R1200RT Handling Question

[tigertom1965]

All right I have some time on my new PR2 tires and want to at least put my 2cents in.

The Metzeler Z6 tires seemed extra hyper but with 4155 miles on them they were decent enough. They were just starting to show wear (Flattening) of the rear tire. I guess this was helping to stabilize the handling some.

When I went with the new PR2 tires (With the B rated in back) I went backwards some. But I do not notice any ill handling when trucks go by the side of me. At least it is nothing I can't handle now that I have some mileage on my belt and know what to expect. The tires do handle differently even with only a couple hundred miles on them. They seem to be a little slower handling tire with less hyper activity. Which is great to me. They handle very similar to my worn Metzelers but they don't seem as harsh on the bumps.

My only gripe is that the front end of my R1200RT weaves in the trucker wake like my 06 Connie did (Connie was at speeds of 90mph+). this to me is not very confdence inspiring for a bike that spends most of its time on the highway. At least I know what to expect now. I still like the bike and will ride it until it falls apart, fix it, and ride it some more. I just wish I knew why that 08 demo handled better in the wind and wish I could find out what the difference between the 08 Demo and my 09 is.

I will say that I rode hgome yesterday in the wet and didn't have any grip problems at all. So I do like these new PR2 tires very much. Maybe when they are really scuffed in they will handle even better than they do now?

[atadaskew]

My only gripe is that the front end of my R1200RT weaves in the trucker wake like my 06 Connie did (Connie was at speeds of 90mph+). this to me is not very confdence inspiring for a bike that spends most of its time on the highway.

Do you hold onto your grips much more firmly when you are riding through the trucker wake?

[tigertom1965]

I try not to hold onto my grips firmly. I also try to not stiff arm my bike.

I do notice I get blown around more than the bike.

All of this is now tougher since I am using my winter gloves now and don't seem to be able to grasp the bars as tightly as I did with my summer weight gloves.

Most of this is probably something I am doing.

I just didn't have this problem as much with my Connie. Now that I bought my dream bike I have to readjust I guess. I just thought it would be much better than it is for the money.

My Connie had on the stock Dunlops and I understand that the original Pilot Road tires have a U shaped profile with supposedly helped the bikes hold their line but not handle as well. I guess I was used to that type of tire profile. Now I have a round profile that handles better and I am not adjusting as fast. I just didn't want a tire that took a long time to warm up so I got the Pilot Road 2 instead of the one that probably would have been what I was looking for.

Oh Well......

[falconati]

How much do you weigh?  I'm less than 150, and I sometimes get thrown around if the gusts are over 20 mph

[Hardware]

I'm 6'2" and weigh 270+lbs.  I set the ESA at [helmet+suitcase] for commuting and day rides with no or minimal luggage.  When running one up with full luggage I put the ESA at [helmet+helmet].

I just had new PRs installed before a long tour.  I guess the RT does get buffeted around in big rig wakes but no more than any other bike of comparable weight and frontal area.

I believe that the telelever front end will make it feel looser than a comparable bike with a conventional front end...isolating the front end to minimize brake dive will do that.

I also believe that one has to put about 5000 kms on an R motored bike before they get the feel of it.  

I run the bike stripped down about 50% of the time, 45% with side cases and 5% with the large top case added to the side cases.  Aside from noting the increased weight, I find the bike handles pretty much the same regardless.

Just before I swapped out the rubber, the old rear was getting squared off pretty good (fucking prairies!!!) and it started to feel a little squirrelly...but this was felt more during braking at a stop as opposed to passing rigs.

I suppose defective rubber or a slightly bent rim could be a factor if you think the looseness is worse then it really should be...

My bike does get tossed around in the wind but we're talking shitty conditions (20-40 km/h crosswinds (fucking prairies!!!) while passing trucks) at speeds of 130 km/h...with the windshield in its highest position so I can hear my iPod.