2012 xt660z
 

As the proud owner of a nearly year old XT660Z I find I'm having a few wet weather issues, 3 times now I've braked hard in teh wet to find the back end viciuosly sliding. First time was the day after I bought it on the motorway round Glasgow in rush hour, speed about 15mph or less, 2nd gear, I'm slipping into a gap when the car to the left of the gap came into the gap I was going into. Ended up full sideways across the lane, 2nd time was on a fast trunk road in pouring rain, slowing for a roundabout and again ended upsliding on full right lock towards the roundabout. I was travelling in top around 50 mph. Gently released the brakes and straightened up. Third time was on a muddy, wet single track road, speed about 40 in 3rd, robust braking for the right hander coming up and yep, the ****** slid at the back from side to side 4 times. Released the brakes again and slid down the side road (twin muddy ruts actually). It copes with the mud pretty well and the slides, though initially quick and vicious, are controllable, at no time did I feel like it was going down.
Tyres are Michelin Sirac (4000 miles old - plenty left on them) rear suspension is on 3rd notch, front suspension is reportedly 3 turns harder than standard (haven't checked this yet) tyre pressures are 30 / 33 F/R.
Now it's quite possible that I'm a lead foot on the back brake (Previous bike was an Aprilia Caponord Rallye, which had a back brake that you could stand on with both feet and a heavy mate on your shoulders and not lock it up)
So, is it me? Would sftening the suspension help, are the tyre pressures right? Or are Michelin Siracs not that good on wet tarmac?

I've moved the post into the general area.


I'm going with the lead foot theory. Keep off the clutch when breaking, this will stop the wheel locking - unless you are so hard you stall the bike as well!!

You could check to see that all is well with the rear caliper, it's possible the brakes are binding, and locking on when you brake.

I'd also check your pressures, too hard and the tyres have no contact patch. But I really can't see this as the main cause of your problems.

The suspension settings are nothing to worry about, they certainly (on a stock bike) won't cause the problems you are describing, club foot or binding bakes is where my money goes.

could be wrong here but it sounds a bit like your putting the rear brake on before the front
when the front comes on 2nd it tranfers weight away from the rear and can cause it to lock eventhough it was braking ok before the front was introduced
it may be weight transfer to the front thats upsetting the rear brake

just a suggestion

+1

I reckon you've not quite sussed out the balance of the Tenere yet when on the brakes. In addition to what minkyhead suggests, it is also very tempting with softly suspended bikes to use more rear brake than necessary, because the fork dive is a little disconcerting in order to compensate for it, particularly if you've come off something stiffer!

I think it's the lead foot as I was the same for the first few thousand miles on my ten. I then didnt use the rear brake for a while unless I was stopping as I worn motorcross boots which are tricky to feel the brake. now I'm back on road boots and I've adjusted the rear pedal I'm getting the nak of the rear brake

rear braking
 

Yep. I'm going lead foot. First time was the day I got it......wearing alt berg hoggs. Next two times were in motocross style boots. Haven't had the issue in the hoggs since that first time. So I'll check tyre pressures and avoid lead foting thr rear and see how I get on. Thanks for the help.

When I change from my road boots to MX style boots i had the exact same problem in the wet and very nearly ended up accross the back end of a beemer. It was because I wasn't used to my boots and I was lead footing the rear brake. Not so bad now ive got used to them, but tbh I still prefere to use my road alpinestars :)

yes the tenere is a boingy tw at...at the front in standard form
... use your front on road first its the main braking brake

a little practise just say in your head ... front bite squeeze .... rear bite squeeze . in a fast rythem
.i reacon you will be sorted
get the weight to the front first and then intriduce there rear

..the more front you use the more weight goes forward ..so the more front ..the less rear

never more rear than front

wet roads front then ...rear evan braking but always front first

less front when its wet of corse to allow for the lack of grip ..but this will leave more weight over the rear wheel .:045:

..so even though the road surface is wet the lighter touch on the front takes less weight from the rear and makes it more effective in spite of the wet road

in the wet front first ..then rear 50/50 pressure on the levers ..never more rear than front ..or phone a freind



different subject alltogether off road emergancy stop


now having said all that heres a interesting video that does just the opposite for a emegancy off road ...this of course is the opposite of the road ..as overloading the front off road on a loose surface is not great as i know and i guess quite a few of us do too .. but ...the weight distribution of the rider makes this make sense ..i have to say the conditions and serfice make it look better on the video than salter fell would be in january ...but its worth a watch to see what distribution of weight can do for us on a adventure bike

i have practiced this ..and its .. not as good as these guys but the principle is sound have look ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrR7R-NfVR0

rear braking
 

Ah such useful replies. I'm ashamed to realise that I've allowed complacency to introduce basic errors. I know the onn road braking theory but have been lazy in practice.
After 35 years of riding I still get rusty after a 2 month lay off.
So it's back to commentary riding to sharpen up, you know, talking myself through the ride [I do this on the pushbike]. Oh and fingers OFF the clutch.
I'm humbled and grateful for the maturity of the responses......no mickey taking. Thanks.

Ah,,, but now you've had your gentle introduction..... :eusa_whistle: