| Author | Message | ||
     Uly_man |
These things deffo affect the handling of the bike at speed. I took them off the 06 bike and it was MUCH better so I have done the same again. Before I found you would get a slight wobble at about 90 and with very "heavy" air it was real bad. Taking them off makes the front end feel a lot more stable in fact perfect for fast riding. They seem to create a "wing" effect and its worse if they are not at the same angle. It feels like the bike is going into a tank slapper. They also seem to make the air "curl" under them making my fingers cold even with the heated grips at full blast and winter gloves ie warm hands but cold fingers although I do have very big hands. With them on it seems to make the front end feel light at anything over 60. Now I am hacking in/out of traffic at 90 plus and the bike is as solid as a rock. Handy for off road stuff but near useless otherwise. They do not even look good. Anyone else found this a problem? | ||
| Redtail |
Take off the mirrors and windshield and you can go past the speed of sound..  | ||
| Uly_man |
I had thought of putting two model gas turbines on the bike. The only problem being is that they would cost more than the bike did in the first place. A better idea might to be slow up a bit I guess, lol. | ||
| Advoutlander |
Mine vibrate. I'm changing them this weekend to the moose racing aluminum standard handguards. | ||
| Mattmcc00 |
Best handguards are barkbusters! Trust me they are awesome. the do a great job protecting your levers too during offroad spills.  | ||
| Dtaylor |
I agree with Mathieu. I've got the Barkbuster Storms on my Uly, although I've had Acerbis guards on previous bikes and they were great also. Way better wind protection than the stockers, and actual protection for the levers. I like that both the Barkbusters and Acerbis wind guards are easily removable for the warm part of the riding season, yet the aluminum backbone remains to protect the levers. | ||
| Etennuly |
I guess I am in the camp alone when I say I have none of these problems with my stock hand guards. I got caught in a very cold short rain on my wife's Blast one time, with no hand guards. I had to ride it part of the way to where I was heading, then jump on the Uly in the same conditions. The hand guards are waaaayyyy better than none! Did I mention that I had left my gloves in my truck? Damn.....that was cold on the hands! | ||
| Saltcityjeff |
Uly_man - I am actually glad I read this post. I have struggled to understand why my bike doesn't feel solid to me at 90+. Your description of the light effect is what I am experiencing. Typically I am fine doing the speed limit but my riding buddy on his Multistrada and all that horespower has a hard time doing that when I am with him. I am going to take the hand guards off and see if I notice the change you have experienced. | ||
| Etennuly |
Along with the hand guards, tire pressure, riding position, proper steering neck bearing adjustment, relaxing hand grip, close proper fitting gear, and even helmet shape/fit can really help with the high speed feel. My 06 has always felt good at speed, with the exception of having a worn out front tire one round. A few years back there were several conversations about this subject. | ||
| Saltcityjeff |
yeah - my Uly feels really good at speed too - its just the 90+ that gets light and somewhat "wobbly". Have tried riding with my cases off, tail down, windshield off (I have a larger one), brand new PR2 tires front and rear at prescribed pressure, I wear full riding gear that fits and isn't baggy and that feeling still existed. My hand guards dont line up because of how I like my levers on my right hand (I cut off a finger that is now fused on and it changes how I hold the front brake) - so when I read this it was something I said - Lets give her a try! I will have to let you all know if I feel any difference. | ||
| Saltcityjeff |
Honestly - I probably should be staying below 90 anyways...if I want faster I should get a bike really made for it...I need to not try to make this bike was it isn't. One of the disadvantages of riding with a multistrada - the other times I never seem to care about the speed. | ||
| Uly_man |
Most of the time it is not a problem or at least not with the Scorps on either the 06 or 10 bikes as you can dial most of it out with a good suspension setup. I did have the 90+ thing on both bikes but did not feel bad. The PR2s have a much more "pointy" profile so that may be the problem. It came about after fitting them on the 06 bike as well and used to drive me crazy until I took the guards off. I tried everything and also thought it might be ride gear, helmet, screen and such. If you have a problem give it a try as its free anyway. I also find the front end better at lower speeds like 60 as well. Very planted and just like any other bike. Now it is any speed at any time and no problem. Just make sure you suspension set up is right. | ||
| Teeps |
Etennuly Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2013 I guess I am in the camp alone when I say I have none of these problems with my stock hand guards. I stand with you Etennuly.} | ||
| Mattmcc00 |
Comfort may be 1 reason for hand guards, but for me the major reason was protecting my levers. I already had one break when I was offroad. Sure, your can bring a spare. but I'd rather just prevent the situation altogether and get proper metal handguards. Btw, I just signed up for this year's GS challenge again!  | ||
| Uly_man |
Yes I would not go "off road" without them but as said get some good one as these seem to be more for show. Its 49F/9C here at the moment and I am not getting cold fingers even, using the heated grips, with my very vented summer gloves which before I could feel the cold air coming through the holes in the fingers. I have a set of winter gloves that I NEVER got cold hands with on any bike but not on the Uly. It always felt like the heat was being "sucked" from hands. Its just a thought, and I can not prove it, but it looks like these things, given there shape, could cause an aerofoil effect. That is lift at speed and low pressure at the bottom of the guards giving the cold fingers. I know it a bit "anal" but I am an engineer and fault finding is what I do for a living. Anyway it was just a thought. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Let us know how it goes Matt! Are you going to put on the new "almost knobbies" now that they make them in the right size? | ||
| Xdigitalx |
I guess I am in the camp alone when I say I have none of these problems with my stock hand guards. No, I used to regularly ride 85/90 and up to 120 on highways and never had problems with wobbling. Stock hand guards, top case only on 06 Uly. Those bark busters looks nice though. I also use mitts in winter/cold and can't remember any wobbling but then again, maybe I just instinctively slow down when I feel something. | ||
| Uly_man |
I guess I should have said it was ok ish on the 06 bike, and 10 as well, until using the PR2s. These are not ADV type tires like the Scorps but pure road rubber. My bike is set up for fast road riding, much like a sports bike, so it depends on many things and also how you ride of course. The great thing with a Uly is you CAN have, almost, it all with a few changes. I was out this morning and its doing 90 mph sweeping bends with ease. Its the most, now, stable bike I have ever had and easy enough power for road work. I can never see the point of a bike than can do much more than 130 for the road. Apart, of course, for overtaking but that no problem for a low BHP V-Twin engine bike like the Uly. | ||
| Mattmcc00 |
Reepicheep I have been running off sized TKC80s for 2 years. Getting my first pair of right sized one but on tomorrow.  | ||
| Reepicheep |
That'll make leaning a lot more fun (though perhaps less exciting!  ) | ||
| Pontlee77 |
Put some bar end weights it should cure the issue | ||
| Arcticktm |
Along with Etennuly and Teeps, add me to the "no problems as is" camp for my '06. It has yet to try to fly away with stock handguards. I seldome cruise above 75mph, but occasional jaunts into triple digit range have produced nothing but feelings of confidence for me, regardless of tires. Have run Syncs, Trails, PR2, PR3, and Roadsmarts. It's all good. I had a Suzook GS650 with a Vetter mini fairing that use to try to lift the front tire up if you went close to 80mpg. THAT was not fun! | ||
| Britchri10 |
2009 Uly XP. Scorpion Syncs, standard (OEM) hand guards, Memphis Shades lowers, tall OEM windscreen on Madstad brackets. Regularly ride @ 75+, occasionally up to 90 MPH (Have done the "ton+" when in company of 1200cc UJM machine but not very often ) Personally, I have experienced no lightness, twitchiness, wobble etc' from the hand guards either. YMMV Chris C | ||
| Uly_man |
As I said it was only since I fitted the PR2s and it was the same on the 06 bike. I have run the 10 bike for 5000 miles, on Scorps, with little issue. Maybe a slight bit but it was easy to ride through it with no problems. It has taken a while to re-set the suspension for the PR2s for the way I like it. It was working good but still not "quite right" as the balance seemed a little "off". Today I backed off, after checking tire pressures, the front comp another 1.5 turns and after a run over my normal test roads all seems good. No "odd" feel at any point but we will see. I may even re-fit them to see what happens although I will not keep them on after. | ||
| Britchri10 |
you have to understand. I grew up w/old British bikes.I had a couple (3 or 4) Japanese machines in the late '70's, early '80's in the UK but they didn't handle nearly as well as the Uly I currently ride. It could be that the wobblies are just something I am experiencing but not recognizing. Hence my YMMV statement. Chris C | ||
| Uly_man |
I tend to ride, and set up as such, like the other XBs it is based on which is more fast road riding than "off road" stuff. Its a solid bike and all that is needed is to set it up for what you like. What works for one may not for another but thats bikes? | ||
| Etennuly |
I tend to ride, and set up as such, like the other XBs it is based on which is more fast road riding than "off road" stuff. Its a solid bike and all that is needed is to set it up for what you like. What works for one may not for another but thats bikes? That's because bikes are all about "feel". I went from Scorpion Syncs to PR2s, it felt quite a bit different, mostly on turn in, but I found that for me and a riding buddy who did the same change at the same time, we were averaging five miles per hour faster through the same turns, with the same suspension settings. It did feel different, noticeably more confidence inspiring. | ||
| Chorizo |
What I like about this site is the titliation. Well, inspiration to fine tune the Uly. Gonna be installing my shiny new Barkbusters today. Ive been looking at them and holding them up and making vroom noises imagining victorious manly adventures someday soon. I took off the tall screen after it cracked in a low speed dump and Ive been reminded how much more stable it feels. Titilation for the summer anyway... | ||
| Uly_man |
"we were averaging five miles per hour faster through the same turns". The PR2s do seem to inspire a quick ride. Since putting them on I have been going a little "nuts" with the bike. The Uly can be a surprisingly quick bike to a 100 mph. |
