Keeping my arse end on the ground

[racefactory]

Braking hard on my 06 ZX6R ( suspenders re gassed and oil changed by CKT) I am finding the rear is coming up too easily.

Just a hard ride around average surfaced country back roads under brakes and the back end is just flying in the air, even yawing around sideways on a corner entry. After a while I went to practice some emergency braking to see if I could improve things but no matter what posture, tank squeezing, weight distribution etc I used... I could not get even close to the front skidding/locking. This is something I have always been able to do on other bikes and told me I was at maximum braking ability of the tyres.

I want to know if there is something that can be done to give me more braking power should I need it in an emergency. The last thing I want to do is just fly over the handle bars into a car that's pulled out in front of me. It's assuring to know that I could lock the tyre should I want to.

ZXR250, VFR400 nc30 and other 90's sports bikes definitely stop quicker than this thing.

I am guessing a lot has to do with the CG since those 90s bikes are far lower (especially NC30s with the low V4 motor). Also those bikes dive a hell of a lot more. One thing is for sure- you have to put a hell of a lot of force into braking to have the rear lifting on those bikes and that's if you're front doesn't lock first!

Maybe there are some suspension adjustment techniques that could give more available braking power before the back wheel comes into the air?

Less preload to lower the bike?

More front preload and less rear preload to tip the bike slightly up?

I have a good sag setting so I'm not keen to rip into anything without reason.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that the tyres have obviously got way more grip than I can make use of at the moment. It definitely does not stop as fast as a ZXR400 I can tell you that! (This is modern machinery- so I'm guessing it can out do a 90's sports bike with abused to fuck rear shock and forks on the brakes!)

Suspension specialists please share your knowledge!

[slofox]

How much rear brake do you use in an emergency stop routine?

[racefactory]

non of course, there's no weight on it!!! Instant lock up if you are braking at 100%

[Katman]

non of course, there's no weight on it!!! Instant lock up if you are braking at 100%

There's a theory that says in an emergancy braking situation you should initiate the braking action with the rear brake. It causes the rear to squat down somewhat thereby adding to the power imparted on the front.

[Taz]

You could just slow down Rossi

[racefactory]

There's a theory that says in an emergancy braking situation you should initiate the braking action with the rear brake. It causes the rear to squat down somewhat thereby adding to the power imparted on the front.

Good point katman.

While it makes sense it's just one more thing to worry about and distract you from giving full attention to the front. I sometimes try that.

[sinfull]

http://www.gostar-racing.com/club/Ho..._motorbike.pdf

Yr front not skidding tells me it's suspenders are working properly, you might be able to increase braking with new pads and a brake bleed, maybe even braded lines if you want to go over board

The rear i recon is just a lack of rebound, (too slow extending) have a read of the above link and see if ya cant get ya head around it ! The bit where it says the front and rear should be reacting equally is important, as is the bit where it says write down yr present settings

[Pussy]

Maybe try a bit more compression damping at the front?

[AllanB]

Braking hard on my 06 ZX6R I am finding the rear is coming up too easily.

I could not get even close to the front skidding/locking.
I want to know if there is something that can be done to give me more braking power should I need it in an emergency.

I'm confused - the bike has enough front braking to do stoppies all the time but you want more for emergencies?

Try a much slower speed to lock the front - there is no way you want to lock it at anything over a walking pace!

If you have not replaced your brake fluid in the past 24 months, do it - it will make a world of difference to lever feel.

The 06 ZX6R should easily out brake those old 90's bikes - braking and tyre technology has come a long way since then.

[SPP]

Good point katman.

While it makes sense it's just one more thing to worry about and distract you from giving full attention to the front. I sometimes try that.

What Katman said!

Rear before front does squat the rear and it doesn't dive so abruptly. Rear after front seems to do feck all once the front is diving.

I'm not a suspension dude but if you're struggling to keep the rear end down then (to me) that sounds like either your front is soft and compressing too quickly (and possibly bottoming out?) or you're charging and braking very hard and late. Probably a bit of both eh?

I wouldn't have thought dialling in more fork preload is the fix.

• Try a zip tie on a fork leg and check travel. Is it bottoming out? Spring rate good for you?
• Try a tickle more compression damping (Like Pussy...not you, him). Not too much though because braking distance turns to shit i.e. long
• chuck a leg out too, that's what rossi would do

[racefactory]

I'm confused - the bike has enough front braking to do stoppies all the time but you want more for emergencies?

Try a much slower speed to lock the front - there is no way you want to lock it at anything over a walking pace!

If you have not replaced your brake fluid in the past 24 months, do it - it will make a world of difference to lever feel.

The 06 ZX6R should easily out brake those old 90's bikes - braking and tyre technology has come a long way since then.

I'll say it again, it's not about the brakes or tyres. riding nc30 etc etc (they have awesome brakes anyway) i was always using the mean as Bt090- better than pilot power on zx6r imo.

What this problem seems to be about is geometry.

It's that I can't use the full grip of the front tyre because the rear is in the sky already, whereas on those 90's bikes i could usually exploit the tyre to it's max and so I could stop more quickly (unless i was stiff arms, weight on the handle bars, not gripping tank, then the rear wheel comes up)

[racefactory]

• Try a zip tie on a fork leg and check travel. Is it bottoming out? Spring rate good for you?
• Try a tickle more compression damping (Like Pussy...not you, him). Not too much though because braking distance turns to shit i.e. long
• chuck a leg out too, that's what rossi would do

Forks not bottoming out. Just under an inch left under full brakes with stock settings. However these bikes do have top out springs.

Stock setting is 3/4 turn from full compression damping though, so can't really increase it much.

[Pussy]

I'm still thinking that the front is compressing too quickly under braking. That will affect geometry. It probably needs more low speed compression damping....
or the valving is a bit soft

[racefactory]

I'm still thinking that the front is compressing too quickly under braking. That will affect geometry. It probably needs more low speed compression damping....
or the valving is a bit soft

Yeah im doing some reading about this now. No harm in trying it I guess. Though can't get my head around how it would stop the rear coming up, especially since it's not bottoming out as it is. I think comp speed is more to do with cornering than actually braking from what I can see.

Good link to that suspension set up from whoever that was, cheers.

[Pussy]

It doesn't have to be bottoming.... just compressing too fast will have the same affect