FT BSTRD |
10-25-2008 01:51 PM |
One of the things to also keep in mind is that there are specific tires designed for Buells. These OEM tires were designed lighter in order to reduce the unsprung weight and decrease the tendency to stand up under braking (per Erik Buell). The Diablo T was supposed to be lighter than the standard Diablo, etc. That was the lesson from the D208 which was, if I remember correctly, an off the rack tire. Other tires placed on the bike are not designed with unsprung weight in mind. I had the misfortune of strapping on a set of Tomahawks. The tires wrecked the handling. I felt the same about the Pirelli Stradas.
The D616 was specifically designed for Buell with both lightness and off road tread pattern in mind. It sucked, but that was the design spec'd specifically for Buell.
The Uly is on the same platform as the XT, SS, and STT with the longer swing arm and higher capacity frame/tank. It is less likely to stand up under trailbraking.
I'm not at all saying it doesn't happen, but I don't see it as the "holy crap this thing is a death trap" problem many make it out to be.
It's hard for a bike to stand up under braking with you have a 240lb + Gear gorilla hanging off to the inside of the turn. The longer suspension of the Uly actually makes trail braking trickier simply because of the amount of travel in the front forks. It's much more sensitive to front braking inputs. I tend to trail brake with the rear if needed.
The S, SS, and R models tend not to have the same dive and front fork issues under braking due to the shorter suspenders. I rode an 9R for about 150 miles while down in Suches. I didn't experience ANY of the standing up in turns under trail braking.
Again, I doubt that the little R could even THINK about standing up with a gorilla hanging off of it.
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