Low speed handling quirk

The sexy K1200R!

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riceburner
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Low speed handling quirk

Post by riceburner »

Has anyone else had an issue with low speed ( <20mph) handling with the K1200R??

Ours seems to have developed a tendency to "castor" slightly at very low speeds and it's rather disconcerting. The bike feels like it can't decide which way it wants to fall over all the time. :( We initially thought it was a worn D220, but replacing with a new one has not seen the problem disappear, only diminish. We stuck with the D220 because up until now it's been no trouble at all and Mitzi prefers to keep the tyres paired.

Has anyone else experienced this instability at low speeds???
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MikeCam
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Post by MikeCam »

On both the K1200RS and on this K1200R the heavy weight bias toward the front can cause a low speed 'wandering' of the front wheel as it responds to every input from road contact and irregularities with a 'feel' directed back to the rider. There is also the possibility that rider inputs at the bar are translated very directly down and back as a wandering feeling.

Higher air pressures, higher speeds, and looser grips all remove the feeling.

Generally, I don't think it's a problem as much as it is disconcerting.

However, on some bikes the wandering at low speed can indicate a misadjustment of the triple tree. I do not know how the duolever would be factored into this.

HTH

INSTANT ADDENDUM

If the tire was off recently, did the technician recenter the wheel/axle/forks properly?
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riceburner
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Post by riceburner »

MikeCam wrote:On both the K1200RS and on this K1200R the heavy weight bias toward the front can cause a low speed 'wandering' of the front wheel as it responds to every input from road contact and irregularities with a 'feel' directed back to the rider. There is also the possibility that rider inputs at the bar are translated very directly down and back as a wandering feeling.

Higher air pressures, higher speeds, and looser grips all remove the feeling.

Generally, I don't think it's a problem as much as it is disconcerting.

However, on some bikes the wandering at low speed can indicate a misadjustment of the triple tree. I do not know how the duolever would be factored into this.

HTH

INSTANT ADDENDUM

If the tire was off recently, did the technician recenter the wheel/axle/forks properly?
Cheers for the reply Mike. The problem was definitely WORSE on the old tyre.

Mitzi hasn't ridden the bike since, so it's just my (ill-educated) sensations we're going on at present.
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DJ Downunder
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Post by DJ Downunder »

I only rode one for a few days but it felt long..and seemed to want to fall over in turns more than my Roadster...but I'm sure it's something that you'd get used to.

I'm not sure if that's what you're talking about...I'm just putting in my two cents worth.. :D

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Post by MikeCam »

The D220 has that double vertical (concentric?) tread pattern down the middle. Those can try to track the bike more than other patterns do. As it aged, I wonder if it also had some cupping (as the Bridgestone BT020 does)?

Just guessing?
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riceburner
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Post by riceburner »

MikeCam wrote:The D220 has that double vertical (concentric?) tread pattern down the middle. Those can try to track the bike more than other patterns do. As it aged, I wonder if it also had some cupping (as the Bridgestone BT020 does)?

Just guessing?
Could well be. The new D220 front only has one central track in the tread.
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Re: Low speed handling quirk

Post by riceburner »

Interesting - I'd forgotten I found the K12 did this....
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