2012 Roadster Handling

[Heidhurtin]

Thanks, I know about counter-steering, (and torque reaction - 'twas the first thing I noticed when I blipped the throttle when buying this), but the pressure I need to keep on the bars in a turn is much more than that. If I ease off the pressure the bike does straighten up, (or tighten up depending on speed) regardless of throttle. My Harley (heavy, but not in the same league as the R) feels a LOT more stable.

I'll have another look at the fork tops, if the black area I thought was a rubber seal turns out to be the black fork outer tubes then they are a wee bit high, and a wee bit unequal. I'll try dropping them to level and see what happens - shouldn't be too hard..........<space reserved for hindsight comments>. Although I'm reasonable with a spanner, I've never had to remove or work on forks so forgive any seemingly daft questions.

 

[Journeyman]

Fork drop isn't the issue based on those photos. The Roadster handles like a smaller bike than it is. If you're accelerating out of a turn the bike will stand up, as @Jhortz described, but you shouldn't have to fight to hold it in a turn. As I and others have suggested, I think you have a bad front tire. Go about 30mph and, OK, don't fully let go, but make your hands a big enough "C" shape around the grips that you are barely touching. Does it shake and shimmy? I have a feeling it might

 

[Heidhurtin]

Fork drop isn't the issue based on those photos. The Roadster handles like a smaller bike than it is. If you're accelerating out of a turn the bike will stand up, as @Jhortz described, but you shouldn't have to fight to hold it in a turn. As I and others have suggested, I think you have a bad front tire. Go about 30mph and, OK, don't fully let go, but make your hands a big enough "C" shape around the grips that you are barely touching. Does it shake and shimmy? I have a feeling it might

Tried that, but it's stable in a straight line. I hope you're not (but have a horrible feeling you may be) right, let me try all the other options before spending wads-a-dosh on a tyre.