I think that it is hard to generalize about the handling of SWB bikes. I have two Bentechs, SWB and
LWB, and a Rans Tailwind (CLWB with 20-inch wheels). When I built the SWB Bentech I had a special
fork made with reduced rake to increase the trail. The increased trail also increased the fork flop,
but greatly reduced the sensitivity. Of the three bikes, the SWB seems the most stable at the speeds
that I ride (12-15mph). The worst handling bike is the Tailwind, but this is because of the weight
distribution and the tendency to lose traction on the front wheel in adverse road conditions.
"B. Sanders" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:SYelb.605663$cF.272162@rwcrnsc53...
Quoted message said:Fred's recent crash on a SWB Vision stirred my thinking about SWB
stability
Quoted message said:in general.
I love my 2000 RANS Rocket SWB/OSS; but it's pretty darned sporty. The
first
Quoted message said:few rides on the Rocket didn't feel very stable. The short wheelbase
seemed
Quoted message said:too short. The handling seemed a little too sporty and sensitive to me.
(I
Quoted message said:had ridden other SWB's before, including a Vision R40 like Fred's). Sensitive/sporty steering is
exactly what you want when you're turning figure-8's in the parking lot, or negotiating a tricky
turn on a narrow path; but when you're going 40+ MPH on a white-knuckle descent, the sensitivity
of the SWB handling can cause some puckering of one's nether regions.
I've gotten used to the steering sensitivity; but I still have to remind myself sometimes, such as
when I'm taking a hand off the bar to swat bugs, shield my eyes from the sun, etc. If you shift
your weight suddenly, and instinctively compensate by applying pressure against one side of the
handlebars, you're asking for trouble. (BTW: This applies much more for
OSS
Quoted message said:than for USS.) This is one of the reasons that I prefer under seat
steering
Quoted message said:(USS). I rarely felt the same instabilities that I sense/note/experience
on
Quoted message said:the Rocket with over seat steering.
Yesterday, while I was gliding along at 21mph or so on a smoothly-paved
bike
Quoted message said:path, I deliberately tugged/wiggled the Rocket's handlebars at various frequencies and amplitudes,
to check stability and test the limits of handling. I could see that it didn't take much force to
upset the
steering;
Quoted message said:but the bike did seem pretty stable within limits. Certain "wiggle frequencies" allowed much
greater steering forces than others without destabilizing the bike. This is as expected: A bike is
an inverted pendulum, basically.
If there are folks who don't like the sensitive/sporty handling of an SWB,
I
Quoted message said:could definitely understand their point of view. Sometimes I think that another foot of wheelbase
would be a good thing, especially at higher speeds. For my purposes, however, the Rocket does
almost everything
right,
Quoted message said:and I can accept the tradeoffs in its design.
-=Barry=- 2000 RANS Rocket
