| Author | Message | ||
     Cygnus_x1 |
I've still got a scary wobbling going on, any where from 85mph to 110mph, the whole bike wags back and forth. I've put on new tires, reset the suspension, checked the air pressure, and it still wobbles. If I sit my fat ass on the rear seat, its a bit better. But then my arms are streched all the way out. I just dont feel I should have to go out and buy and bunch of crap to fix it. | ||
| Brat |
Try laying down on the tank at speed, if the wobble lessens it's a fair chance it's feedback through your arms from wind buffeting causing it! | ||
| Mrvvrroomm |
My '03 XB9S doesn't wobble a bit. You give me your bike and, oh a $1000 and I'll give you my non-wobbling 9. Sound good to you? LOL | ||
| Cygnus_x1 |
Yeah, I'm ducking down behind the windshield, or sitting up it dont seem to matter. It does get worse when I put feet on rear pegs. And its real stable with all the luggage on and full of stuff.? | ||
| Aeholton |
What tires did you put on? I believe, while being a good tire, the D616 is responsible for squirming. I've gotten 12,000+ miles out of my stock front. I'll let you know if I see improvement when I replace it this month. | ||
| Cygnus_x1 |
I went with the Scorpion Syncs, I used to get the front end squirming, now I dont get that, but the whole bike just wobbles down the road. It kinda keeps me awake on them long rides. I may have to trade the bike in. | ||
| Dudeman |
This sounds dangerous. You have some kind of harmonic vibration being transfered to the frame and starting resonance. Possible sources: -unbalanced wheel(s) -bad tires -engine imbalance -engine mounts Obviously the suspension system can dampen the vibrations from the wheels, unless something is seriously screwed up. | ||
| Stevem123 |
Try reducing the preload on the rear. Sounds like the geometry might be a tad high in the rear. Worth a try at least! Use the factory specs for your weight and then lessen the rear about 6 clicks to see if you get a change. keep reducing the preload until you feel a change, then adjust it where it feels best. I have aproximately 24 clicks from stop to stop on the rear preload adjuster. Less preload in the rear should make the bike track better and will cause the steering to require more input force to make the bike lean at higher speeds. This is due mostly because less preload will make the bike squat more in the rear with you sitting on it and that effectively changes the geometry of the whole bike. Once you find the sweet spot then you will need to adjust the compression dampening to prevent bottoming if you're a heavy guy like me. BC Steve | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Remove the beak and see if that helps. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Another thought. Keep your bike under 85. This bike is very high in the air at least where your body is concerned and that is why the windshield issue has been an ongoing topic. Personally, so far at least, my forays out on the highway with the ULY have left alot to be desired. I'm so used to having good wind protection on the Electraglide that the ULY is kind of bothersome to me. A bike that goes well over 100 should have have better wind wind protection. Around town the breeze in my face is fine but as soon as I clip out on the interstate highway my enjoyment level diminishes in direct relation to speed and wind direction. The Cee Bailey wind shields are not wide enough and the buffeting is not only over the top but around the sides of their screen. I've currently got a cut down CeeBailey on my ULY. It's 4" over the stock Buell short screen and actually looks quite good. I cut it with my jig saw. I do wish it was 4" wider on each side though to cut down on the side buffeting. Air hitting my helmet is pretty clean though. Don't get me wrong, I love riding this bike but feel compelled to rag about things, that in my opinion, need addressing. | ||
| Thunderbox |
I have always found the buffeting to be horrible on the FLHTPI as the windscreen is at the height that causes severe wind noise and turbulence. I guess it depends on where your body sits on a particular bike. The Uly only has excessive wind for me if the wind is above 15 MPH and you are riding into it. That is no fun but I bought a naked bike not a Goldwing so it is what I expected. Anyone who bought a Uly and expected to have clean full wind protection must have been dreaming, cause it an't going to happen on a naked bike period. Adding a small wind screen sure isn't going to remedy the problem, either. | ||
| Rxgolf |
Just my opinion, but please do not change the air flow on this bike. It was the Biggest selling point for me. Just came off an 05 E.Glide(FLHTI), and before that a BMW 1200RS,BMW 1150RT, and Triumph Sprint ST. The Buell IMHO has them all beat in what I want the air flow to be like on a motorcycle. There is ZERO buffeting at any speed. No, I don't want to try and hang on to it at 120mph for hours as a time, but that is not how I ride. Most of my miles are done at 40mph to 90mph and just burst above that. At those speeds, the Uly is the most comfortable bike in all respect I have ever rode. I am SO thankful to get out from behind the barn door of the FLHTI and get back on a motorcycle!! I guess this is why they build more than one kind of bike :-)). Regards to all, Greg | ||
| Daves |
Sounds like a rear preload adjustment issue. Who did your suspension for you? I would try to take off some preload like suggested above. | ||
| Rxgolf |
Oooops, forgot to mention: I have no wobble at any speed. Those issues suck and I sure hope finding an answer for those with problems are not too difficult. The K1200RS gave me some trouble in that regard, but the answer for that was increased air pressure in the front tires. Not saying that the answer to your bike is that simple, just that many bikes will respond to very subtle changes and sometimes all that is required is a band aid, and not always surgery. Good luck, Greg | ||
| Superchicken |
Cyg, I am in the same situation. I have tried all the same things, and pretty vicious wobble at speeds above 90, it sucks. maybe we should compare notes, there is another guy that works here at the shop that has the same problem with his. He runs road race tires now with a little higher tire pressure in the front than the rear? sounds weird to me but he says it is much stabler at speed. | ||
| Cygnus_x1 |
Dang I'd hate to give up the fun I have in the dirt for some street tires. RX, Great summary of the Uly, I too dont seem to mind the wind, or I woulda bought a sports car. Stevem, I'll try lowering the rear preload, the book calls for 20 turns from out, so thats what I did, and its way in now. Remove the beak? I like the beak. But the tall windshield didnt seem to do anything. Dudeman, I just put on new tires and had both wheel balanced, but the rear wheel is the same one from my Baja trip. (could be the problem?) I dont get vibes, just a slow but constant wagging, like a dogs body, when their tail is really wagging. | ||
| Rxgolf |
Cyg, do you see this wobble on all street conditions? Is it worse when behind trucks on the slab or is it all of the time? I know what Super has mentioned sounds weird about the air pressure thing, but might be an easy one to at least try. I know it was a different bike, but some of us had the problem with the K1200RS while most did not. At the recommendation of some guys on a BMW forum, I raised both tires to between 40 and 42, and the problem was gone. Good luck and keep us posted as to what you try and what you get out of it! Take care, Greg | ||
| Cygnus_x1 |
Yes I get the wobbles by myself, and behind trucks, I'd dismiss it if it were just behind trucks. I guess I could higher pressures, anyone know what the Syncs should be??? Thanks | ||
| Superchicken |
ok. I spent the morning fiddling with the bike and have pretty much got rid of the wobble. I have alot of experience tuning the suspension on race bikes, the problem is, the suspension on the Ulysses is too good!!!! If you are a RCH off on the adjustments all kinds of problems pop up. I have never owned a bike with this wide a range of adjustments nor one that is this sensitive to adjustments. The rear shock is the culprit. with the short swingarm and wheelbase you need to find the sweet spot between the rear end sqatting and the rear end tucing under the bike under all that torque. 1 or 2 clicks on the preload can be the difference depending on your weight. It is hard to find the medium happy point between stiff enough for the twisties and smooth enough for the freeway but it is there. One more thing make sure the handlebars are not pushed forward past lining up with the forks, even lean them back a hair if you can take it. give it a try. | ||
| Cygnus_x1 |
So I need turn the knob a couple clicks, run it up the highway, then turn it a few more clicks and run it up the highway, till it good? I also went with the 260-290 setting. I'm 245 then 20~ or so pounds of gear. Other than the lines of front preload, and the rear, the other settings are close or the same. Where should I set them? The 230-260, or 260-290??? Thanks | ||
| Superchicken |
I would try the settings for 200-230 and then just keep backing off the preload till you find the right spot. try the bars thing too. I would love to hear your results | ||
| M2nc |
The tires could be causing the issue. I just replaced the D616 for Diablo Stradas and man, it is a totally different bike. My bike never wobbled but at speeds past 75mph it did swim around bad enough it was unsettling. At lower speeds I kept catching myself having to correct my line. I thought all the same things as above, until a blow out this week just before a trip, and a back ordered tired, had me changing plans. The front tire after 8100 miles still had about 1/3 to 1/2 its tread left. I wanted to go to the Sync tires eventually but with the front tire still good after 8100 miles I ordered my third rear tire. I cut the rear tire down on a ride Wednesday going through a curve and that had me scrambling for a rear tire since we have the C3-jr. ride this weekend. The M2 was ready to stand in but we were planning to camp out and the Ventura Bag is no replacement to the three bags of the Uly. The D616 was on back order, I could not find a Sync in town so I settled on the Strada. I do more long distance riding than corner carving or off-roading so the sport touring tire with more tire life sounded like the deal. Since the Stradas are so different from the D616, I decided to buy both front and rear. I just rode it tonight to scrub in the tires before the trip tomorrow morning and I just could not believe the difference. Today the wind was blowing all the 10 knot flags straight out at pretty much a constant speed. I rode in a big circle and when I turned into the wind, I took the bike up to 85mph. The bike tracked perfectly straight, even on the grooved up back road I was riding in. At slower speeds the bike still has its quickness, but the bike locks in on a line and holds it perfectly. The difference is noticeable at all speeds. My personal observation on the D616. It was a great attempt that failed. My suggestion is to change you tires to something else and the Pirellis are wonderful. | ||
| Bloochdog |
no wobble here.. a little mush in the front forks at first.. set to factory sug. setting all good.... if you keep getting the wobble .. take it in to the shop... Ride Virginia... cheers | ||
| Superchicken |
I thought I had it figured out, but sadly i was wrong. roll on the power hard at about 90 and by the time I hit @115 the wobble has the front tire chirping it's skipping around so hard. Scary!!!!! I have it in the shop today, one of our service writers rides a Uly as well and he is going to ride it. I think I will try the tires today if there is time to change them out. My thoughts are that it has to be the tires. The bike seems to be more stable after a good hard sportride warming up the whole carcass of the tire, but hop on the freeway blast to work and if you go too fast you're in for a big scare. If it is the tires...... who's freakin stupid idea was those 616's? | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Maybe his body weight is making the front end even lighter than normal and couple that with the wing on the front that is supposed to be a fender. Mine might wobble but since I keep it under 80 I guess I just am not noticing it. | ||
| Superchicken |
so, service writer rode the bike and......... "wow that's scary, something is wrong. don't ride that thing" hopefully it get's sorted out quickly. I feel a little bit better knowing the bike isn't supposed to handle that poorly at speed. I'm just sad it is down in this great riding weather | ||
| Cygnus_x1 |
Let me know what you end up doing. Maybe today I'll run it up the freeway. | ||
| Chris_in_tn |
I am not much help in your fix, only to tell you I have the stock tires with 3700mi. I have the suspension set up per the manual and I have no wobble. Loaded, unloaded, two-up, solo. There has to be something going on with your bike unfortunately. I hope you can get it figured out. | ||
| Superchicken |
thanks, me too I will keep you posted | ||
| Davo |
I haven't read all of the posts on this category, but have you checked to make sure the front wheel has not thrown a wheel weight? My Uly is one of the first 25 out of the stable and I have not had any problems with my suspension. I have not gone above 85 mph though. When I lift the throttle there is a little roar from the aggressive tread pattern. It almost feels like the engine is leaning out but I know it is the front tire. Good luck at the dealer. I hope they get it fixed! |
