Finished the first day of the MSF basic rider course and...

newbie88 · 11-21-2019, 04:25 PM

Wow...I don't know whether it's a center of gravity issue, the street tires or both - but I can corner/turn SO much better with these training yamaha cruisers than I can with my hawk 250 with the stock knobbies. Makes me want to switch out the tires immediately. I have no confidence while cornering in my hawk. I feel like I'll fall right on my side. Is this normal as a newbie?

**JerryHawk250** · 11-21-2019, 04:30 PM

Congrats!
Yeah, The stock knobbies aren't really designed for high speeds or cornering even though I do. lol But I have been riding well over 40 years. Get more street oriented tires for the road. You will feel much safer riding.

duck9191 · 11-21-2019, 05:14 PM

Dirt bikes feel much different than a low cruiser in the corners. Tires are not doing you any favors either, but even with pure street tires the hawk will feel more uneasy. You will get used to the lean angle of the taller bikes.

**cheesy** · 11-21-2019, 07:49 PM

Congrats.
It took me awhile to get comfortable with the full potential of my 40 year old Honda's cornering abilities when I took my ARC(Advanced Rider Course). Surprised me what that old pig can do. MSF didn't exist when I got my license cough, cough years ago.

Sport Rider · 11-22-2019, 10:06 AM

Switch from the stock 80/20 tires to a 50/50. mine handled much better and I still had a reasonably aggressive tread for casual off-roading.

roundhouse · 11-22-2019, 10:15 AM

The tires definitely effect that but like you said center of gravity, height and suspension geometry all play huge roles in how it feels.

My bike feels far more planted on the street with shinko 705 tires and a fork brace. Very little wobbly feeling.

OneLeggedRider · 11-22-2019, 10:25 AM

Ehh.. Just depends on what you started out with. I rode and raced dirtbikes for 4yrs before getting my Yamaha Seca, and to this day still feel more comfortable on a dirtbike.

cbrfxr67 · 11-25-2019, 09:32 AM

Congrats! I had a z125 for my msf which made me really want one, which led me to my Vader. I had a blast at the msf riding that thing.

Mudflap · 11-25-2019, 10:09 AM

Tire pressure is critical when it comes to how a bike handles. Cant always go by manufacturers recommendations, especially the Chinese. A difference of 5 psi in the front tire especially can make a world of difference.

11-21-2019, 04:25 PM	#1
newbie88 Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 17	Finished the first day of the MSF basic rider course and... Wow...I don't know whether it's a center of gravity issue, the street tires or both - but I can corner/turn SO much better with these training yamaha cruisers than I can with my hawk 250 with the stock knobbies. Makes me want to switch out the tires immediately. I have no confidence while cornering in my hawk. I feel like I'll fall right on my side. Is this normal as a newbie?
	1

11-21-2019, 04:30 PM	#2
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,573	Congrats! Yeah, The stock knobbies aren't really designed for high speeds or cornering even though I do. lol But I have been riding well over 40 years. Get more street oriented tires for the road. You will feel much safer riding. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
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11-21-2019, 05:14 PM	#3
duck9191 Join Date: May 2019 Location: Port Huron, Michigan Posts: 637	Dirt bikes feel much different than a low cruiser in the corners. Tires are not doing you any favors either, but even with pure street tires the hawk will feel more uneasy. You will get used to the lean angle of the taller bikes. __________________ 2020 Triumph Tiger 900 rally. 2018 Bashan Storm 250. pz30b, digital cluster + gear indicator, unifilter and car customs full exhaust. 2019 Taotao 110b boulder atv. The "arm breaker" lol 2007 Honda VTX 1300R. 1974 Suzuki tm125, work in progress 2001 Suzuki Drz 400s.
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11-21-2019, 07:49 PM	#4
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,813	Congrats. It took me awhile to get comfortable with the full potential of my 40 year old Honda's cornering abilities when I took my ARC(Advanced Rider Course). Surprised me what that old pig can do. MSF didn't exist when I got my license cough, cough years ago. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
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11-22-2019, 10:25 AM	#7
OneLeggedRider Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Stockport, Oh. Posts: 1,442	Ehh.. Just depends on what you started out with. I rode and raced dirtbikes for 4yrs before getting my Yamaha Seca, and to this day still feel more comfortable on a dirtbike. __________________ ~ Don't poke the bear ~ M.M.I. Dean's List graduate class of '95 and Specialty welder 2020 Ice Bear Terifecta 150cc Trike 2011 Honda Foreman 500ES 4x4 2001 Polaris Scrambler 400
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11-22-2019, 10:06 AM	#5
Sport Rider Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Mooresville NC Posts: 2,044	Switch from the stock 80/20 tires to a 50/50. mine handled much better and I still had a reasonably aggressive tread for casual off-roading.
	1

11-22-2019, 10:15 AM	#6
roundhouse Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: N Texas Posts: 706	The tires definitely effect that but like you said center of gravity, height and suspension geometry all play huge roles in how it feels. My bike feels far more planted on the street with shinko 705 tires and a fork brace. Very little wobbly feeling.
	1

11-25-2019, 09:32 AM	#8
cbrfxr67 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: HOuston Posts: 357	Congrats! I had a z125 for my msf which made me really want one, which led me to my Vader. I had a blast at the msf riding that thing. __________________ BD125-15
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11-25-2019, 10:09 AM	#9
Mudflap Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1,879	Tire pressure is critical when it comes to how a bike handles. Cant always go by manufacturers recommendations, especially the Chinese. A difference of 5 psi in the front tire especially can make a world of difference.
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