Wish my S2R would turn like the StreetFighter

[stopintime]

I went for a short test ride. That thing will turn by itself when it sees a corner.

It's rake is 25.6 degrees - SBKs 24.5 - S2R 24.
I was thinking about raising the rear (already lowered the front ~10mm), but the rake might become too steep(?)
My bike has good suspension, is on Metzeler M3s, but it still requires a lot more work to corner well.

I don't mind working, but it would be nice to have a smoother initial turn-in.

Advice?

[Norm]

Try making the wheelbase as short as possible and move weight forward. 52-55% on the front wheel make things work better.

[stopintime]

Try making the wheelbase as short as possible and move weight forward. 52-55% on the front wheel make things work better.

I normally sit close, ouch, to the tank and I have clip ons two inches lower than stock bars. When I lean forward/down everything is a LOT easier, but still not as effortless as on the SteetFighter.
Are you talking about building a new bike?

[red baron]

Jack up the rear.

[IdZer0]

Try making the wheelbase as short as possible and move weight forward. 52-55% on the front wheel make things work better.

Strange suggestion seeing that the Streetfighter was specifically designed with a longer swingarm (compared to the 1198).

[red baron]

steering angle much more impact on handling than wheelbase

[stopintime]

steering angle much more impact on handling than wheelbase

What puzzles me is that the rake is less steep on the StreetFighter AND the wheelbase is longer, yet turn-ins are easier than even the 848 (IMO)
I noticed that my position was further forward, because of the short tank. On the S2R I see the rear part of the forks - on the StreetFighter I see the front of the forks. Some light calculation suggests a SF rider position 4/5/6 inches more forward. -which brings us back to Norm's statement....

[Speeddog]

Getting the weight forward is the big part.

Longer swingarm puts more weight on the front.

I suspect the bars are wider on the SF.

A more 'triangular' front tire will help turn-in.
Lots of folks love the Pilot Power, IMO that's a main reason.

[Statler]

weight of wheels too.

[ducatiz]

tire pressure too

bud was complaining about cornering, turned out his front tire was 20lbs

doh!

[RetroSBK]

The biggets part of that issue, the slow turn in, is the very round, sport touring Metzler tires you have fitted. Throw a set of Dunlop 211's on it, and you wont believe how quickly it will turn.

Funny thing is that on our Streetfighter, I feel that the initial turn in is qucik, but the ability to hold a line is compromised by the excessive trail, but we are fixing that

Will

[MadDuck]

It took me years of trial & error and adding/subtracting mods here and there to get my Monster to turn & handle like a superbike.  Then I bought an 848 and it is still way better than the Monster. Not that I didn't have fun with that long term project but in the end it might not be worth it to fight the design nature of the beast but rather just accept it for what it is and get the bike that does what you want it to do right from the start. Of course that concept sort of flies in the face of our tacit "mod till you die" philosophy.

[kopfjäger]

It took me years of trial & error and adding/subtracting mods here and there to get my Monster to turn & handle like a superbike.  Then I bought an 848 and it is still way better than the Monster. Not that I didn't have fun with that long term project but in the end it might not be worth it to fight the design nature of the beast but rather just accept it for what it is and get the bike that does what you want it to do right from the start. Of course that concept sort of flies in the face of our tacit "mod till you die" philosophy.

+1 

[Norm]

Good point about the tires, try some different ones, they can make a HUGE difference. When reviewing specs, keep in mind that while trail is EVERYTHING, rake is fairly meaningless. It would take a custom triple offset to make a change to your trail and that may be getting the $$ out of hand. Of course, as mentioned, any reduction of gyro effect will also help alot (mainly wheels).