[RyanW]

I test rode an RT a while ago and was very impressed. The few corners that I got to ride through had me wonder about what I may have described as a vague or numb feeling from the front tire. The bike was a demo, and it's hardly fair to judge a bike so quickly but I grew up on sportbikes and have had my fair stare of track bikes so I am a little concerned I may never be truly happy with it.

The dealer told me you just have to trust the bike. I guess I can live with that, I was just wondering if anyone else with a sportbike background felt the same way when they got their RT and how they feel about it after owning the bike for a season or two. Also, the front end ride height cannot be changed because of the telelever, correct?

 

[150flyer]

I test rode an RT a while ago and was very impressed. The few corners that I got to ride through had me wonder about what I may have described as a vague or numb feeling from the front tire. The bike was a demo, and it's hardly fair to judge a bike so quickly but I grew up on sportbikes and have had my fair stare of track bikes so I am a little concerned I may never be truly happy with it.

The dealer told me you just have to trust the bike. I guess I can live with that, I was just wondering if anyone else with a sportbike background felt the same way when they got their RT and how they feel about it after owning the bike for a season or two. Also, the front end ride height cannot be changed because of the telelever, correct?

The cornering issues you spoke of probably have more to do with the fact you were on stock, sport touring tires. And unless you checked, was the tire pressure correct for the conditions, rider weight, etc.

 

[RyanW]

No idea, and there's a chance I was in comfort mode too.

 

[dirtdreamer50]

Had fun playing with the ESA II system on this morning's ride. The cornering stability difference between comfort and sport is night and day. Not that comfort mode isn't great in turns, but sport really tightens up the suspension to almost sport bike reactions. Kinda rough feeling for regular highway riding, though.

The front suspension isn't a standard telescopic style and I've heard for years that the front end feels vague in turns, but it's not a sport bike, for that they have the S1000RR.

 

[AntRT]

Almost right off the bat I was impressed how well my 2011 RT handles especially pleased with the Metzler tires as well.

It's a completely different bike in all senses from a sport bike but with very little saddle time I've had some sport bikes in the hills wonder why that guy on that old man's bike is on their tail

The RT in my opinion doesn't do a few things well, it does many things well.