Mods 1, Rockers 0.

Today was the day I took my first day-ride on my Silverwing.
It rained in the area yesterday, something which really should
not happen until after Thanksgiving. Many sections of road
were still wet. Not good.

Anyway, I decided to head from the Sacramento area, through
Auburn, up 49 through Downieville with the destination of Sierraville,
not to be confused with Sierra City, which is on the way between
Downieville and Sierraville.  There really isn't much at Sierraville
except some farm animals at a quick-stop market. The animals
are kind of a petting zoo, and there are picnic tables at which
one can sit and ponder one's life, such as it is.

US 49 along that route has a fair share of twisties so I got
acquainted with the Silverwing's handling.  This is going to
probably irritate a few, but I'm a diehard Suzuki fan because
I have only ridden one Suzuki that didn't handle very well,
and that was a TS250, a relic.  So it doesn't count.

The typical Suzuki has more than its share of front-end
feedback. The steering may seem a bit heavy compared
to some competition, but the front end is planted under
most less-than-heroic situations.  For example, riding my
Burgman 400, my worry is seldom whether the front
end will lose traction. Either ground clearance or the back
end will always be a problem first. Even when the suspension
is overwhelmed by bumps, the concerns are the same. I'm not
going to overcook the turn, steer wide because of the FRONT
end.  

In contrast, the Silverwing is all about very little front-end
feedback.  Or maybe the feedback is good--the front end
feels like and IS on the edge of slippage?  In its favor,
I can say that ground clearance was not an issue today.
I was either worried about the front end steering wide or
the back end skittering and THEN the front end skittering
wide.  With all that said, I'm SURE there are people that
can scream on these things. I'm just not there yet.  I did
discover that screwing on the throttle going into the
turn and through the turn DOES greatly reduce front-end worry.
(On the Burgman, I can trail-brake HARD into a corner
and the front end always bites and tells me it is biting.
Screwing on the throttle is optional.) Today, on
decreasing-radii turns, I mostly braked hard
and then screwed the throttle back on.

Anyway, on to the thread title part.  I was coming back
past Camptonville, and the little red econobox that had
pulled out in front of me and was putting along, he finally
pulled a right.  Coming out of that right, well before
red econobox got there, I saw a motorcyle take a right
onto 49 south, my direction. After the econobox
turned, I saw two more bikes coming from the right.
The first bike--I only focused on the gas tank--it
looked like a CB400F painted a very strange color.
The second bike, I THINK it was a double-overhead cam
sixties Honda. So that is when I figured the guy ahead
of me was probably a retro bike as well.  Easy pickings?

It turned out to be an early-seventies (or older?) BMW
boxer.  It looked so small.  If it was a 600 or 500, I feel
ashamed of myself, but I'm hoping it was the much
more common 750.  He had the classic black leather
jacket and either bar end or clamp-on under the bars
mirrors, so I think he fit the Rocker moniker well. Me,
on a water-cooled four-stroke 600 twin "scooter",
I probably didn't fit the Mod label so well.  (My mirrors
aren't even chrome.)

Anyway, I caught up to him pretty fast (because
I had been in HURRY mode prior to red econobox)
and he SEEMED to be trying, but then there was
finally a straight stretch with even a break
in the double-yellow, so I was almost legal in my
pass were it not for the indicated 85 mph. He finally
did brake as I was passing him, so I can't say I really
beat him in any sense, except in that he
didn't leave me for dead or anything.  When I got
to the next little 35 mph zone, town-village, there were two
other vintage bikes. One was clearly some sixties
dual cam Honda, white in color.  My full atttention
was on that so I didn't see any identifying features
of the other bike. And even though the little village
had a gas pump and the Silverwing's last bar
was flashing, I was not going to stop and have
people gawk and giggle at me.  (As I learned
when I finally did stop, I had another point-eight
gallons to go.)  So that is my story, my longest
ever posting ANYWHERE, all in good fun.  And I
only wrote because I finally saw QuadrOphenia
about five years ago.
The end.

Many people add hyperpro springs to reduce front end dive.
Not an expensive mod.

Dan

Nice write up, thanks for sharing

The first two mods to my Silver Wing where Givi Airflow and Hyperpro fork springs, likes its recommended here many times

lowkey wrote:

In contrast, the Silverwing is all about very little front-end
feedback.  Or maybe the feedback is good--the front end
feels like and IS on the edge of slippage? I was either worried about the front end steering wide or the back end skittering and THEN the front end skittering wide.  With all that said, I'm SURE there are people that
can scream on these things. I'm just not there yet.

The SWing front end is only a 'scooter front end and from stiffness' - so don't expect it is going to handle like a motorcyle. That said - it handles great if you are not going over the speed limit - it will do just fine on most every section of Route 49 at speed limit. If you don't like the way it handles then consider:
- better tires and their pressures - I use Piralli Diablo.
- hyperpro fork springs - love mine.
- check triple tee stearing tightness.
- fork stiffener - none made but SWing sure could use one.
- adjust stiffness of rear shocks - adjust as per road you are riding.
- consider better rear shocks - expensive and I don't know anyone who has fitted non-OEM shocks.

If you SCREAM on your SWing then eventually you are going to slide off the road - the SWing IMHO is a great ride - but not designed to handle corners way above the speed limit as the front end is not that tight. When the asphalt (smooth, level, clean) is perfect in the corner then the SWing dose real well even if you are a bit over speed limit - but you can not count on any corner being perfect - even if it was when your last rode it - the SWing leaves very little margin for error if you are too hot in the corners. If I follow a MC into a corner at speed the MC goes straight and true while the SWing and I are being flopped about a bit - far less so now that I have Hypersprings.

I have the Hyperpro's and they are great. If you are going to ride like this, and I used to do the same when I first got it, I would really think about them. They cost about $155 plus installation but you will really feel the difference right away.

Also, if you want to get a bit more engine braking you can get the J. Costa variator or lighter sliders. This will give you engine braking so you won't need to use your brakes as much.

Thank you all, but I probably just need to stay away from twisties
when I'm feeling antsy. Part of the problem, I think, was that I did
the "out" portion of the trip super leisurely, mostly an indicated 50 mph
and under.   On the "back" portion, I realized it was getting late in
the day--I had other chores to do--and I encountered the occasional
slow car.  Once I start passing vehicles, I can't stop.  (I need help!)

I think I also should just accept the Silverwing for what it is good at.  
I had an 86 Goldwing and I LOVED that bike despite its less than stellar
twisty capabilities, and only sold it because it was going to start costing
me money.  I have no such worries with the Silverwing.  So I will put
more thought into where and when I ride it.

It is comforting to know that others have encountered its same
shortcomings yet continue to own it long after.  I admit to thinking
I needed to sell it soon after my ride Sunday, but I have since
reversed that thought entirely.

Again, thank you all.

You want to try riding it like a maxi scooter mate, it's not a trail bike, or a sports bike. As for it's capabilities in the 'twisties', you mean roads that bend or sweep right or left, go up and down etc. Isn't that what roads normally do unless you live somewhere where they're always in a straight line.

Instead of complaining about the Silver Wings lack of front end feedback and thinking you need a fork spring upgrade, how about taking some time and learning how to ride the thing. Don't be nervous about riding on wet roads either, suit up and get out there.

i was having bad front end stability,two up with luggage for a week
found, the wing was at its max;carring wieght and we felt every pot
hole. So I had after market shocks put on to suit our wieght.
This has transformed the handling, and run at 40 p s i on rear tire

gadget wrote:

i was having bad front end stability,two up with luggage for a week
found, the wing was at its max;carring wieght and we felt every  pot
hole. So I had after market shocks put on to suit our wieght.
This has transformed the handling, and run at 40 p s i  on rear tire

Okay, so what brand aftermarket shocks did to buy?

Tim

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

Okay, so what brand aftermarket shocks did to buy?

Big +1 on those shocks? I am going to run at 38-40psi and see what happens - so thanks for that tip. My tire is rated at 517pounds at 38psi - so guess I can go to 40psi (never ride 2 up)?