Couple questions about tire and rear suspension..

[autocrossjake]

I have been riding more and more.  My friend with a gixxer 600 has been riding with me.  I have noticed that my bike when I go to lean more into the corners I get a feeling like the backend is not getting enough traction.  I have a Kat rear shock, rebound set at 3.  I weigh 165 lbs and this is the first I have noticed.

One other thing to note is my rear tire seems to look a little flat on top.  I imagine this might be causing my problem but just wanted to verify.  Just wanted to ask.

I am thinking of getting a Kat rear wheel and a bigger tire if I do have to replace my rear tire.  What size and brand would you recommend.  I know there are some threads out there about the tire size but just thought I would ask more recently.

Thanks for helping me out.  May be some gramar errors but I am in a hurry.

[The Antibody]

HAHA, I like the gramar appology. Don't worry Aron isn't on tonight. (kidding aron) Raise the rebound to start.

I can't help with the wheel Q, but the flat spot in your tire sounds like you are riding in a strait line too often. Happens to the best of us. 

  -Anti 

[rangerbrown]

sound like front end pushing, have you upgraded the front?

[autocrossjake]

yeah in my signature is my mods.. I have progressive front springs.

I imagine my rear tire was improperly worn before I got it because I haven't ridden it too much.

[runsilent]

I have been riding more and more.  My friend with a gixxer 600 has been riding with me.  I have noticed that my bike when I go to lean more into the corners I get a feeling like the backend is not getting enough traction.  I have a Kat rear shock, rebound set at 3.  I weigh 165 lbs and this is the first I have noticed.

One other thing to note is my rear tire seems to look a little flat on top.  I imagine this might be causing my problem but just wanted to verify.  Just wanted to ask.

I am thinking of getting a Kat rear wheel and a bigger tire if I do have to replace my rear tire.  What size and brand would you recommend.  I know there are some threads out there about the tire size but just thought I would ask more recently.

Thanks for helping me out.  May be some gramar errors but I am in a hurry.

A wider tire will not give you any more traction on a GS500 than the stock size will.  The rear tires on sportbikes have become wider and wider in recent years to accomodate the straightline acceleration of their ever more powerful engines mostly in the 100+ horsepower range.  Not a problem on a GS.    

In many cases narrower tires will give more responsive handling.  Only two reasons to go wider; to get better handling tires like the sport, supersport, or sport touring radials that only come in wider sizes or because you just like the looks of the wider tires.   

To get supersport type tires it is necessary to go to a 150/60 size and to get some good sport touring radial tires it is necessary to go to a 150/70 size or there are a couple of 140/80 choices.  These sizes are commonly run on the standard 3.5" rear wheels of the GS500 or the Ninja 500.

You don't say what kind of tire you have now or how old it is.  Tires get progressively harder and less grippier as they get older.  There are some new sport touring type bias ply tires that come in the OE sizes that are a world of difference better than the ones that were made when your bike was new.  The Pirelli Sport Demons, Metzeler Lasertecs, and Michelin Pilot Actives are available in the 110/70 and 130/70 OE sizes and have the latest in tread compounds and tire construction.

Some of the 150 wide radials will fit the GS without modifications and some will require grinding off the brake torque rod for clearance.  Wider tires than this or even the 150's on wider wheels will require even more modifications to get adequate clearance.

[autocrossjake]

thanks for that bit of advice.

I am running Bridgestone Battlax BT45R in stock size.  They have roughly 6k on them and still feel somewhat soft when pushing on the actual tread. However I know that it is improperly worn for proper handling.  I plan on getting a new tire for it.  I guess I just assumed that   since I was getting a new to just upgrade to a wider wheel/tire combo..

[The Antibody]

Some people do the wider rear tire/rim mod. Not many though. There isn't a need for it mechanically. The bike is engineered with tires that fit it performancewise, not just cosmetically. If your tire has 6k on it, it should be getting close enough to change anyway. you're always safe with OEM size.

YOu also keep refering to improper wearing. YOu saif the middle is flater than the rest of the tire. That is normal. the center of the tire sees much more pavement than the sides. All rear tires wear flat in the middle, especially after 6k it becomes very apparent.

  -Anti 

[autocrossjake]

thanks a lot.. I am fairly new to the whole bike thing.  I figured it would be a little flat on top, but maybe I am getting close enough to notice it a lot more.

you have a very nice bike too.

[scratch]

And, how about tire pressures?

Is the rear tire more than 1 year old?

My previous BT-45 didn't get a flat spot until 8 or 9000 miles.

[autocrossjake]

I am not sure how old the tires are, but I want to say about 1.5 years old (they were on the bike when I got it)

Also, tire pressure seems fine.  Going by what the PO told me and factory specs around 30-32psi in the front and around 40 in the rear.

[scratch]

Mmm...try 36 in the rear.  While you could set the rear tire pressure to 41 cold, it would make the tire quite hard, and while it would give you greater mileage out of the tire and fuel economy, it sacrifices some traction.

[autocrossjake]

well I just went and checked out my rear tire.  I think the PO put more miles on the rear tire than he said (easy to do, so I am not worried about it) because it is about 1-2mm away from the wear bar indicator in the back.

So I will be looking for another tire and would prefer to go with a radial.  But after looking at tire sizes a 140/80 and a 150/60 seem to be the main choices.

I know it is a big debate, but I ride my bike a fair amount more than I drive my car.  I ride mostly in the city but take longer rides (roughly 70-100 miles one way) to see family/friends often.  I also have been riding more and more in the hilly regions.  Which tire size would you personally go with or do you have?

[The Antibody]

I have always stayed with OEM sizes. 110/70 17 ans 130/70 17. But thats just me. YOu know you are opening a huge can of worms. HUGE!   

  -Anti 

[autocrossjake]

haha i know i know.. but its got to be done.

[annguyen1981]

What about the first thing to check...
Tire pressure.  Make sure the pressure in the tires are correct

[TragicImage]

you asked for a tire reccomendation, and I'll tell you what I use...


Sport Demons.



Nuff Said.

[Turd Ferguson]

Kat wheel and Metzeler Sportec M-1's in 160/60.  Me likey!

-Turd.

[autocrossjake]

What about the first thing to check...
Tire pressure.  Make sure the pressure in the tires are correct

already covered..

got a couple of recommendations.. sweet..

[autocrossjake]

you asked for a tire reccomendation, and I'll tell you what I use...


Sport Demons.



Nuff Said.

what size?

[The Antibody]

Oh Turd, stop it with the Kat wheel. Your encouraging jake.

 -Anti