Chicken strips!

[thelastsuperpower]

Dont worry, not a noob question about how to get rid of them

After my first proper blast of the year,noticed my front strips are about half the size of the rear.From what i can gather most people have the opposite.Would this be indicative of a suspension setup issue or just down to the way i ride?
My old vfr had the same, though i suspect that was due to a ton of sag in the forks.Ive recently set the sag on the ninja and tyres are fine.

Not important at all, just something that got me thinking really!

[delvey91]

mine are the same, but thats because of the profile of my tyres, i have a 150 rear on a rim meant for a 130

[Sixth Gear]

Ditto me to, well I don't have chicken strips but I've worn the edges of the front tyre more than the rear. No expert on suspension setup, but it could be that the front tyre could do with a few more PSI, and down to riding style if you brake hard into corners than you accelerate out, then I'd imagine you'd be giving the front tyre edges more scrubbing than the rear. I'm sure someone far more knowledgeable than me will put me right in a minute!

[deej]

yeah i would say its more likely to have a chicken strip on the front than on the rear. it could be something like tyre pressures or a suspension issue if yours is the other way round

[Funky]

I remember years ago SVR-Ash asking this question and on the whole it's about how you turn the front wheel. Some people turn it in more and others counter steer more. It's this that creates the profile of the chicken strips.
Of course the profile of the tyre does come into play also.

My turning style is the former and my tyres wear at a rediculous rate about 45 degrees from centre. I remember having one tyre that looked like a f*cked up triangle.

[deej]

Andy,the rear chicken strips would be down to the lean angle you carry whilst cornering and yes power helps as does a soft tyre. If you accelrate hard whilst upright that won't help your side wear

As for the front I think funkys right in that counter steering helps to get the front leant over further, I unintenionally counter steer especially on track and this helpsto evenly use the full profile of the tyre

[Sixth Gear]

So here's an interesting discussion thread. I respect that Funky has been riding longer and is more knowledgeable than me when it comes to bikes. I thought that all sports bike riders counter steered, by which I assume we're talking about pushing on the inside handlebar, or pulling on the outside handlebar which turns the front wheel (only a small movement) away from the direction you wish to travel which flicks the bike more quickly than simply shifting your body weight can achieve, allowing you to go from one bend to another in more rapid succession. I appreciate while trundling slowly around town there is no need to counter steer, but on a spirited rid-out I'm regularly counter-steering. So out of interest who does it, who doesn't, and why?

[payner]

Dont worry, not a noob question about how to get rid of them

After my first proper blast of the year,noticed my front strips are about half the size of the rear.From what i can gather most people have the opposite.Would this be indicative of a suspension setup issue or just down to the way i ride?
My old vfr had the same, though i suspect that was due to a ton of sag in the forks.Ive recently set the sag on the ninja and tyres are fine.

Not important at all, just something that got me thinking really!

simple answer is the profile of a front is far greater or steeper than rear...
take it to the limit on rear will still leave 1/2 inch untouched on front enjoy trying to get rid of them!!!

[thelastsuperpower]

simple answer is the profile of a front is far greater or steeper than rear...
take it to the limit on rear will still leave 1/2 inch untouched on front enjoy trying to get rid of them!!!

yeah ive got the opposite though mate!No problem getting rid of the front ones

Good point about countersteering, yes we all naturally apply it above a slow pace, but not everybody is aware of how to effectively use it as a tool to better their riding.

[Funky]

Most of the time you ride without a clear conscious knowledge of what you're doing, just what feels comfortable.
This will affect how you turn a corner. Not everyone thinks about counter steering and some think they do it when they dont.

[deej]

can honestly say that when i have been out riding i have never actually thought about it and actively counter steered yet i know i do it on track from the photos, its 2 different styles of riding for me as i no longer ride on the road anywhere as fast as i used too since riding on track (and getting older, )

[thelastsuperpower]

Yeah likewise, id always rode like that but it was only after watching twist of the wrist dvd that I could put a name to what it was i did, if you know what i mean.I learned a few things like i could vary the way i countersteered to initiate a turn in quicker,or tighten up a line midcorner.

[Milky]

what profile tyres do you have? mine's the same. virtually no strips on the front and then nearly a good inch on the back even when ive be ragging it and KD etc. i have a smaller profile tyre on the front (120/60zr17) instead of a 12070zr17! makes the twitchy, white nuckle R6 steering experience even more intense!

[thelastsuperpower]

what profile tyres do you have? mine's the same. virtually no strips on the front and then nearly a good inch on the back even when ive be ragging it and KD etc. i have a smaller profile tyre on the front (120/60zr17) instead of a 12070zr17! makes the twitchy, white nuckle R6 steering experience even more intense!

Just standard sizes mate, 120/70 and 180 on the rear.

[Milky]

what profile tyres do you have? mine's the same. virtually no strips on the front and then nearly a good inch on the back even when ive be ragging it and KD etc. i have a smaller profile tyre on the front (120/60zr17) instead of a 12070zr17! makes the twitchy, white nuckle R6 steering experience even more intense!

Just standard sizes mate, 120/70 and 180 on the rear.

that's pretty strange then! i guess look towards the suspension setup like you said then next?