| Author | Message | ||
     Conchop |
Well, I'm up to 400 miles on my 08 uly and I'm really getting the feel for her. Quite literally. I am experiencing what I consider too much vibration at anything under 3k rpm. As it breaks in, the vibes have diminished somewhat, but they are a nuisance. Here's what I'm feeling. After the bike is on the road for 10 to 15 minutes and the motor heats up, the vibes sneak in. Hands go numb. I try to keep the r's up and the gears down. She seems happy at 4500 rpm. 3000 = high frequency buzz /// 2400 rpm = a paint shaker. Heres an interesting note. Let her sit 5 minutes and then she is fairly smooth. Then the vibes start sneaking in. NOTE - The fan never runs while on the road. Its been cool 40's and 50's when I ride, but the fan only comes on when I turn off the motor. I understand the fan runs a lot less on the 08 ulys. NOTE - Driveway diagnosis - when she is warmed up an I watch the front elastomer, the motor creeps up to touch a rubber stop that sits between the frame and the elastomer. At 2400 rpm or so, the bike moon walks backward on the kickstand. Once she gets a little rest, the motor doesn't climb as high on the elastomer. The elastomers main pin seems to be slightly cocked at an angle. I am going to install handlebar weights ASAP. I am going to change to Asmsoil full synthetic ASAP. QUESTION - Does the race ecm reduce low rpm vibrations? I plan on staying with a stock pipe. It has been my experience with the chip I sell for Victorys that there is a significant reduction in low rpm vibrations. I'm curious if the race ecm will achieve the same effect. Oil Level checks OK Is this normal operating on a ULY? Will the vibes subside as I get more miles? Any ideas? Thanks in advance for your input. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Conchop, quite a few riders have stated the race ECM reduces or eliminates the low speed (sub-2500 RPM) stumble, but I've never seen a claim that it reduces vibration. Speaking of which, is there a race ECM for the 08 models? Buell's site still lists a single part for 2004-up XB12's, but the FI and ignition systems on the 08 bikes are different. The non-race ECM's aren't interchangeable so it seems pretty likely the race ECM will have to be different too. I'd suggest you try and ride another Uly and compare the vibration- maybe you have a problem with the front isolator? One other thing worth checking is the primary chain adjustment. In my experience, a too-loose chain results in additional vibration. You might consider holding off on switching to synth for a while. These bikes definitely continue to loosen up, rev freer, and run cooler to at least 5000 miles. Switching to synth may slow that process down. I changed at about 6000 miles and I haven't regretted it. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Something else to consider: all my bikes (S1, S2, FLHP) get considerably more vibration in cold weather. The rubber isolators harden up in the cold and transmit more motion to the frame and the rider. At 33 degrees this morning, my poor S2 felt like it was getting ready to shake itself apart! | ||
| Bosh |
There may be something wrong with your engine isolators / mounts. "moon walking" on the kickstand is not normal. | ||
| Bud |
There may be something wrong with your engine isolators / mounts. "moon walking" on the kickstand is not normal. i'm with hime.. you should see the engine moving a little refing, but not creaping up.} (Message edited by bud on November 30, 2007) | ||
| Conchop |
I see what y'all are saying. Its all logical. I'll take it in ti the shop as the weather gets colder. She's popping the aux fuse when the heated grips go to high. Works fine on low. I really enjoy the bike. It just seems to be nervous at a slower pace. Kind of like a thoroughbred horse, she just wants to run like the devil was after her. Nonetheless, there are little towns to putt through and I really think there is some more flexibility in there. But with only 400+ miles on her, I'm sure I'll sort it out as time and miles pile on. I can see why there is a cult like following on the uly. Addictive machine! All I want to do is ride. The relentless pursuit of perfection is ON! | ||
| Thunderbox |
I can guarentee you one thing. When the weather gets warmer you will see a big difference in the vibs. When you have been riding and you stop heat tansfers from the engine to the mounts. When you ride away there are less vibs because the mounts are still warm. As you ride through the cold the mounts cool down getting stiffer and transmitting more vibrations. This is in the nature of the beast. We have a law in Canada that when it gets below -10 we have to hand our motor mounts in to be used as hockey pucks until the riding season starts. lol | ||
| Hughlysses |
Ha, I see the next mod already- isolator warmers! Let's see, you could get a couple of those glue-on grip heaters and install them on the isolators. Hmm..... | ||
| Chadhargis |
The insane shaking is the only complaint I have regarding the Ulysses. Seems like they could have put a counterbalancer in the engine or SOMETHING. Anything to keep my fillings from rattling loose. Now, once I get the engine above 3000rpm, it's smooth as glass. I just hate stopping. | ||
| Treadmarks |
Once you get rid of the factory mirrors, blinkers and secure everything under the cowl, the shakin is not so bad. A good map can help overcome the midrange shake/stumble too. | ||
| Packdog |
Reading your profile and seeing that you've already cleaned one plug, I would suggest replacing both of them. I have an 2006 model, but I know that one partially fouled plug makes it shake unacceptably. I suggest starting from "ground zero" and starting with two fresh plugs. If the problem rears it's head again, you can move on to other possibilities. For pre-'08 owners, I suggest having the mechanical TPS zeroing procedure performed. A Bad-Webber has posted a really great procedure for doing this. It helped my 2006 incredibly in the low rpm range. And as Treadmarks noted, changing your fuel map can work wonders as well. Running lean enough to meet US EPA regulations can create a big shake on modern air/oil cooled V-twins! | ||
| Adrian_8 |
Put in the Iridium type plugs as the back one is a little difficult, you might as well put in the best available....Can you imagine how good the ULY would run if it had a CARB and you could just change the jets??.. | ||
| Dentguy |
That "moon walking" on the kickstand at 2400rpm is normal. Maybe yours "moon walks" more than others, but mine did that also. Kickstand is bolted right to the engine and vibrates with the engine. | ||
| Blake |
Who the heck leaves their bike sitting on the kickstand with the engine running at 2400 rpm? | ||
| Hooliken |
You read my mind bro. My 06 with 7k on it still shakes at idle but not nearly as bad as you are describing. On this bike I wouldn't consider anything under 5k "broken in". With the mods I have made and how I break bikes in my motor is just now starting to really come online. Second gear roll on wheelies and sometimes third gear if the conditions are right. I am loving riding it in the cool dense air we have been having. Rode with a friend on an R6 recently and he could not believe how deep I was going into corners then launching out with my hard as nails touring tires.....  But of course he just recently switched to the R6 after learning on a Dual Sport. I rode his 07 R6 for a while and it felt like a banana Hammock compared to the Uly. After riding my Uly he is seriously doubting his decision to buy the supersport. | ||
| Conchop |
It sounds like I'm up to nothing unusual with my Ulysses. But I'm big on "drivability. All of you have excellent tips which are logical and obviously based on experience. I will utilize them as time, money and weather permits. I just did order the bar weights from HVMP. Its always been my experience that weight on handlebars work well. Has anyone lubed the heim joints and elastomers with a good silicon spray??? I know there is a good 1500 rpm of smooth bottom end torque that has yet to be exploited - I've spent a little bit of time on Sportsters in the day. I'll be checking in with dobek performance soon. Buells have not responded to signal modifiers because of the O2 sensors, but the march to perfection has just started. Thanx again for your input. | ||
| Bosh |
"Who the heck leaves their bike sitting on the kickstand with the engine running at 2400 rpm?" Missed the 2400 rpm part.... good point! | ||
| Ulynut |
+1 on more vibration in cold weather. | ||
| Rwcfrank |
May sound dumb but is your idle too high? | ||
| Sanchez |
Weird. While my Uly certainly does vibrate, it doesn't put my hands to sleep. Even before I had the HVMP's on it, it never did that. I haven't noticed any temperature-based changes in vibration, but I've never thought to look for them either. | ||
| Dentguy |
Who the heck leaves their bike sitting on the kickstand with the engine running at 2400 rpm? I don't think Conchop meant that it idles at 2400 rpm and he leaves it there (maybe), but if it is running at 2400 rpm by opening the throttle while on the stand it will walk. The reason I know this is because when my idle was stuck at 2400 rpm for 30 minutes I happened to be passing the dealer. I stopped to show them and had to get someone to hold the bike while I went in because it was walking across the lot.} | ||
| Mrh |
I never start or allow my bike to idle unless I'm astride it. Found out the hard way many years ago while allowing my '84 BMW R100CS to warm up before a winter ride (Florida winter, kinda like most early/late summers) I was standing along the left side of the bike when when it coughed thru the carb and flopped over to the right...right into my new truck's door, dented my truck door and destroyed the fiberglas cafe fairing on the bike. My insurance agent gave me a dumb look when I tried to explain how I damaged both my vehicles while not driving either one! I NEVER trust motorcycle side stands...on any surface, at any rpm. | ||
| Etennuly |
Sounds to me like you have put a plug back in it that has been fouled. That is a practice that will leave a cylinder with a weak spark. That will cause it to shake. Try starting the bike cold and touch the exhaust pipes as they warm up(not too long though cause they will get friggen' hot!) They should warm up evenly. It also sounds like you rev the engine a bit with no load. Buells tend to not like that. Start the bike and let it idle without touching the throttle for about three minutes when it is cold out. Revving or blipping the throttle has wiped out more than one new set of plugs! New plugs are killed after fouling. It hurts to toss them, but riding with a bike that vibrates sucks too! | ||
| Longdog_cymru |
Personally, I suggest you find some cute young thing, take her for a pillion ride and DON'T TAKE IT OVER 3000RPM  | ||
| Conchop |
LOL Wonderful tips - NOTE - the 2400 rpm on the kickstand is a hillbilly test for primary and secondary vibes. The bike is going to the shop soon for the aux fuse blowing when the grips go to high and I'll try to have them warrant the plugs too. The book says to start it w/o any need to massage the happy handle. NGK irridiums,bosche platinum, or splitfires are always a step up from stock. Anxious to ride her! |
