| Author |
Message |
    
99savage
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 11:20 am: | 
|
And OKC - 36 to 42 is a HUGE variance. Although thinking about it...where are you getting 42 from? I'd have to check my book, but I think it's 34/36 F/R for tires...
Had similar, but not a severe "problems". On the advice of this board:
1. Increased front pre-load 1/2 ring from spec
2. Decreased rear pre-load 1 full turn from spec
3. Increased rear pressure to 42 psi (was running the 38 psi per manual)
4. Tightened up my clothing.
Much better.
Later changed rear tire - better yet. |
99savage
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 11:25 am: |
|
And OKC - 36 to 42 is a HUGE variance. Although thinking about it...where are you getting 42 from? I'd have to check my book, but I think it's 34/36 F/R for tires...
Had similar but not as serve problem. On the advice of the board:
1. Increase rear tire pressure to 42psi (was 38psi per manual)
2. Increase front preload 1/2 ring above specification
3. Decrease rear preload 1 full turn below specification
4. Tighten up clothing.
Much better
Later changed rear tire - better yet} |
99savage
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 11:26 am: |
|
And OKC - 36 to 42 is a HUGE variance. Although thinking about it...where are you getting 42 from? I'd have to check my book, but I think it's 34/36 F/R for tires...
Had similar but not as serve problem. On the advice of the board:
1. Increase rear tire pressure to 42psi (was 38psi per manual)
2. Increase front preload 1/2 ring above specification
3. Decrease rear preload 1 full turn below specification
4. Tighten up clothing.
Much better
Later changed rear tire - better yet |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 11:37 am: |
|
Something is not right.
This sounds like a "weave" (oscillation about the vertical line through the center of mass of the bike) as opposed to a "wobble" that lives in the steering head.
It could be bearings but I suspect weight and balance.
Start off by checking tire pressures, conditions and setting your own suspension (dealer may or may not have done it properly. . .but nonetheless you need to KNOW) first. Weigh yourself in your gear and be honest (I'm close to 300#) when you do the calcs.
When checking take a moment and closely examine your wheel bearings.
Start off by removing everything (tank bag too because sometimes the "high weight" likes to stir things up) and making a 30 minute test run. If you can, I'd even remove the bags.
Then put the bags back on and repeat with them empty.
The goal here is to isolate the SOURCE of the problem, not the result. A steering damper is akin to painting over a crack in a wall.
Keep us posted and let us know what you find.
If you can't find the source of it I'd like to point you toward Buell Technical Services to get their opinion.
Court |
Fubar
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 11:52 am: |
|
I had a FirstGear Kilimanjaro II jacket that have very poofy sleeves and caused a similar experience for me. Now have a jacket with straps to eliminate flapping. Problem solved. |
Okc99
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 12:07 pm: |
|
Did you guys ever see The World's Fastest Indian? Burt had a high speed fishtail at 180 mph. Maybe mine is a similar thing. |
Etennuly
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 12:37 pm: |
|
How do your tires look? Are they cupped or worn unusually? I had some weaving problem with the front 616 tire also, mostly around 45 mph, I know you are not using them, but a wear issue could do it.
I recall those threads from a couple of year back with '99Savage'. It was hard to believe a jacket could cause it, but it did.
Mebby you guys have something with that "99" in your name causing an imbalance in the universe? |
Ratbuell
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 01:09 pm: |
|
I notice a difference based on what jacket I wear. Even within the same jacket (my Vanson), depending on whether I've got the sleeve vents open or closed. Entirely possible, especially with a deathgrip.
I have also noticed an oscillation on my S2, but only with the large bags. Narrow bags, I don't notice anything. Airframe drag could be entirely possible...doesn't the manual say "don't exceed X mph with bags"? I know some folks report triple-digit speeds with no wobble....but you could have a couple of minor issues contributing to an airframe wobble. The individual items may not cause a weave...but the sum of all effects could be the wag you're seeing.
+1 on Court's advice. Ride it naked (not you, the bike). Then ride the same road again, adding one piece of the puzzle at a time. Only make one change at a time (i.e. adding side bags, or changing tire pressure, etc). See which one is truly causing it.
And remember - the factory chart in the manual is a *baseline recommendation*. Start there, then tailor it to your liking. I run my '06 one weight range heavier on the front end to eliminate brake dive. Personal preference. Again - if you're going to deviate from the manual, make ONE change (compression, rebound, preload - one end only) at a time and evaluate. Too many simultaneous changes muddy the waters. |
Ourdee
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 01:17 pm: |
|
The World's Fastest Indian?
Didn't he put a car battery down low and forward to try and counter it.
+1 on Court's advice. Ride it naked (not you, the bike). Then ride the same road again, adding one piece of the puzzle at a time. Only make one change at a time (i.e. adding side bags, or changing tire pressure, etc). See which one is truly causing it.
I +1 it too, that makes 3 |
Ourdee
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 01:21 pm: |
|
Anyone up for a testride? I 'll only charge ya $5 for this carnival ride
I'm your Huckleberry. Bring it to HC I'll ride it. |
Jphish
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 03:10 pm: |
|
I don't know what Michelins you have but PR2's pressure from mfg are 36F 38R. Also the 'DeathWobble' on the KLR was a combination of bad aerodynamics and too much rear loading. Changing front fender, reducing windshield size and moving weight forward fixed the problem. But never had any issues with the Uly loaded for camping trips... looking like the Clampits escaped Beverly Hills. j |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 04:06 pm: |
|
>>>I notice a difference based on what jacket I wear.
Absolutely agree.
In some of the decidedly "informal" testing I used to do . . I'd go to a remote location on Highway 4 in Kansas. Take my bag of flour, toss it and mark the relative wind on the road. I'd draw arrows for reference with a lumber crayon and note the configuration (height of windscreen - I was testing 3 various) fairing lowers, fairing, etc.
I learned that, depending on wind direction and speed, that loose clothing can impact both top speed and handling.
Weight forward is ALWAYS a good thing. . . . remind me to tell you the story of the S2 with the luggage attached to the front forks. . . . a spectacular price of engineering that may have been the world's BEST HANDLING ugly motorcycle.
 |
Fubar
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 04:31 pm: |
|
Jphish' comment reminded me of something. I was riding in the very windy desert last year and did experience additional high speed wobble. Only when I got home did I notice that my front fender was *very* loose. No prob after that. Another thing to check.
(Message edited by fubar on May 28, 2009) |
Mad_doctor
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 05:12 pm: |
|
Back in the day, I used to get a low speed wobble, (all depending on what I had to drink, and smoke, after you get the speed up, the gyro effect would help). But somehow I don't think this is the case. (just remembering out loud ... sorry). |
|
