Yeah, I notice what PhilS2000 describes as well. The rear-end does this little adjustment where it forces you to counter-correct. It's not very confidence inspireing. Since I had my allignent re-done (more agressive and toe-IN front and back) I don't notice it as much. Though, I know that it is still there as I still sometimes get it happening ... not too otent but it happens in particular through off-camber corners.

Oddly enough with me this seems to happen without any lift off or easing off the throttle. I tried it a numerous times (as I know one off-camber corner where this will always happen) and going through it on 'even' throttle does it, as well as accelerating throgh the turn does. It happens towards the exit of the turn where I would say I'm coming out of the corner and I know that I've already made it though the 'toughest' part of the turn .... it feels like the back changes it's stance and gives the impression of the back coming out. The back does not come out but it still gives you a quick fright where you do a steering-correction and think to yourself that you went too fast for the corner. And as PhilS2000 sais, this does not need to be at a 'pushing it' speed ... when I experiment with this I often would say that I'm driving at 7/10th of the limits and no higher.

ps. I have read magazines comment on this. It is actually their prime beef with the S2000 here in Oz. They say that it handles great except for that un-nerving rear-end movement that we're talking about here. They say that the rear-end is not properly sorted (they indicate wrong damper selection/setting).

 

Sadly, I have never drove a S2000. However, I came across this in the Sept. 2000 Road and Track -
"... the S2000 sppears narrower than it is, seemingly able to thread through a series of corners more easily than others. But beware: there's a bit of lateral compliance to the rear suspension, so the rear end follows the front by half a heartbeat in taking a set. It's a predictable behaviour, one that requires a mental footnote in hard street driving but an actual flick of opposite lock on the racetrack. Demanding, yes, but extremely quick, as the S2000 revels in carrying speed through the corners..."
Is that description remotely close to what you guys are experiencing on these curves? Sounds like this would be more of a factor when entering the curve rather than at the apex/exit where the spins are occuring.

 

Has anyone figured out if the Euro S2000's for '02 actually have a different suspension/alignment turning?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ricklobo
[B]I drove cars for 5 years before I got a bike... then beginning in '95, with my first CBR, I picked up a lot of small things on the bike that make me a better (read:

 

Phil,
I agree. It sucks because I am afraid to push the car to its limit, only because I don't expect it to react in an easily predictable way. I will keep what you said in mind and try some experiments on closed roads, I need to learn more.

I remember an Autoweek a while back saying Honda of Japan only would soon have a s2000 "spec v" or "v spec" with no performance increase, but to specifically address handling issues that people had complained about. Does anyone know anything about this? I searched autoweek archives and google, but came up with nil.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sir Tom GT
[B]Phil,

 

Has anyone experimented with a stiffer rear suspension?