| Author | Message | ||
     Jim_sb |
Got out for a short ride today and for the first time noticed that I have the deceleration headshake that EOR and others have mentioned. Same spot - decelerating, throttle off, right at the 45mph range. My bike had 1,090 miles on the odometer when I first noticed it. I checked closely several weeks ago and had no indication of headshake. From my perspective that means it's most likely related to tire wear or the way the rubber donuts have been tuned for the Ulysses (perhaps they're now broken in and are transmitting engine vibes through to the bars). Anyway, my headshake is certainly a non-issue at this point - even with both hands off the bars, but it's there and it's repeatable. I had a downhill stretch and was able to try it in neutral with the engine idling and it seemed reduced, which leads me to believe it's related to the engine vibes and the rubber donuts. I'll do an engine off check when I get a chance. If there's no head shake with the engine off then it's got to be related to engine vibes transmitted to the bars. We'll see. Regards, Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Bosh |
A man goes to a doctor and says, standing on one leg and lifting his arm over his head, "It hurts when I do that". The doctor says, "Well then.... don't do it any more". | ||
| Csg_inc |
Hey Jim sure was waiting for you to chime in.....With just the side bags on and motor off I still have the head shake at 47 mph per gps. Next I want to try it with all the bags on the bike. It does not appear to be related to tire wear as Buell put new tires on mine and EOR's and we still have the same issues. I will say that it is less with just the side bags and it is even lessor (is that a word?) when you kill the motor and coast thru the speed zone going down hill. But it is still there. We need more people to report it to Buell as they currently believe that only EOR and I have the issue. So like only 1 in 1,000 bikes have the issue. | ||
| Blake |
Jim, Be careful with those absolute conclusions. It is possible that engine braking is affecting chassis geometry (slight front fork compression) and helping to instigate the slight wobble. With the bike in neutral, that effect would be removed. | ||
| Opto |
Characteristics like this need to be investigated, to find out the cause; items to check are front wheel bearings, front wheel balance, front tyre pressure, correct preload/condition/installation of steering head bearings to name a few. (Is the front tyre installed in the correct direction?) Until that is done (by a dealer or otherwise) nothing is conclusive. Jim, how bad is it? If you weren't looking for it and never took your hands off the bars would you notice it? Does it happen when accelerating through that speed range? Is it unsettling? I've been in the minority before with a specific Buell problem, and it's not much fun when everyone else is basically saying "what's your problem?" Remember this is a SUPPORT forum so issues can get sorted quickly with as many minds and inputs as possible. | ||
| Brad1445 |
On the headshake issue I would add that at least on my bike it shakes when ever over 100mph. I have loaned the bike to a few others and they discovered the same thing on their own as I don't brag about it. | ||
| Csg_inc |
OPTO In my case all of the items you listed to be checked were done by the dealership with phone assistance from the Buell factory techs after each thing was checked. Buell even air shipped two new tires to see if that would solved it. Different suspension settings were tried also. I tried to see if the shake would show up at higher speeds so I took it to Firebird Raceway track (closed course) and ran it up to 107mph per the gps with no bags on it and never found another speed zone where the shake developed. At this time I have not tried the bike with all the bags on in a coasting (motor off) state yet. | ||
| Opto |
David, I had no idea you'd been through all that. I feel for you, sorry to hear about it. What's left then - wheel rim runout front and rear, rear wheel bearings, swingarm bearings, engine tie rods, front tie rod bracket assy, triple tree alignment, wheel alignment? I really hope they sort it for you soon. Did it happen from day one or after some miles? Are the techs still working on it or have they put it in the "too hard" basket? I guess you know that this is a good forum to talk about it on if you're not getting a fair deal. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Head shake. Might be that plastic fender flopping in the wind. It's more a wing than a fender in my opinion. I'd rather have that lower fender wrap forward and replace the wing with a fork brace. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I've not noticed any headshake yet, but I do notice the Dunlops have a nasty "swim" to them. I'm betting the Uly will be even better when I get some quality street only rubber on it. | ||
| Brotherbuell |
Hmmmm....front fender...where have I heard that before. Sounds like any easy test guys. | ||
| Eor |
Here's the readers digest version of the phenomenon as I experienced it.... It appears that the onset is somehow related to the bags as the few who have noticed it have only done so after the bags were installed. The first time I rode the bike after having the bags installed, I noticed a wobble/headshake that occurred as I was decelerating through 45-40 mph. It is only noticeable with a very light touch on the handlebars, but completely releasing my grip from the bars results in a pretty dramatic headshake. When holding the handlebars normally, the headshake is not perceptible. Many things were looked at by a very talented Buell tech at my dealer and people from the factory came down to personally examine my bike. They also tried several things and reported to me that installing a new front tire,carefully adjusting the suspension, and tightening the steering head bearing above the spec'ed value lessened the headshake. Apparently they either do not know the exact cause and/or remedy or chose not to share it with me. Regardless, I am impressed with Buell's response to my concerns and am now convinced that the phenomenon is limited to a very specific circumstance and poses no risk to me under normal riding conditions. I have put several hundred miles on the bike since getting it back from the dealer and have been really enjoying it. I can still re-create the decel headshake on demand by releasing my grip on the bars but I don't ride the bike like that normally. It seems silly and perhaps dangerous for me to keep doing it. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Has anyone tried a steering dampener as a remedy for this? | ||
| Eor |
If someone wants to donate one, I'll be glad to try it.  | ||
| Chadhargis |
That's what I was going to suggest. Might be the ticket. Tamed my Ducati for sure. I used to get some head shake when I was hard on the gas over a rise or coming out of a corner. Could feel the front tire skipping along the pavement. Since adding the damper, it's well controlled. | ||
| Brad1445 |
I'm willing to try one. My Busa and Duc both have and one and handle well at speed ot hands off, Buell and Triumph do not have and both act like wet dog at speed. Anyone know the best one to get, would one for a Firebolt work? | ||
| Ftd |
Probably not enough people have this set-up to compare with the stock fender but as time goes on it'll be something to watch.  | ||
| Brotherbuell |
That's my bike. No headshake. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Hmmm...beakless Uly reminds me of a '57 Chevy with no grill. No headshake on mine, but then I have not the bags either. 2400 miles so far. | ||
| Wasions |
I really like that low-fendered Uly. It would be nice, however, if it also integrated a nice, stiff, fork brace. It's quite reasonable to suspect that a longer suspension would likely magnify whatever headshake, etc., anomalies that might be present. I also like the idea of a steering dampener. Either, or both, might be reasonably priced remedies. Steve Gear up! | ||
| Lowflyer |
Maybe a fork brace would spruce up the aesthetics for me. I'm just not feeling the low fender as it is. It could be that I have a big nose and the beak on my Uly somehow makes me feel like we are kindred spirits.  | ||
| Aeholton |
I wouldn't mind having a fork brace. Does anyone make one? I have the same head shake on deceleration from 50-40mph. When I had it in the dealer for my 5K maintenance they said it was due to front tire wear/cupping. I tend to agree. We will see in a couple of thousand miles when I change tires. Until then...it's no biggy. Can't feel it when I have my hands on the bars. Only appears when riding without hands on the bars. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
FTD, Where did you get the fender? I like it. Does it keep the tire spray better contained? I bet the bolt holes on the lower triple clamp that the beak isn't using would be a great place to mount the horn. | ||
| Ftd |
It is Brotherbuell's bike: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142838/149919.html?1128253217 I am getting my ULY from Daves (promo) and he will be converting it to the low fender before I pick it up in May. Frank | ||
| Brotherbuell |
Electraglider, It's a stock Lightning fender. I haven't had any issues with tire spray. I suppose it's as good as any lightning. There are two unused bolt holes on the triple clamp. | ||
| Doverark |
Eor>> It appears that the onset is somehow related to the bags as the few who have noticed it have only done so after the bags were installed. << As of yet no one has removed the saddlebag supports to see if the headshake goes away. Isn't this the next logical step? | ||
| Spoof |
Doverark, I think it is the next step. I've just not had a chance to getting around to removing mine. But my headshake (again, no big deal) appeared instantly after mounting the bags. | ||
| Csg_inc |
The headshake is a lot less with the top bag and its mounting hardware removed. | ||
| Csg_inc |
When I had my last phone session with Buell tech they confirmed that EOR and I are the only ones out of the 2,000 bike produced to date that have reported this condition and that certain compromises where made in the design of the bike for both on-road and off-road handling. This combined with the engine vibration transmitted to the frame and how far the bags stick out may have combined to cause the situation but that it was with-in the limits of the spec for the bike. They even sent a few people to ride EOR's bike just to make sure. That is why I thought to test the bike with the engine off. I believe that until others report the condition to their dealers and the dealers confirm the condition back to Buell tech we may not see a lot of forward progress on a fix. Since a 1 in 1000 is not that big a deal and the headshake does not turn into a tank slapper or show up at random speeds or under random conditions (surprise). | ||
| 2_spuds |
After reading about the head shake problem I had to try to see how mine reacted under the same conditions.I found that there is a slight head shake from around 48mph to 42mph when slowing down with my hands off of the bars.I tried it with the bags and top box and without,it made no differance,it still had a slight wiggle.Then I tried it with the engine off and coasting,with the same results,a slight wiggle.If I didn't go looking for it I would of never noticed anything,this is the best handling bike I've ever owened.I have about 3k miles on it and the tires still look in good shape,the front still looks new and the back looks about 50%. I think it is probably just the semi aggressive tread on the front tire. By the way, it's a BLACK one!  |
