Weight transfer and paralever

Rapt · 06-13-2002, 10:52 AM

So I was having a discussion the other day about handling and weighting the front end...

I have found that with the S on the track you have to make sure to sit right forward and lean ell over the bars to get a positive feel from the front end.

This usually means that the front isn't quite weighted enough, and one solution besides seating position is to drop the front/raise the rear to encourage front end loading. We can't do this the "normal" way of shifting the fork tubes inthe triple clamp, then it occurred to me that raising the rear via a shorter paralever would also achieve this as well as steepening the steering angle.

Anyone have experiences/thoughts on this either for or against my theory???

Oilhead259 · 06-13-2002, 11:01 AM

Huuuuugnh??/?!?!? Whut the hail's a pairaleever?

Romain · 06-13-2002, 12:20 PM

hi,

a shorter paralever-arm does shift weight to the front.
in a german BMW mag, they tested the effect on a GS.
replacing the standard arm with a 15mm shorter one, shifted 3,5 kg of weight to the front wheel. handling was slightly improved, although the higher front load compensates the handling improvement. the downfall of the mod was, that in fast corners, there was a noticeable loss of grip at the rear end.

I see one more limitation on the S. the S is prone to produce stoppies. shifting more weight to the front will further more increase that tendancy for stoppies.

bye

fredman · 06-14-2002, 02:01 AM

Yes you are both right. I have a 19mm shorter arm, run the rear pre-load about8-10 clicks out from max to get the "feel" right, but don't have enough sag.I am getting a WP built to lenght & weight specs to rectify this. Don't know about the loss of grip in the rear-mine grips well.At the moment though,I have no rear tyre left in the middle, so using max acceleration on sides, and with stone-cold tyre, it gets a little 'squirmy'.It does quicken the steering quite a bit,and I dropped the front about 5mm to settle it down a bit.Handling has improved to the extent that the stock arm will not go back on (unless I sell it.)powering on (harshly) in tight bends is actually turning the rear faster too.Puts a grin on yer face every time you ride it!

Len · 06-14-2002, 03:25 AM

Perhaps because of the 'funny' front end the feel is not the same as you would get from forks. But that does not mean it is not correcly weighted or not working well. More a case of persepsion than reality?

If you look at the standard shock at the front, its not the most high tech around. But the front end works well. So the message to me is that one the front is a very good setup and it could be better with an upgrade in shock.

Rapt · 06-14-2002, 05:43 AM

I'm pretty sure this isn't a case of forks vs telelever front feel. At least for me, since I have ridden the S long enough (and had before I took it to the track) to think that forked bikes feel "funny".

I definitely get better feedback and handling (runs less wide on throttle out of corners) with more weight on the front. This is a good thing since pushing out of a corner is NOT my idea of fun.

Nitro · Nitro's Garage

First time I've test-ridden the S I went "WTF!". The front end just felt different. I could not tell if it felt better or worse, just different. But then again I did not push that demo. Now after 6000 HARD miles I could not go back to conventional forks. I rode a track ready RC51 last year at Sears right before I moved to NY. Well, I could not dial in the front end. When I used a lot of preload to avoid squatting during max breaking the bike became very nervous while turning and over small bumps. The forks had also been revalved, resprung, and respaced and the rear had been fitted an Olhins. I would love to see a light, nimble race bike with a telelever! All the bikes I've owned needed suspension work. My S light is right on out the box. Those Germans dudes build bikes, and cars, to be driven, period.

Cool

JF · 06-14-2002, 09:06 AM

I'm with you Rapt,
If I pick up the pace on curvey roads I always find myself pushing myself up and over the front of the bike and I have the shorter para-arm. I'd love to have an adjustable ride height rear shock as well as one for the front if that were possible. But I have noticed a tendency for the rear to want to come around on ya if your really leaned over...I guess I was just too meat-fisted with the gas those couple of times. I'm not with the majority though, when the pace picks up, I much prefer the feel of conventional front suspension. The two best feeling bikes I've ever ridden on where a 748 and an Aprilia RS250. Those front ends never felt distant.

lennie · 06-16-2002, 12:45 AM

Rapt,

Pull your front shock out and slice as much of the bottom rubber off through the horizontal as you can. Refit the shock and put the rubber washer that you cut off on top and bolt it back up.

This will lower the front a little and help the attitude of the bike. I have had mine this way with a shimmed rear shock (extra static length) and the GS arm as well for 2 years now.

I find that on the track I tend to keep as far forward on the bike as I can to weight the front end and get good feedback with this setup.

roger albert · 06-18-2002, 08:33 PM

That all sounds good to me too Rapt.

Lennie, how did you shim the rear shock, and where?

thanks
roger