Improving handling and riding position

While I know these bikes aren't designed for flying round corners, I'm wondering what can be done to improve the handling on windy roads. I usually have to slow it quite a bit to get round. I'm not the tallest guy at around 5'6"-7" and do find myself a little stretched. If I fit some risers and bring the bars in a bit closer, will that help me with this? Cheers.

I'd say that you'll make it more comfortable for yourself to ride but that won't make the bike fly round corners. It's quite a brick after all.

But then again I'm sure someone here will confirm knee down corners, knowing what a crazy lot they are

I've done quite a bit of footboard grinding and felt like the bike could go even lower...but would I? Nope.

the helmet you wear will make a lot of difference to high speed or riding on a windy day

Yeah, Just fitting 2" risers under the existing ones bring the bars back towards you, That'll make the reach a bit less of a stretch and better for handling.

I have purposely fitted VL bars to my m800 to bring me closer to them,I can't see how you are going to improve your stature,the only thing I can think of is either your bars are not off a VL or you need beach bars,which will certainly reach you sitting up straight.By the way I am only 5.5",have you got forward controls making you stretch.Hope this helps in some way.Just a thought have you ajusted the bars so they will pull back a little further.

I'm pretty sure the bars and controls are stock. Dunno if you can see from my profile pic or in the members bike thread. I don't find it uncomfortable although I am leaning forward. Just wondering if I can improve the control by bringing it closer.

Your arms are slightly bent so that means they are at the right distance, height will be a comfort preferential only I reckon. As for making the bike better on windy roads, your on a road to nowhere with that one because the bike is already low with a low seat and a low center of gravity so you can not get better than that. follow someone on a standard type of bike on a windy day and you will see just how much more planted you are than they are for real

Well this is why I brought it up. In the past its not been an issue due to what bikes I was riding with but a few weeks ago I went out with several sports bikes and while I don't expect to be able to ride like them on the windy roads we were on, there was a 125 in front that I couldn't keep up with due to its bend handling lol. Also, there was a lad on a 50cc sports type back who kept up with me. I know it's not a race but it just made me think if there was anyway to improve it.

having the bars pulled back slightly will make it less of a stretch for the opposite arm when its turned to full lock, but realistically you wont be turning the bars very much at regular speeds. I find the more comfortable I am the easier it is to go faster.

yeh can see what you mean about your position rattler you look as if your back is slightly lent forward maybe strait but the top half of your back looks to be rounded with your shoulders well forward hunch back style like the captain says small bend in the arm at the elbo is good allows for movement in a natral way as bike bobs about whilst riding if you can adjust, change bars/risers so that your shoulders are strait (i can still here me grandad shoulders back boy back strait lol) it should give you a far better/stronger posstion to hold your bike, control it .
Also they sell a short/ small screen at custom crusers i think, pritty much like the one dave made i talked to someone who had one and you only have to ask dave about his on both counts the report was yeh strange (coz it's small) but it really works and IMO looks so much better than a frikking huge screens this type of mod should also help

You might want to look at the Puig Custom 2 screen. I fitted one to my M800 and it made a huge difference. Not only that but it's relatively cheap compared to some out there.

I'm thinking risers and 10" black apes maybe now.

Go for it mate small screen and apes dont recon any 50 cc's will keep up with you then

yeah get apes and then chop the back end lol.....sorry I'll shut up now

LOL

Freemo wrote:

yeah get apes and then chop the back end lol.....sorry I'll shut up now

From the master that, never will you have found a chop done like Martins with so much stuff removed and put out of site. Although I am sure many will follow.