I was out yesterday when it rained. I've commented before about the bike feeling quite unpleasant on a wet, greasy evening. Yesterday also felt quite skittish in the wet, and I didn't care for it. Could it just be the tyres? Hate to say it, but I'd rather have been on my early-90s Sportster than the Bonneville at that point..
I had that same feeling a few years ago on a set of Dunlop ( ditchfinders ) Roadsmarts every time it rained. Decided 2000 miles into a new set of tyres they were better off in the bin. Changed them for Battleaxe 021's at the time and cured the issue immediately. I would look to see whats compatible with your bike and change the tyres for something youre happier with.
It's not just the tyre's that make the difference. I have a Bandit with Battleaxe 023's. It used to be skittish in the wet until I took it to a suspension engineer and had the bike set up for me. It was superb then and I've total confidence in the tyres now. I don't know what shocks you've got on your Bonnie but you might need to take some advice off other forum members if you really want to sort the handling out.
Have you still got the OEM suspension ? If you have you certainly want to look at changing the rear shocks, it made a massive difference to handling on my Bonnie, I then put progressive springs up front and improved it further. Both front and back were standard Hagon products, nothing fancy. Tyres were Metzelers which lasted about 9k miles, they did occasionaly give a little slip in the wet and tracked the white lines a bit. Avon Roadrider AM 26 are the planned replacements as recommended by forum members.
Give them a ring, they are very helpful. Your weight, riding style, pillion, types of roads etc, they will sort you out. Mine is a 2012 865 EFI 17" cast wheels
Agree with the comments regarding the OEM Metzelers, not too good in the wet. I also plan to go with Avon's next on my T100.
Tight steering bearings , rear shocks set for too high pre load and wrong tyre pressures will all do that . Do not buy cheap tyre pressure gauges. Buy a pcl onr and keep it in your riding jacket. All these things really matter.It could of course be crap tyres , but being nervous and gripping the bars too tight won't help.
Ermm... yeah. Bike had a full PDI when I picked it up last month, and I tried the head and wheel bearings on the centrestand. I've got a tyre pressure gauge. As for being nervous when riding, I've only got one thing to say - Sportster! They might be a tart's handbag that are never seen over 60mph these days but the older ones are obvious cousins to the flat track bikes, definitely "unsuitable for persons of a nervous disposition".. and I've got three of various ages..
