Wanker Stripes Front vs Rear

[BillyD]

OK you suspension set-up gurus, riddle me this...

On my HM, I have virtually no wanker stripes on the rear tire, but it is obvious I'm not using the front tire to the same extent. On the front, I probably have 1/2" or so unused tire. (Pirelli Diablo Stradas)

By comparison, when I used to run my KTM 640 Supermoto over the same roads (Pesky, Alpine, Old Page Mill, Moody), I would have no chicken stripes at all on the front tire, but 1/2" wide stripes on the rear. (Bridgestones Battlaxes)

My riding style and aggression is about the same on both bikes, which got me thinking about set-up.

What conclusions might one draw about the two set-ups? I've never fiddled with the HM ride height adjuster and I believe it is at its stock and lowest setting.

Seems like if I increased rear ride height, I would more fully load the front end and perhaps start using more of the front tire. As it is now, the front end seems to stick reasonably well, pushing a bit only when I hit the inevitable patches here and there.

[hyperdookie]

Not an answer, but an added question. Is anyone out there using the entire front tire on the Hyper?

[remery]

I did a few track days on a 640 KTM with Pilot Powers I always had quite wide chicken strips on the front but none on the 160 rear except when I put a 160 on a 4.25 rim and I ended up with half inch chicken strips. Obviously the tyre was too wide for the rim.

I'm still getting used to the Hyper and haven't done a track day yet and have half in chicken strips on the back which looks pretty lame. If I can't get rid of them riding I'll take to them with the electric sander!

[sconly]

I have about 1/4" on the rear and 1/2" on the front

[whippersnapper]

it would seem then the OP is only half a wanker

[Duc102]

I'm getting all the good out of the back tire and have ground down my rear brake lever halfway and scraped the pegs around a bit.

Still have about a quarter inch unused on the front tire.

[reynolds_brad]

Might have to do with profile differences between the two different bike tire/wheel setups.

ITs pretty common that riders can run off the edge in the rear but not the front. Seen it for years.

I often ride the same roads as you and on my DZR400SM im scrubbed to the edge front and back. On the HM which ive only had for a week now its not the same case, but i plan on getting a bit more dialed in on it. As far as Alpine I'm not sure ill ever be as quick on the HM as i am on the DRZ. Might be that im not fully used to it but my current thought is the DRZ is still better suited for that particular type of rd.

What do you guys end up going with the suspension to get them to hang in the super nimble stuff?

[MongoWERA]

I'd guess it's more due to wheel size and tire shape than anything else.

[BillyD]

Originally Posted by whippersnapper

it would seem then the OP is only half a wanker

True, but as long as I get off, ask me if I care...!

Originally Posted by reynolds_brad

Might have to do with profile differences between the two different bike tire/wheel setups.

The profiles of the two types are tires are quite similar; however, the KTM rear was a 160 vs 180 on the HM. Everything else being equal, I would have expected to use more of the smaller 160. When I first got the HM, I thought to myself I will never use the whole 180, but to my surprise I do.

In any case, rather than comparing the two bikes/wheels/tires (even though that's what got me thinking about this in the first place), perhaps a more generic question might be:

If you are using way more of one tire (front vs rear) than the other, could the set-up be adjusted to get a better balance? Or should well enough be left alone?

[CDONA]

After watching the IOM coverage, I'm convinced that the race rubber doesn't wrap around the side walls as much as my scorpion syncs do. Different profiles between tires an apples/oranges thing. I'm going to measure with a tailors tape my sync and the bridgestone on my TW, both 180's.