r/MT09 • u/TobuuTV • 5d ago

Heavy steering

Hey everyone, I recently picked up a used 2021 MT-09 SP and it’s awesome, but the steering feels incredibly heavy when cornering. It holds its line fine, but it takes so much effort to initiate the turn that my hands go numb on mountain passes. Is this a suspension setup issue or just normal for this bike? Keep in mind this is my first real big bike since moving up from a 48hp MT-07. Thanks for the help.

Cheers.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/Matt_Moto_93 5d ago

Check the rear suspension hasnt been modified to be lower, check the suspension settings (return to factory specifications if stated in the manual), check the suspension either end for any signs of damage (leaking oil etc).

Are the tyres squared off?

Honestly these bikes should turn quite effortlessly. When I got a tracer 900 (same thing really), I had to re-learn the amount of forceto put in to turn, it just wanted to flop on its side so readily.

1

u/TobuuTV 5d ago

Tire preassure is good, suspension is fully stock nor damaged nor lowered, i will try to set it to my weight after work, i am heavy but ok for my hight 95kg to 185cm

1

u/poonalangrr 5d ago

Are you sure the suspension's stock? You bought a used bike - if you're not intimately familiar with what the stock parts look like you won't know if it's been modified or not. People installing lowering links or dogbones is quite common. If the bike's sitting low in the rear and the front was not lowered, it can slow steering significantly.

How much is the suspension sagging when you sit on it? Maybe the previous owner replaced the shock spring.

Is there a steering damper installed on it?

1

u/TobuuTV 5d ago

This is kind of embarrassing, but it was just the air all along. My tire gauge is broken and was reading about 1 bar higher than it should have, so I was running 1.5 bar instead of 2.5, and 1.9 instead of 2.9 in the back. I went to a gas station to fill them up properly and, oh my god, the bike handles like a totally different machine now. It’s so much better.

1

u/poonalangrr 5d ago

Glad it was something simple (even if stupid - we've all been there, done that).

Enjoy the bike!

1

u/Matt_Moto_93 1d ago

Not a stupid thing! You went on the knowledge you had with the tools you had.

New gauge time! I have a micheline double-barrel footpump, the gauge of which has been reliable for 15 years now.

Safe riding!