Top heaviness

[maxtog]

I probably should have been more clear on my slow speed maneuvering statement. It's not that I can't, just at some of the situations I find myself in it can wear me out. I've gone through wildlife preserves on gravel roads with a line of cars in front driving at 0 to 10 mph for miles. Just trying to balance it for a long time at slow speeds can be rough. Just compared to my old cruisers, which was heavier, I could ride at the slower speeds easier.

Oh, there is no question it is more top heavy than a cruiser.  And I agree it is more tiresome trying to balance and maneuver at very low speed.  It is the price to pay for clearance and cornering.

[ZG]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6Dh5FOQJD6k#t=4s

[VirginiaJim]

You know, you guys kill me...

Anyway, what does 'top heavy' mean and I want the answer in terms of MCs, not people.  I think that's been made abundantly clear.

[stevewfl]

1400 CC's of mad pow-ah from engine and KiPass.....   sure it'll be  a little top heavy 

My behemoth  ZX14 was too compared to my ZX6's, ZX9's, R1s, CBr's, Gixxers, etc that I've owned

[stevewfl]

You know, you guys kill me...

Anyway, what does 'top heavy' mean and I want the answer in terms of MCs, not people.  I think that's been made abundantly clear.

adj. top-heav·i·er, top-heav·i·est. 1. Likely to topple because of an uneven distribution of weight, with the majority being at the top

[katata1100]

You know, you guys kill me...

Anyway, what does 'top heavy' mean and I want the answer in terms of MCs, not people.  I think that's been made abundantly clear.

Those pics of excessive augmentation surgery jobs are just nasty.
A bike that is top heavy, when driven slowly in turns, will feel more likely to fall down than one that is not top heavy. A good example of a not-too top heavy bike would be a cruiser. The engine is mounted low, the seat height is low, which helps lower your weight to the ground.
In my town, every year, they hold a motorcycle competition for LEO's. Motocops from around the state  come as do moto cops from Northern CA.
They have to navigate pylons, circles, stuff like that and it is timed. I don't think anyone has brought a C14, the bikes that LEO's bring seem to be HD or BMW. I don't think anyone has won it with a BMW; the HD have the edge in low speed handling. Chalk it up to low center of balance.
In NV, the highway patrol uses only BMW. Our local sherrif only uses HD. Highway patrol patrols highways that have speed limits of up to 75mph. Local sherrif with the HD patrols and area that has top speed of 45mph. Different bikes for different purposes.

[maxtog]

Anyway, what does 'top heavy' mean and I want the answer in terms of MCs, not people.  I think that's been made abundantly clear.

A higher center of gravity compared to something else.  More mass above the point of rotation.  It manifests itself as being harder to keep it upright when not perfectly straight- more inertia and heavier when trying to fall over.

[VirginiaJim]

I haven't had a plethora (word of the day for tomorrow) of experience on multiple bike types.  First bike was a Silver Wing GL500.  I guess you could say that was more of a standard type bike in it's day.  The next was a Voyager XII which did sit low, although it didn't have any issues with falling down at low speeds (did that a couple of times with it).  The next was a C10 which I think is similar in top heaviness as the C14 (knock on wood, haven't had any low speed dumps).  It fell over once but that was because I didn't put the side stand down so it doesn't count.  I guess I'm used to the top heaviness of Kwak sport tourers so I don't think one way or another about it now.

[Cuda]

Steve that picture is down right SICK 

[gPink]

The first Honda 750s were top heavy.

[ZG]

  Holy  !!

[VirginiaJim]

sigh...

[ZG]

sigh...

 

[PlaynInPeoria]

I have a 2012 C14 and a 2003 C10 (for sale!).  I rode the C10 last night to get it ready for a potential buyer.  I was really surprised how low the seat height was and how 'non-top heavy' it was compared to my C14.   I still like the C14 better, minus the linked brakes and the seat.  That old C10 is still a great bike, especially when you consider how old it is.

[VirginiaJim]

I have a 2012 C14 and a 2003 C10 (for sale!).  I rode the C10 last night to get it ready for a potential buyer.  I was really surprised how low the seat height was and how 'non-top heavy' it was compared to my C14.   I still like the C14 better, minus the linked brakes and the seat.  That old C10 is still a great bike, especially when you consider how old it is.

No, it isn't.  You haven't rode the C14 enough.  You're riding '86 technology.

I had my C10 (2002) for about 6 months after I got the C14.   I used to ride it every weekend just to keep things fresh on it.   However, every time I did I kept on saying to myself:  Whats wrong with these brakes?  What's wrong with this suspension?  It handles funny.  It can't take the corners like the C14... and on and on.  Bear in mind that there wasn't anything wrong with the C10 before I bought the C14.

[smg id=468]

[sherob]

Ride a ST1300... that booger is top heavy. 

[wroman]

I have around 5K on my 2012 and after coming off HD Ultra's and a Victory Vision the C-14 does not seem to me to be top heavy.  Let me explain what I mean.  First off the C-14 does not fall into corners, it must be steered to turn.  That may be tires but I suspect that is only part of the answer.  The Concours just seems to me to be very predictable and can be ridden without much forethought. When I had a GL1800 I was always doing practice runs in empty parking lots to get better at handling that bike, I never found that bike easy to ride in all situations.  I hated that it always wanted to fall over when leaned into corners and needed correction.  I find the c-14 a very easy bike to unwind on, fun and relaxing to ride on my favorite two lane yet it is a blast to run fast on the highway.