Kinda embarrassing question

Quick background been riding for 25 years or so. Last 10-12 have been dirt/dual sport rode sport bikes before but moved to Texas not a whole lot of good rides here. To get to the point just bought a 2008 VFR800 bike felt off when doing u-turn or figure 8. Almost like bike was fighting me wanting to counter steer. Is that just difference in rake I’m feeling compared to say my KLR650 thats making it feel so akward? Bike has never been down basic mechanical check is good. Have I just been riding dirt/dual sport bikes too long that I forgot how sport bikes feel?

 

are you sure tire pressures are correct ? just a few pounds low and you'll be fighting the front to get it to turn.

 

I'd be more tempted to say head bearings.

 

tyre pressure, could equal a wheel barrel in the handling category, I have seen it first hand. Not on my own machines of course 佗寂

 

Might have been as simple as tire pressure didn't have a guage just used my hand. Will check pressure when I get home. I'll also check bearings.

Deal was too good to pass $2500 2008 19,000miles never down, few very small scratches, power commander, delkevic exhaust, ASV levers.

 

Check tyre wear. squared off tyre will feel funny. also take your time to get used to bike , yes it will feel totally different to the klr.

 

your hand ????? how very scientifik and very unwise and needlessly risky.

i never ride an unfamiliar bike without checking tire pressure FIRST ! ALWAYS !

 

You tend to get a pretty good feel for pressure after a while. Currently ride africa twin and klr650 always airing tires up and down. Can usually estimate tire pressure within 2-4lbs just by feel.

It was a quick run through the gears not a lap around willow springs. Was confident tires had 25-30lbs in the front more in the rear.

Head bearing was bad which caused some weird sensations while turning slow.

 

I can attest to the effect of front tire pressure. After mounting 4 or 5 new tires over the years, Cycle Gear never cleaned off the build up of old rubber off my 2014 rim. My front had to inflated just about every time I went out, if I didn’t it handled poorly, difficult to turn. I finally put the bike up on my Abba lift and submerged the rim in water and watched the bubbles coming out between tire and the rim all the way around! I thought I had problems with right angle valves.

 

Wow, that's unacceptable from Cycle Gear! I just had a new rear tire installed at the local Honda. R&R & balance for $30.00.
They even use black stick-on weights. Been taking my wheels/tires to them for 9 yrs. with no issue.

 

I really second this as well. You may have already found a solution to your issue but for others who may have similar issues may stumble upon this thread. In the past, the vast majority of my riding was freeway riding to and from work. The tires in such riding doe really develop a wide and very flat surface area. You really do feel the edge when you decide to go for a spirited ride with the tires like this.