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Ntmmd8r
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 01:01 am: | 
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Wow! There's a lot of people out there who get it, and a lot more that don't. Thanks WindRider for your nice reply, as well as the others. I've done everything by the book, I won't even let the HD dealer wipe the bugs off of my bug screen. After I picked it up the tires were each about 12 psi low....I suppose that was part of the $60 set up fee???? This June I will have 30 solid years of having various street bikes, never been without at least one going at all times. And yes I do all my own wrenching, as well as helping a bunch of my local friends with their bikes...So I'm not one of these forum lizards who do all their riding and wrenching online....not to offend the ones who do. I do love my Uly...It's quite unique, It handles like nothing else...fantastic. On the other hand the squirmy, wormy front end, at speed is awful. I'll sure give all these good tips a try. As far as Ralph Nadar is concerned, it was just meant as a pot stirrer. I love Corvairs, I've worked for GM for 25 years this August...trust me when I say...Nadar is dead on...The big 3 just have a lot more money and political power to make him look like a radical. It's just a forum...a forum with a bunch of people complaining about front end wobble and based on my experience...they sure have a good reason to complain. If you don't like it...go back to your autographed picture of Erik Buell and watch Roadhouse on WTBS again for the hundreth time, and use words like Amigo, and beer, etc.....Have a good time. This is all for fun....relax. |
Brat
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 01:18 am: |
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Yeah  |
Brad1445
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 10:47 am: |
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I think the wiggle is embarrassing if you are with a group of people and your bike starts to wag like a wet dog. It's my forth Buell, I do 40,000 bike miles a year I know how to ride set suspension etc. The bike wags at speed, wish it did not. |
Eor
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 12:26 pm: |
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Ralph Nader's eye twitches when he talks. |
Jim_sb
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 12:42 pm: |
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Hello Brad,
It appears that the "swimming" at speed is due to the tires (D616's). The decel wobble at 45mph in 5th appears to be driven by engine harmonics and the density of the rubber donuts. My front end was checked by a dealership and was found to be at the "tight end of the spec". As near as I can tell both scenarios are insignificant in all normal riding and I've heard that they go away by changing to a different tire. In any event they have not bothered me or hindered me in any way. (2700+ miles and counting on the 616's).
I've given my Ulysses a "thorough" break-in and have tried to put it through it's entire performance range and on pavement I feel it's handling and suspension are 1st rate.
AFAIK I'm the only one who has come close to anything more serious - but I was standing on the pegs in 4" or more deep sand (dirt road with some sandy spots). At that point the bike came very close to a tank slapper - it was borderline to being out of control - which would have meant a nice 3rd gear get-off in Death Valley.
Now I remain seated on the bike almost always, and especially if the sand or gravel is more than an inch or two deep. It has helped somewhat. Eventually I may get a steering damper - I bought the Uly in part because of it's advertised off-pavement abilities and I plan to continue to ride it that way.
For the pavement only crowd I wouldn't worry about it. Get whatever tires you like and enjoy the bike.
Regards,
Jim in Santa Barbara |
Thunderbox
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 12:46 pm: |
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I was over on the other makes area of the site and the Buell is not the only bike with this headshake problem. The Honda VFR apparently has that problem as it is mentioned on their site quite a bit. I am sure they don't use 616s so maybe that isn;t the problem with the Uly. |
Bigdaddy
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 01:56 pm: |
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Hey Ntmmd8r,
I'll go out on a limb and assume ( I hate assuming) that you're not a troll.
Tell us that you pulled out the manual and set the bike's suspension up to the recommended settings. It's a very easy process and if you're having issues PM me. I'd be more than happy to help you.
G2 |
Superchicken
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 02:25 pm: |
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I too have played with the suspension and have a lot of experience with suspension. i installed lsl steering damper and the bike still gets a pretty scary wiggle at speed (80 plus). I love the way the bike rides around town and in the twisties and on •••••• gravel roads, but it is no good a speed on the freeway. I have a feeling that those of us who feel the wobble is a problem have experience riding a super smooth japanese performance machine at ridiculous speeds. the uly for me is fun but I don't feel comfortable at speed |
Imonabuss
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 02:58 pm: |
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Guys,
Put on Pirelli Syncs, and the problem will completely go away. It's not an inherent out of control instability at all, just a queasy feeling that makes you nervous. The tighter you grip, the more uncomfortable you feel. The Syncs REMOVE the issue. I have no idea why, but having ridden both types of tires, I guarantee you will be amazed at the difference. |
Lorazepam
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 03:11 pm: |
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superchicken, may I suggest that you not grip the bars so hard when you get to higher speed.
I would crank up the damping on the steering damper a bit more as well.
If I shake the crap out of the bars at 80 plus I can get it to wobble, but it settles down fine, and will wander a bit in the lane if I dont concentrate.
I get the *harmonics* shake at decel around 50, but a touch on the bars makes it stop.
Have your dealer check the balance of the front wheel, it isnt unheard of for a wheel weight to fall off. That can get your attention as well. |
Superchicken
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 03:36 pm: |
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not to sound like a no it all but I understand the " deathgrip" scenario. Even loose grip on the bars does not get rid of the wobble. I think there is something I am missing. I will bite the bullet and try the synch's. it just seems like a waste since the 616's have so much life left.
I want to fall in love with this bike, really I do. |
Thunderbox
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 03:45 pm: |
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I understand the bike is a bit twitchy but I can say it in no way makes me feel like there is something I should be worrying about. Is it that bad that some people are really concerned. It's like the fan noise deal not an issue to me as it's just a little fan noise. So come clean guys how bad is this headshake thing anyways? |
Superchicken
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 03:53 pm: |
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It is not an annoyance issue like the fan or the windscreen size or any number of quirks that you can find on any number of bikes. the problem is a performance issue. I am not bashing the bike for fun, I want to resolve the problem but noone seems to have a fix? again, i will try the tires. |
Lorazepam
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 04:03 pm: |
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I think a guy danger dave on advrider had a similar problem. He ended up tightening the steering head bearings, and changed the front tire to resolve the issue. Seems he did a lot of wheelies, and loosened them up a bit. Not saying you wheelie, but if the steering head bearings are loose, it may cause your problem. |
Imonabuss
| | Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 04:45 pm: |
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SC,
It will be worth it, and if the wear is low on your Dunlops you can sell the 616's to one of the guys who are fine with them and recoup some of your money. The Syncs wear better too, and eliminate the coast down shimmy. It's bizarre how much better they are for me. |
Ntmmd8r
| | Posted on Friday, May 05, 2006 - 11:35 pm: |
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These posts all sound great! Now I need help coming up with some good excuses to talk my wife into letting me get a different set of tires without her killing me. To say the least, I had to use up all my good lines just to get the bike.....Help???????? |
Windrider
| | Posted on Saturday, May 06, 2006 - 12:28 am: |
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Ntmmd8r,
How many miles have you got on your Uly? The D616s will melt away fast enough....
My 2cents, play with it, learn to adapt to the bike. Buells really are different in every way. Don't expect to mesh with the bike overnight, it takes time to get used to it. Also, the bike gets better with a little time and the suspension becomes more compliant, also easing the wobble.
While the D616s are not perfect tires, I would not get rid of them for a little wobble. They certainly don't make the bike dangerous and in time you can adapt to their strange characteristics.
Ride on.
WindRider |
Crusty
| | Posted on Saturday, May 06, 2006 - 07:02 am: |
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Ntmmd8r, The solution to your problem is easy. Just put a nail in your back tire. Then, compare the MSRP of the 616s to the price of the Pirellis from a discount tire internet site. Explain how motorcycle tires are matched, and how it's not a safe practice to mix brands. That should get it.
Incidentally, I've got 5300 miles on my D616s, and I travel at 80 - 85 MPH daily, and I've had no issues with them at all. I guess I got one of the good ones. |
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