My 2014 Daytona 675 (standard, not 675R), does not handle like I expect a supersport to. I don't have much reference with big bikes, but I think there is something wrong. The front end feel and stability isn't there, sapping me of confidence to ride it like it's meant to. It just feels unstable on braking and turning, even on smooth road surface, if it's bumpy, it's even worse. The front seems to shake or weave, at low/medium frequency at corner entry, not a sudden/sharp shakes like a tank-slapper, but enough to deter me from riding hard.
For reference, there is this bike which I didn't own, but rode on the same stretches of road. On this bike, I could brake reasonably hard while leaning in a turn, and the bike remains stable. Not hard as in straight line braking, but reasonably hard to scrub off speed to continue braking into the turn, without upsetting the bike. This bike sure is down on power, suspension is non-adjustable but it has a steel perimeter frame and handles good. So that is my personal benchmark of good handling.
I thought it was just me, but another friend who bought a 675 standard felt the same front-end instability.
I had the bike checked by the dealer, for steering head bearings play, which was given ok. I am not confident of their investigative/problem solving ability.
The bike tracks straight under acceleration and braking when upright, has no wobble or pull in either direction, so apparently tyres and wheel alignment and balance are fine. Tyre pressure too as per manual.
The suspension settings are also stock - as in the manual. There are no leaking fork seals or rim damage. Additionally, the stock suspension settings is very uncomfortable on concrete roads - the road looks smooth to the eye, but the feel through the bars and seat both are a stiff ride. This sort of indicates that compression and/or rebound damping are too stiff, or not mutually complementing for a smooth ride.
I weigh about 85kg/185lb without gear. Is the factory setup good enough for this weight? The manual says this is standard/sport setting. There is a stiffer race/track setup, and a softer comfort setup.
The dealer said the rear rebound damping is too low, that I should increase the rebound damping. But the bike is already very stiff, and a bit of reading on suspension trouble-shooting indicates that too hard a setup also results in poor handling because the tyre can't follow the road. If I increase the damping, will it further make the handling worse ?
How can I make the bike stable under braking and turning ?
For reference, there is this bike which I didn't own, but rode on the same stretches of road. On this bike, I could brake reasonably hard while leaning in a turn, and the bike remains stable. Not hard as in straight line braking, but reasonably hard to scrub off speed to continue braking into the turn, without upsetting the bike. This bike sure is down on power, suspension is non-adjustable but it has a steel perimeter frame and handles good. So that is my personal benchmark of good handling.
I thought it was just me, but another friend who bought a 675 standard felt the same front-end instability.
I had the bike checked by the dealer, for steering head bearings play, which was given ok. I am not confident of their investigative/problem solving ability.
The bike tracks straight under acceleration and braking when upright, has no wobble or pull in either direction, so apparently tyres and wheel alignment and balance are fine. Tyre pressure too as per manual.
The suspension settings are also stock - as in the manual. There are no leaking fork seals or rim damage. Additionally, the stock suspension settings is very uncomfortable on concrete roads - the road looks smooth to the eye, but the feel through the bars and seat both are a stiff ride. This sort of indicates that compression and/or rebound damping are too stiff, or not mutually complementing for a smooth ride.
I weigh about 85kg/185lb without gear. Is the factory setup good enough for this weight? The manual says this is standard/sport setting. There is a stiffer race/track setup, and a softer comfort setup.
The dealer said the rear rebound damping is too low, that I should increase the rebound damping. But the bike is already very stiff, and a bit of reading on suspension trouble-shooting indicates that too hard a setup also results in poor handling because the tyre can't follow the road. If I increase the damping, will it further make the handling worse ?
How can I make the bike stable under braking and turning ?