55 tyre or Jackup?

[Coopz]

I want to raise the ass on the old girl as I've heard lots of people say it improves the bikes handling and turn in ability (I personally don't think the stock 1400 handles that well).

 Anyway what would be the best hack?
Also heard a 30mm raise renders the centre stand as useless.. My rear tyre is getting due for a replacement

[grog]

Agree Coopz, standard 14 handling is no good, big wallowy pogo stick.one mod wont fix it. Grease and adjust head and swing arm bearings.Decent set of tyres. Reco forks with better springs, rear shocks either rebuild or replace, rebuilt mine. Have it set up for your weight.Once set up, leave it be. Coming home tonight was thinking your comment, my front and rear work so well together, that is work independently of each other to give a perfect bike to ride.👍Comments from someone who had a Ducati for 80 th ks, it also handled nice.

[Mick_J]

I use a 55 tyre on mine but I can't say it altered the handling to any degree, what it does do is make the speedo a little more accurate and lowers revs (A little) when riding.

[BbigMmac]

Have both, 55 tyre in the rear and jack up. Haven't noticed any instability at higher speeds but is sure does turn better and rolls beter on corners and round abouts.

[seth]

I had a 55 profile tyre on a couple of years ago (was fitted by mistake as i wanted a std 50 profile tyre) in didn't notice anything weird but I didn't like the feel as it turned in to a corner .
I went back to a standard profile for the next and all other tyres since.

[Hooli]

I don't like 55s or jacked up 14s either. They handle fine as they are if you set them up for your weight & ride them properly.

[gsxbarmy]

I agree 100% with Hooli, 14's don't need a 55 profile tyre or a jack up kit, they just need the suspension setting up properly by a specialist, costs about £90 upwards depending on where you live in the UK. Made an amazing difference to my 14 when I had it done at Steve Jordan Motorcycles, the bike was transformed. Jack up kits can increase chain wear and do make your centre stand a total waste of time, as the bike is higher than the mainstand itself.

http://www.stevejordanmotorcycles.co.uk/

[Hooli]

If you want to know what it feels like jacked up, just drop the yokes down the forks a bit (10mm or so). That has the same effect on the geometry of the bike, it reduces the rake so sharpens the steering. The main difference is it also reduces ground clearance slightly, but you'll know how the bike feels at that angle. I found it means they fall into bends & you feel like you are holding them up so they don't low side when pushing on. That & the extra weight on my wrists is what I don't like about it.

As for a 55 tyre. I found it made the back a bit wallowly & upset the balance front to rear on rough roads.

Oh as for suspension setup, I'm not far off the MCN settings & they work for me. The front is slightly different but I can't recall what & as the compression adjuster seized years ago I couldn't even check what it's set too.

Others think different, but that's my 2p's worth.

[Phill P]

I had a jack up kit...Still have, handled in my opinion better as drop is was nicer, easier to flick etc looked good. However centre stand unusable, on sidestand bike seem to lean much further over, the worst part was I seemed keep getting pushed into the tank due to the seat now sloping sighting. Took it off but did like the positives.

[GSXKING]

2002 I put Mattisse lifters under rear shocks to avoid scrapping the foot pegs off all the time. They're expensive to replace 😳.
Probably 2003 I then fitted heavier fork springs and oil which stopped front end dive and assisted turn in, combined with lift kit (shortened wheelbase) it made for superior handling. 55 tyres I've tried and gone back to standard so I can get right to the edge and more stable under acceleration out of the turn.