So not a Joke this, very serious. I mentioned a few weeks ago I bought a cat c gsxr600 k4, looked over it in detail, and it's all good, very pleased, that is apart from this one big issue. Now I've ridden c.20k miles on my last 2 blades in all conditions, all year, with no incidents at all. I've ridden the gsxr 250 miles and I've had 3 incidents already. I'm not riding any different honestly, in fact if anything I'm taking it easy. I noticed from the outset it feels very light, kinda twitchy, especially if changing gear on anything other than a straight. I just put it down to being a light 600. I checked tyre pressures etc and all good. I've since had 3 moments where the rear has stepped out on a roundabout, the rear has spun up in second gear, and today in my most scary moment on a bike to date, the front locked up in a fairly bad way and I nearly low sided. Of course the roads tyres are a bit cold and wet, but I've never had anything ever like this on the blade. So, what's going on then. Diablo tyres got decent tread and Only 6 months old. Suspension is probably all that is left and is where my mind is at. I've never played with suspension and it's an area I have little confidence on. Anyone care to offer their thoughts? Cheers
Diablo tyres, bin them...all my near off's in the wet were when using them or corsa III's they are the worst wet tyre I have ever used.also get a suspension check up as the standard shocks get lazy too quick as I found after my fifth major tankslapper on my gixer 600.
Cat C as in crash damaged? I'd perhaps consider a phone call to the local priest for an exorcism mate
Could you drop it to a dealer for a check over, things like wheel alignment, swinging arm, forks etc. Should not cost you too much but give some peace of mind if nothing else
Interesting, whilst a bit twitchy in the dry during weight shift etc, it has only been in the wet I've had these problems. I've bought a spare set of wheels with wets on them so think I'll try a swap at the weekend if they're as bad as you say.
The roads are very greasy at the moment, my E Class car stepped out twice this morning on the way to station, and that’s with TC fitted as standard. But I would get it into a dealer or someone who knows what they are doing to check it out, it doesn’t sound safe to ride to me. Oh and Honda Fireblades are the best bike in the whole wide world, of course they are.
Yeah I think just to be sure I'll drop it in to my local independent for a quick check over although like I say it all looks good from what I've seen. I know the write off was just due to a slow spill and plastics damage but I guess something else could be an issue that's not immediately apparent.
my RR5 spun up on the motorway in the wet on neutral throttle, this was after a few other close calls so thats when I decided to move to the pilot power's...never looked back.
Being category C I'm guessing it's had the VIC check? Mot Since it's been dropped/crashed? Gsxr are good toys they need reving up to get them moving, they handle nice in the dry but soon as damp/icey weather come down these are no good (death machine). You can't compare blade to Gsxr in hot or cold weather. Blade is what is says it is on tin. Category C or D doesn't mean f@@k all it's down to insurance company inspection reports some tools say its cat c when really it's cat d. Most owners don't want these their smashed bikes back.
No they have to have vic Martin by law if 2013 bike that doesn't need mot till 3years . It will need a vic even if S reg cat c your insurance won't insure it with out the vic mot. The engine numbers will be removed from log book as well if its cat c .
My gsxr came with diablos fitted and my first real run out on it was the Scotland tour, as can be seen from the write ups the start of the weekend was pretty dry and found the tyres ok to ride with as long as I waited about 10-15 mins before starting to push. Now as the weekend progressed it got wetter and I ended up right at the back of the pack after the bike attempted to spit me off at least 6 times over the last two days! By the last day and heading home I ended up telling everyone to just carry on and I would meet up with them at the hotel as I had lost all confidence in the bike to take any sort of corner that leads to anything over about 5 degrees of lean! As soon as I got the bike home the first thing to get swapped was the tyres to a set of michelin's pr3's and I have not looked back since but I can tell you Pirelli will never don my bikes wheels ever again!
I had a GSXR600 K4 as my last bike and loved it. It is light and flickable as I used to throw it around a lot. I used to run Bridgestone BT016's on it and it only ever got unexpectedly unsettled in the cold/wet when i was giving it more than I should have. I remember one time when I lost the front into a roundabout, saved it, then spun the rear up coming out. It was a cold morning and hadn't given the tyres time to warm up.
