R. Warshawsky
Active member
See? Right? 😆
Max' FTRankenstein...
- Thread starter Max Kool
- Start date
Wayne
Active member
Thanks. I'll be in Vegas next week for work and will look them up. I have my stock suspension dialed in as far as it will go. I still have a mid stroke harshness in the forks when I hit any sharp bumps which is distracting.
Max Kool
Well-known member
The wheel may be smaller, but the bigger size tire compensates for it.
D
Deleted member 706
Guest
That raises 2 questions in my mind.
How does the outer diameter of the 2 wheels compare.
What effect will changing wheels have on speedo and odometer accuracy.
Escontrilla
New member
hello, a quick question on this subject that I am evaluating right now.
From the original 150/70/18 wheel to the 190/55/17 there is a 26.7mm difference in diameter, which makes the bike drop about 13,3mm from the rear. Is this noticeable when driving?
From the original 150/70/18 wheel to the 190/55/17 there is a 26.7mm difference in diameter, which makes the bike drop about 13,3mm from the rear. Is this noticeable when driving?
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Escontrilla
New member
Thanks for the quick answer!!!
We will have to get going then, although here in Spain the wheel costs almost 700 euros🤦🏻♂️
Max Kool
Well-known member
So, the final touches. In the past few months new blinkers were added from motoism.
And last week I replaced the stock bars with Protaper Carmichael bars. These are roughly 2" lower, and a little straighter. To get a bit more weight over the bars. Yes they are further away now. Gone is the somewhat lazy stock rider position. This made a bigger difference in how the bike feels than I had expected. Where it used to feel like the front wheel was "way down there doing it's thing" (a feel very typical for adventure bikes, and often blamed on the 19" front wheel), it suddenly feels a lot more direct. Especially in sharp switchbacks pushing the bike under you, and hanging off in fast sweepers. Highly recommended for those "sport riders".
While riding today on Angeles Crest ( 60 miles of large fast sweepers, some blind, some open, others tightening halfway, average cruising speed around 75mph) with a buddy of mine on his Super Duke 1290, we switched bikes. Went for about 25 miles. From the get go the SDR1290 felt nearly similar to my FTR. The steering, the throttle response. The suspension is a bit more comfy, the front wags a tiny bit in long blind turns, where my FTR is rock solid yet turns in just as easily. No adjustment needed, within a mile or so we were riding as if we knew the bike for months. The adjustment from my stock bars to the low ones was bigger for me, than from my bike to his.
We stopped at some point, and he said:"Damm, that chassis is so tight, but other than that, these bikes feel so similar!" I felt the same. The FTR engine feels a bit more raw, alive, while the SDR feels a bit more refined. Throttle response was very similar. The SDR felt a bit more "sport bike ish", while the FTR felt more like a big supermoto due to the lack of a tank hump. Shades of grey...
I'm super happy how my bike turned out.
And last week I replaced the stock bars with Protaper Carmichael bars. These are roughly 2" lower, and a little straighter. To get a bit more weight over the bars. Yes they are further away now. Gone is the somewhat lazy stock rider position. This made a bigger difference in how the bike feels than I had expected. Where it used to feel like the front wheel was "way down there doing it's thing" (a feel very typical for adventure bikes, and often blamed on the 19" front wheel), it suddenly feels a lot more direct. Especially in sharp switchbacks pushing the bike under you, and hanging off in fast sweepers. Highly recommended for those "sport riders".
While riding today on Angeles Crest ( 60 miles of large fast sweepers, some blind, some open, others tightening halfway, average cruising speed around 75mph) with a buddy of mine on his Super Duke 1290, we switched bikes. Went for about 25 miles. From the get go the SDR1290 felt nearly similar to my FTR. The steering, the throttle response. The suspension is a bit more comfy, the front wags a tiny bit in long blind turns, where my FTR is rock solid yet turns in just as easily. No adjustment needed, within a mile or so we were riding as if we knew the bike for months. The adjustment from my stock bars to the low ones was bigger for me, than from my bike to his.
We stopped at some point, and he said:"Damm, that chassis is so tight, but other than that, these bikes feel so similar!" I felt the same. The FTR engine feels a bit more raw, alive, while the SDR feels a bit more refined. Throttle response was very similar. The SDR felt a bit more "sport bike ish", while the FTR felt more like a big supermoto due to the lack of a tank hump. Shades of grey...
I'm super happy how my bike turned out.
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Max Kool
Well-known member
Oh, for shits and giggles, I measured my bike:
500lbs
49% front, 51% rear
fork rake between 23 and 24 degrees (stock is 26 and a bit).
Seat height at lowest point: ~870mm (34 ¼“ )
also for those with the 17" rear wheel mod, the Road Attack 4 are quite a bit better than the Road Attack 3. They steer more frivolous (they're rounder), and cup less.
Next up, BST's?
500lbs
49% front, 51% rear
fork rake between 23 and 24 degrees (stock is 26 and a bit).
Seat height at lowest point: ~870mm (34 ¼“ )
also for those with the 17" rear wheel mod, the Road Attack 4 are quite a bit better than the Road Attack 3. They steer more frivolous (they're rounder), and cup less.
Next up, BST's?
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) Max ! Alvast bedankt voor goede informatie hier !
FTR London
Well-known member
I love those bars - and the bike has real attitude and individuality with the changes you've made. Looks brilliant. Surprised you haven't done the exhaust though.
FTR London
Well-known member
Ffs, I miss California -
Max Kool
Well-known member
Ha! For two reasons.
1. I like my bike a bit louder than stock, but love to keep it within limits (as Performance Bikes once wrote: if you plan on breaking the law by riding too fast, don’t draw too much attention)
2. Ryan from Lloydz insisted on keeping the cat, that’s the best setup for the FTR unless you’re installing the full Toce low. The cat doesn’t rob power and the resonator is actually good for midrange. I hate the looks though…
FTR London
Well-known member
Thanks, very informative as usual.
Have you considered the Toce low mount though? It would really finish it off.