Tyres

[Marshy]

Wouldn't that equate to less contact patch since the tyre is being pinched?

Not necessarily. The tyre will deform and flatten just at the contact patch (and a bit around it) as the weight of the bike loads the tyre under power. This is even more pronounced in low-pressure tyres, which use a stiffer sidewall and more deformable contact surface (for exactly this reason). But the overall more rounded shape contributes to the handling on tip-in, where the tyre is unloaded and therefore not deformed into a flat pancake.

Your error might have been in changing the geometry at all. I used to do that, but discovered it didn't really have the effect I was hoping for. I had better results just leaving the geometry alone, even when switching between ultra tall UK ntecs and the old small bridgestone 180 R04s. The difference in height between the two was 20mm, from memory (which is 10mm in real terms, as you only measure 'half' - ie from the ground to the swingarm pivot). What you compensate for in ride height, you might lose in tyre shape and position of the contact patch.

[DisPlaCeD]

Your error might have been in changing the geometry at all. I used to do that, but discovered it didn't really have the effect I was hoping for. I had better results just leaving the geometry alone, even when switching between ultra tall UK ntecs and the old small bridgestone 180 R04s. The difference in height between the two was 20mm, from memory (which is 10mm in real terms, as you only measure 'half' - ie from the ground to the swingarm pivot). What you compensate for in ride height, you might lose in tyre shape and position of the contact patch.

Yep, I left the geometry alone. Wanted to see how the bike reacted to the tyre change with the setting I had. Only had to change rear rebound and it was sweet!