Best suspension change I ever made

[Grasshopperus]

Hi guys,

I'd been struggling with the cornering on my zx12 for some time. Kept on 'weaving' as it went around a corner, very disconcerting. So I followed the way of the internet warrior; blindly assumed it was the suspension, read the service manual and browsed heaps of zx12 related websites to glean settings for damping etc. Tried these settings out last night, and it made the bike a little better. This morning, on a whim, I checked the tyre pressures (for the first time ever, I've owned it since April ) and the rear tyre had 0 PSI... I put some of that 'compressed air' stuff into the tyres and wow! It feels like a motorbike now! No idea how long I've been riding around on a flattie

Just thought you might appreciate a chuckle. I think I've got a slow leak, will take it to the mechanic today, and will be a good boy by checking my tyre pressure every week.

[BigAl]

0 psi..... amazing you are still alive

[Gremlin]

Must be some kind of miracle bike to have handling at 0 PSI.

With 15 odd PSI in the rear tyre (pressure had only been checked a couple of days prior) I did had no idea what lay in store for me as I tipped into a corner and all hell broke loose. I know from a mates experience you can't hold a straight line at 50 with a flat rear tyre (although he too thought there was something very wrong)

[jellywrestler]

Hi guys,

I'd been struggling with the cornering on my zx12 for some time. Kept on 'weaving' as it went around a corner, very disconcerting. So I followed the way of the internet warrior; blindly assumed it was the suspension, read the service manual and browsed heaps of zx12 related websites to glean settings for damping etc. Tried these settings out last night, and it made the bike a little better. This morning, on a whim, I checked the tyre pressures (for the first time ever, I've owned it since April ) and the rear tyre had 0 PSI... I put some of that 'compressed air' stuff into the tyres and wow! It feels like a motorbike now! No idea how long I've been riding around on a flattie

Just thought you might appreciate a chuckle. I think I've got a slow leak, will take it to the mechanic today, and will be a good boy by checking my tyre pressure every week.

and check ya guage cause at 0 psi the bike would've been so flat it would've fallen off it's side stand

[Crasherfromwayback]

and check ya guage cause at 0 psi the bike would've been so flat it would've fallen off it's side stand

And been fucking hard to push.

[sugilite:Me]

And check your pressures before each ride for at least the next few, just in case the tyre has just recently acquired this leak.

[Gremlin]

and check ya guage cause at 0 psi the bike would've been so flat it would've fallen off it's side stand

Not always. Just had to deliver the CB900 to the shop for a puncture repair on Friday. It stayed on the side stand, but yes, was very close to upright. The PR2 I have fitted keeps some of the form, even when completely flat.

And yes, fucken hard to push

[Phantom Limb]

Got a big fookoff nail in my rear tire on the way to work today. Carried on going not noticing it, until I realized that the bike was a fair bit harder to pull upright again out of corners, like it wanted to keep turning in. Otherwise it was tracking straight and not wobbling at all.

It's amazing how well modern tires deal with running flat, I could have made it to work if I was less alert!

[Trade_nancy]

I just replaced my rear tyre. I found cornering OK - but after two weeks of being unridden in the rain and wind - the bike had gotten closer to the ground at the back. Very hard to push it out of the shed. Oh oh. So up on the mainstand and had a close look - 2 obvious small punctures. Small slivers of hardened steel like broken off cotter pins.
Took the chance to test out the puncture repair plugs and foot pump I carry - worked OK and got the bike going. But pulled the wheel off and took it in for a pro repair. Decided against it when I found 3 more holes in it - only 1 was leaking - but very slowly...and saw the amount of squaring off I had inflicted on the BT23.
I remembered the last 2-3 times when doing pressures at the station - the rear would show about 14-15psi on the gauge. I'd check again next day and it was back to normal. Must have been a very slow leak(s) all along.

[Robert Taylor]

Also dont trust the gauge you are using implicitly. One of the Superbike riders a couple of years back was having no end of tyre problems and of course everything including the suspension setup was being blamed. Until he found that the tyre pressure gauge he was using was reading 7 pounds too low...........

[nzspokes]

Have you fitted Ohlinns air?

Whens it coming to Sass? Were on Tuesdays now.

[Robert Taylor]

Have you fitted Ohlinns air?

Whens it coming to Sass? Were on Tuesdays now.

Unlikely, theres an abundance of hot air in Glen Eden. What did you contribute to this thread other than trying to score cheap points?

[nzspokes]

Unlikely, theres an abundance of hot air in Glen Eden. What did you contribute to this thread other than trying to score cheap points?

The same amount as you champ.

[Robert Taylor]

The same amount as you champ.

Incorrect of course, like others who actually contributed something useful to this thread I offered some advice from my own experience.

Tyre pressures that read incorrectly are a very common problem. I purchased a very expensive and highly accurate one from a well known race car supplier in Auckland. I could of course have procured it more cheaply from overseas but chose to support local business and workers.

[PeeJay]

Incorrect of course, like others who actually contributed something useful to this thread I offered some advice from my own experience.

Tyre pressures that read incorrectly are a very common problem. I purchased a very expensive and highly accurate one from a well known race car supplier in Auckland. I could of course have procured it more cheaply from overseas but chose to support local business and workers.

Win-Win
You could have purchased it cheaply overseas
then sent the well known race car car supplier half your savings.
that way
you save on the pressure gauge,
they still make a profit to pay their kiwi worker
and you feel good because you got a cheap gauge and you have supported a local business.

win win all around I'd say.

I feel another business plan coming on