Hi guys,
I have been staring at Katanas for several months now and thinking I want one. It would be my second bike. My current ride is a 1994 Yamaha Seca II XJ600. It's been a great bike to me and I have put on just over 10,000 miles since December. It's my primary transportation and I love it.
I test rode a 2001 Kat 600 this afternoon and it disappointed me but I suspect I know why. Here's where you come in.
The guy that was selling it lowered the stanchions in the fork clamps around 1.5-2 inches, lowering the front-end by simply sliding the fork legs up. Now, I understand a lot about bicycles and how their frame angles and rake affect their handling, but motorcycles and the countersteering throws a new aspect into the mix. The bike was reluctant to turn at all relative to my Yamaha. I really had to wrestle the bars even around slower speed corners. Not nimble at all. My Yamaha is nible as can be and effortless to turn. I was actually frightened of the Kat. It drove great in a straight line, accelerated nicely, shifted much smoother than my Yamaha but handled like, frankly, sh*te.
Is this consistent with your experience with your Katanas or is this front end modification the culprit. I suspect I already know the answer, but wanted to hear it from a few folks.
Thanks to all.
I have been staring at Katanas for several months now and thinking I want one. It would be my second bike. My current ride is a 1994 Yamaha Seca II XJ600. It's been a great bike to me and I have put on just over 10,000 miles since December. It's my primary transportation and I love it.
I test rode a 2001 Kat 600 this afternoon and it disappointed me but I suspect I know why. Here's where you come in.
The guy that was selling it lowered the stanchions in the fork clamps around 1.5-2 inches, lowering the front-end by simply sliding the fork legs up. Now, I understand a lot about bicycles and how their frame angles and rake affect their handling, but motorcycles and the countersteering throws a new aspect into the mix. The bike was reluctant to turn at all relative to my Yamaha. I really had to wrestle the bars even around slower speed corners. Not nimble at all. My Yamaha is nible as can be and effortless to turn. I was actually frightened of the Kat. It drove great in a straight line, accelerated nicely, shifted much smoother than my Yamaha but handled like, frankly, sh*te.
Is this consistent with your experience with your Katanas or is this front end modification the culprit. I suspect I already know the answer, but wanted to hear it from a few folks.
Thanks to all.
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