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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through November 17, 2004 » Dialed in my suspension - according to manual « Previous Next »

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Joele
Posted on Sunday, November 14, 2004 - 10:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Wow! What a difference! After I had broken my bike in at 500 plus miles, I decided to see how things were at 90 plus MPH. I was surprised to find that the front wheel felt very light and the wind buffeting was causing the handlebars wobble. Then I changed the suspension according to the recommendations in the owner's manual - for my weight. What a difference that made! Still have a little wobble (more than compared to my 919) but not too bad.
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Cataract2
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 07:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I've got a City X also and have been debating getting a steering dampener to help with those interstate speeds with the slight wobble.
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M1combat
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 10:05 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Light wobble at interstate speeds?

I think a steering damper would be a band-aid... Setup is more likely the issue.
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Joele
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 10:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Think the hand guards might have something to do with it?
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M1combat
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 11:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Probably not much if anything...
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Cataract2
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 02:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Might not be. Might just be all in my mind, but hey, it's a piece of mind right?
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Dago
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 03:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It's not the aerodynamics creating the wobble. It's the suspension setup and/or problems with your tires.

As long as your tires are not cupped and you have the proper amount of pressure in each tire, you should be able to dial in your suspension so that the front end won't wobble at high speeds.

Then again, I have the new LSL damper and am very happy with how it has enhanced the stability in all situations, not just at high speeds.

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Gentleman_jon
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 03:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

You should not have ANY wobble at 90 mph. Holding on to the bars too tightly in blustery winds might, just might, cause it, but I wouldn't bet on it. ( Beginning riders tend to grip the bars too tightly)
More likely causes, it seems to me, at 500 miles are, in order of probability:
1. Loose steering head bearings. These started to get loose on my bike at 500 mi. Follow instructions in the Shop manual carefully. Make sure front wheel is off the ground.
2. Defective front wheel.
3. Defective front tire.
3. Suspension settings. Actually the settings in the owners manual are not aggressive settings. Daves has the revised settings. However the standard settings should not cause wobble in themselves, if they are correctly done. ( Something many Harley dealers seem to be adverse to doing as this is just a "Buell thing":-)
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Dstrat
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 04:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

where can i find Daves revised settings
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Dago
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 04:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Actauly, after fighting the wobble battles over a relatively lengthy time span, I'll respectfully disagree with jon on two things.

1st, setting your bike to the factory suspension settings as listed in the book will not necessarily fix your wobble problem. I had to tweak mine out quite a bit.

2nd, imho the order above should have placed the suspension settings right at the top of the list.

I know that you only have 500 miles on the tire. But there is a chance that you've cupped it already if you've been romping on the throttle.

After much grief and the assistance of an experienced race instructor, I was never able to remove the wobble that appeared above 115 mph until I replaced the rear tire that was slightly cupped.

I wound up getting the damper primarily to enable me to ride hard on a cupped tire for longer and to remove the head shake that I've encountered while accelerating hard out of a corner. But now that it's installed, it has proved beneficial in other ways. They should come stock on our XB's.

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Starter
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 04:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Can someone please explain what is meant by a "cupped tyre". I always thought it was the shoulder that would wear on them from uneven wear.
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Dago
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 05:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It's when the center of the tire gets a flat spot around its circumference due to excessive wear.
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Cataract2
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 05:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Anyone got the aggressive settings?
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Svo1023
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 08:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i set mine up pretty tame...when i took delivery according to the manual....the front was set up for a 250lb rider and the rear was set for 150lb...so i changed those for 200lbs...which i am set the rebound and dampening to the book...made a huge difference for me..i ride on the highway a lot..going to work...but with somemore tinkering i'm sure it will get even better
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Joele
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 10:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Tires aren't cupped (yet) so I'm ruling that out in my circumstance. I'll check tire pressure and head bearings next. Since I'm 230lbs (yea I'm a fatass) I set suspension for highest setting according to owner's manual.
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M1combat
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 10:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

AHA... Up the tire pressure. The extra weight will flatten the tire more. I generally have to run mine about 1-1.5lbs higher than most people here and I weigh 205.
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