fe600racer said:
I know that Cycle News has an 09 that is being tested as we speak. I was fortunate enough to be invited along on a ride with some of the cycle news testers and got to ride their 450, it was great to be able to compare it against my 570.
As far as suspension set up goes. I dropped my suspension off at the suspension tuner that I have been using for the last 8 years for a re spring and a re valve as he see's fit. He has always provided me with a great package. I will say that this is probably the best stock suspension that I have ever ridden on. I am about 190 lbs with gear on, and the stock suspension works pretty good at slow speeds, except the rear feels harsh over the rocks and forks deflect a bit too much even at the "standard" settings.
Once you start to speed up the both ends of the suspension feel like they are firming up, but this is a bit misleading. For as you increase your speed further you find that when you come to the hits at higher speed, both ends tend to blow through the travel. At a recent race (ride report coming) that I rode just to put some hours on the bike, I bottomed the bike several times, HARD. However, even with the hard bottoming the bike tracked straight and did not try and swap ends.
As far as the twitch goes.........The bike is a bit nervous at high speeds through the sand and chop, but, IMHO this twitch is caused not by geometery, but, by the front suspension action.
I am supposed to get my suspension back this weekend, and will be riding next weekend and will post my evaluation.
