bikes handling in curves,it takes more effort.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
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RE: Stability on bikes with 21" front tire
I don't like my 21" front wheel and I'm in process of switching it out to a 16". I have a 200 on the rear. I ride on some freeways in Northern California that are horrible for a skinny tire. Some of the roads are rutted out that catch the tire and it's worse with wind gusts ( I580 is the worst going over the Altamont). Changing my tire pressure hasn't done much for me, so I'm interested to see how the 16" will ride.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Nor-Cal
RE: Stability on bikes with 21" front tire
All softails tend to push in high speed corners.If you want to be technical there heavy bricks when it comes to cornering.That 200 rear tire just adds to the problem.With these bike they do tend to require much more rider input to initiate turns and yes centrifical force is a key factor.Check tire pressure regularly and just remember be safe and respect YOUR limits.