CBR4 not turning in as well as the CBR6 - where do I start?

[marty400]

Hiya All,

Fab weather at last over the weekend.

I did the 1992 CBR4 and 2005 CBR6f back to back on the same roads.


CBR4 not turning in as well as the CBR6 - where do I start? I'd like to fettle the existing suspension, and work out the best set up for the bog standard bike, before resorting to upgrades etc.


The Bike:
1992 CBR400rrn
Forks have just been serviced. All totally standard bits. Preload set to max. (no other adjusters.)
Bog standard rear shock. Not serviced - Preload to max. Rebound set to 3/5 half turns to soft.


Suspension setting changes - where do I start?
Eg Do I:
Reduce the preload on the front? - to try to get the back higher?


Notes:
1) I don't have as much confidence on the front, for the CBR4 compared the CBR6 - A Lack of feel and confidence for some reason
2) Hence I'm not leaning her over as much as the cbr6 - I'm leaning in the same, but the Chicken strips are alot wider on the CBR4. (I've been told to ignore the strips, though!)


Hope you can advise!

Cheers
Martin

[ChowderV4]

drop the forks down in the yolks a couple of mill, that should make it turn in better.

[CMSMJ1]

What tyres are you running? what pressures?

Max preload shows that you need to get some cash spent on new springs.

Are the forks, shock of an equivalent age/serviced at the same time?

[Davez29]

I'm leaning in the same, but the Chicken strips are alot wider on the CBR4. (I've been told to ignore the strips, though!)

Well I would say its due to different tyre radius, they always look flatter tyres on the CBR600 to me, easier to get to the tyre edge, compared to the very curvy Pirelli tyres on my bike, thats my excuse anyway..

If you lower the forks give your opinion as thats something I was thinking of doing, not cause Im a shortass but for the very reasons you mention, I just get this feeling that at low speed, under 20mph maybe, my bike has a bit too much understeer. Mind you it could be just my short arms, fat gut etc getting in the way.

[CMSMJ1]

raising the rear is a better idea IMO.

More ground clearance, weight tranferred forwards etc.

If your forks are too soft anyway then it is a bad call.