Cruise Control at 40km/u in 2nd gear: straight line?

[GvG]

I have a question to other liquid cooled R1200/1250RT owners: If you put your bike on cruise control in 2nd gear at 40km/h (about 25 miles), does your bike goes in a straight line when you take your hands of the handlebar?


Mine ('20 R1250RT) weaves a bit and I have to use my body to hold it in a straight line. Maybe that's normal, that's why I like to hear the experience from other RT riders.


Thanks in advance!


PS. I don't have to know about other speeds, only 40km/h....

[Sullivj]

I don't have an LC, but couldn't help wonder why you're taking your hands off the bars? 


Personally, I always keep at least one hand on the bars. The state of the roads means it doesn't take much to knock the bike off course - not what you need when you're waving both arms in the air!

[David.]

Check out this video at 0:35, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbgQg0waOzc

[Sullivj]

So. he can jump on his bike - good for him! 


I don't need to let go of my bike to understand how it handles, but each to their own.

[GvG]

I don't have an LC, but couldn't help wonder why you're taking your hands off the bars? 


Personally, I always keep at least one hand on the bars. The state of the roads means it doesn't take much to knock the bike off course - not what you need when you're waving both arms in the air!

Well, this is a good way to check how a bike behaves and/or is stable at 40km/u using cruise control without hands on the handlebar.

Of course I always have both hands on the handlebar, but I think at 40km/u there is yet no (or little) gyroscopic effect and that's why the RT weaves a bit (at least my bike), hopefully normal but to make sure I like to hear from other RT LC owners.

[David.]

In the i2i MCA video posted above, at 1:20 a bicycle wheel is used to demonstrate the gyroscopic effects of a spinning wheel. I doubt very much that the wheel is rotating at anywhere near 25 mph. Just read an article which says that motorcycle wheel gyroscopic forces are created above 5 mph.

I don't have an LC but my 2012 Camhead doesn't weave.

[GvG]

It's a very light Street Triple with "normal" front suspension, and not a heavy RT LC with it's Telelever with a ball joint steering; very different.



Maybe a camhead reacts different if you put it on cruise control in 2nd gear at 25 mph, and take your hands of the handlebar, due to other dimensions and steering and suspension, I don't know.


Other RT LC owners maybe want to try this?


Thanks in advance!  :kacsint2:

[David.]

How does the 2020 R1250RT compare to the previous two R1200RT LC's owned.

(The R1250GSA has the same suspension & steering set up as an RT, that didn't weave at low speeds).

[GvG]

The main difference between the R1200RT LC and the R1250RT is the torque; if you look at the torque-curve of a 1250 you see it has already about 140NM at 5000t/pm and that you feel  . Also the 1200 RT has 3 suspension modes, and the 1250 only 2, road and dynamic, and the road mode is softer than the softest setting on the 1200, even too soft if you ask me. And the 1250 front brakes (Hayes) are a lot harder and better than the 1200 Brembo's, if they aren't leaking that is  8) ......


And the 1250 is a bit smoother than a 1200, you can ride 2000t/pm around town and pull away.


And you are right, I rode several R1250GS(A)'s and they don't weave at all, maybe because of the wider handlebars or maybe it has way less weight around the cockpit, I don't know. The R1250GS(A) handles like a big supermoto!


The RT also handles very well in the corners, but in a straight line at very low speeds (about 25 mph) is not that good, at least my bike isn't.

[David.]

Does the suspension mode setting have any impact on the weaving in a straight line at low speeds.

[GvG]

No. At 25 mph suspension doesn't do a lot anyway.

[Levisp]

GvG I had a chance today to try cruise ON 3rd Gear 30 mph hands off and the bike track pretty straight. Yes there was some movement on the bars but I put that down to the road surface and a part worn front tyre. Overall reasonably stable. Any correction needed was sorted with just the slightest weight on the pegs. Obviously the faster you go the more stable the bike will track. So I think from your description all is good.

[GvG]

Thanks mate!


For some reason my bike is also more stable in 3rd gear than in 2nd gear at 25/30 mph, I think because the engine makes more revs in 2nd and therefore more "boxer effect" through the entire bike making it a bit more going from left to right.