Better steering: 750 vs 850 frames (2014)

Peter Williams wasn't at Norton when the first bikes were designed, but you are correct regarding the first 750s having sensitive steering. The only way to stop my '68 bike from getting scary at 70+ was to fit a steering damper. It does feel more like a featherbed steering wise than the 850s.

<---That has a 750 frame with an 850 front end and an 18" rear wheel, so according to pundits, purists or whatever, it shouldn't be rideable.

I did notice it was sort of twitchy with the 90/90 front tire, so I swapped with the Titanic (100/90) and it seems better.

850 frames are mostly italian made, then brit fixed

Danno said:

<---That has a 750 frame with an 850 front end and an 18" rear wheel, so according to pundits, purists or whatever, it shouldn't be rideable.

I did notice it was sort of twitchy with the 90/90 front tire, so I swapped with the Titanic (100/90) and it seems better.

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Most riders adjust to their bike's handling, they don't change their bike's handling to suit the way they like to ride. If a bike mishandles seriously, a crash can come from nowhere and unless you are experienced, it will probably get you onto the ground. I had an experience with my Seeley where it stood up and threw me off-balance when I was braking into a corner while cranked over. I turned it on again and looked for a soft place to drop it and luckily it came out of it's sillyness - 'arse beats class'. I then fixed the problem by changing the fork yokes.

With any motorcycle, YOU are the boss - don't let it grab you by the throat. When you are riding it, look for the symptoms. If it rises slightly sideways as you brake, you have a problem. If it throws a twitch with the front wheel, you have a problem. If it is extremely difficult to stop from running wide in corners, you have a problem. So fix it.