Hi Everybody, my name is Jake and I have returned to biking after many years away. I have to confess I am a lifelong petrol head (a less than popular nomenclature in this present culture) and have had a series of Porsches for the last thirty years but never lost my affection for bikes particularly British bikes so I of course started with a Triumph, a street triple. Wrong choice with my long time away, scared me stiff. So I have now migrated to a speed twin which I absolutely love; except for the brakes (magnificent) and the power (awesome), it is so like the British bikes I rode as a teenager in handling and feel. I am getting my riding legs back while it is quiet (doing food shopping of course) and intend to go for professional lessons once everything is open again. The one thing I have noticed so far which perhaps the forum could advise on is that on some corners (no knees down yet) I appear to get a slight shimmy off of the front forks. Is a steering damper recommended if so I was considering Tec Bike Parts offering.
Jake Russell Welcome back to the family. Is it a new bike. I wouldn't fit a damper. If the bike is new those tyres are rubbish just take it careful till you can get something decent on there. If the bike is older then the biggest problem is people square of the centre of the tyres then they are dangerous if you like your knee down. Or if not go for better springs and the adjustable fork nuts. Regards & Ride Safe Joe.
Jake Russell. Yes the oem tyres are rubbish to hard for the bike and don't handle well unless they are very hot. Tyres are a big topic on here and every one will tell you what they like. Me I always go for Avon's like the feel and Bonnie's always had them people even changed the old Dunlop's for Avon years ago. They handle well feel well planted and last very well. But use the tyres out then choose what you feel safer with. If you are going knee's down then make sure you have the tyres good and warm. I am using them on my 2018 and can't wait till they need changing. Do hit the upload a file and show the inmates your nice new steed. Regards Joe.
Welcome Jake from another "petrol head" in California.US. As for your shimmy issue. You might for starters raise your front tire pressure a few pounds. Remember to give her a bit of countersteer. It will lay over a bit easier. Second would to be a better quality tire, as mentioned. The fun thing about bikes these days is that upgrade pieces are so easy to find. Not like it was in the old days when you ran what you could get and just lived with it. ...J.D.
Welcome! As Joe McD points out, could be the tires. I learned that tires with a centerline tread like the stock Metzlers that came with my Thruxton 865 would shimmy shake the handlebars on ANY grooved surface. Centerline treads tend to "track" on any grooved surface running in the same direction. I learned this as a 2 day old new rider that found himself stuck on a 3mile stretch of scraped away tarmac under construction - that was a nerve racking moment for sure. Following that experience I immediately swapped them to Pirelli Angel GTs. Pure nirvana ever since.
So much of riding is body language and posture. I remember riding 104 miles per day commuting the Southern California Freeway System back in the early 1980's. They had rain grooves cut into the pavement. It was very unnerving the first few times. You learn to be "loose". In this situation relax your arms and body and keep a loose grip on the bars. Let the bike squirm under you. It will be OK. Just an odd sensation. Ride safe Jake. Enjoy riding again. ...J.D.
Hi Jake Welcome back to the fold! And good idea to get some input on your riding. I had a break form riding of about 7 years while working overseas, upon returning I got some extra training to get me up to speed again - well worth it. DS
Although I have been riding a long time, I was hoping to get some refresher training in this summer. With the virus isolation going on it does not look like that is going to happen this year. I had some ear problems a while back that messed up my balance for awhile. I just want to make sure it is gone. Riding is as much an athletic exercise as it is a mechanical one. ...J.D.
Thank you so much everybody for your kind welcomes and advice . I really do feel quite at home already