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Buell Motorcycle Forum » Old School Buell » Archive through May 12, 2008 » Rear Shock Advice. « Previous Next »

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Igneroid
Posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 - 10:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have started riding again up here in the great white north after a long winter, during which I read TOTAL CONTROL by Lee Parks. Anyhow, when I was younger I was a fairly competant rider and allthough im approching "coffin dodger" status(Im 53), I seem to be improving thanks to the book and tips Ive found here as well. Im workin on this hanging off thing, conservatively right now but it does improve cornering clearance dramatically. Im starting to notice the bike seems to occilate or rythmicly wiggle when Im giving her around a bend. At first I thought it was just the foot pegs dragging but when I really hang off and the pegs are not quite skimming, it seems to be the worst. Not so bad that you want to back off but very noticable. Can I adjust the Showa to aleviate this or should I get one of them high zoot shocks from Al at American Sportbike?? Mebey , bein a wrinkle dink and all, Im wasting my money???

Oh, and which one (Penske or Works) is more desirable???
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Bad_karma
Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 04:06 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Percy
I would recommend a upgrade to works or penske. There are service challenges with the showa. I haven't ridden the the penske yet so I don't have it to compare. You can adjust the showa, you can get springs and parts to up grade it also, your choice. I have always found it interesting that Buell is know as one of the finest cornering machine but the showa always gets a bad rap. The leaking problem is just that a problem. At this point I'm not convened that it is strictly a showa failure and not a fatigue issue due to application of design.
Joe
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Smoke
Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 06:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

part of the wiggle seems to be inherent in the design as your swingarm is rubber mounted to the engine block and frame. i notice it in mine also in the most leaned over stages and i am running a penske. i think that the front tire and the rear are not in alignment as the extreme lean angles at higher speeds are reached and the rubber isolators start flexing back and forth. i have been contemplating having aluminum isolators manufactured for my track S1. the wiggle on mine is not noticeable in the slower corners. another cause could be rider input to the bars or weight shifting hanging off. i'm an older fellow too and not in as good a shape as i used to be.(54) the track thing is addictive though and i believe good training for the unexpected on the highway.
have fun,
tim
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89rs1200
Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 11:25 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have both the Penske and Works shock. Both are FAR superior to the Showa!

Personally I would not waste money on the Showa unless I was short on cash. The Works and in particular the Penske are just that good.

Most people would be perfectly happy with the Works. It is less costly then the Penske. I have 50,000 miles on my Works shock with no problems. The Penske is on our touring S3 with 20,000 miles and is a dream to behold.

The swing arm is hard bolted to the engine. A Buell is really two parts rubber mounted together. Engine & Swing arm are one component rubber mounted to the Forks & frame assembly.

I do agree that there must be some movement at extreme lean angles. due to the rubber motor mounts.
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Djkaplan
Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 02:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I don't have have that wiggle on my Penske equipped M2, not on the streets anyway. I did encounter a slight shuddering at the edge of traction when pushing the front end in tight turns, but spending time getting the fork damping and spring preload set up, and jacking in more rear ride height (not sag) tuned this out.

I don't know if it makes a difference, but I added the 4th tie-bar at the front motor mount. Only X1's where ever delivered from the factory with them, but M2's and S3's have mounting holes in the frame for it. It can't do anything but help if it's installed correctly.

Here's an old link with pics...

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/296798.html

I think a trackday would get me to the last 10% of handling I can't get to on the street and the weakness of the Uni-Planer mounting system would probably reveal itself. I haven't reached that point on the streets yet.

Getting a quality shock and spending a lot of time setting it up in combination with a good fork set-up is never a waste.
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Igneroid
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 09:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thanks Guys.
Im gonna keep tweekin the rear shock for a bit to see if I can get rid of this. If nothing else, Ill learn somthing before I get the high zoot shock.
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Chasespeed
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 11:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

See if you can find a NICE set of consecutive corners... close enough to where you wont change your attitude in relation to the bike... by that, I mean close enough to straighten the bike up, BUT, stay off the side...

If you dive back in, and things feel... "okay"... that is rider feedback... very common.. and even the fastest of us experience it from time to time....

I am running the stock rear shock.. tuned to MY liking....

I can get get down and dirty with the set-up*though, fade can become an issue*, and something as simple as Corpus Christi's infamous 38mph average wind speed can upset me and/or the bike at speed.


EDIT, on second thought, add that tie bar, you WILL feel a difference...


Chase
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Igneroid
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 11:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

EDIT, on second thought, add that tie bar, you WILL feel a difference...
Yeah. Thanks. Ill give that a try. Its a cheap mod and might be what Im lookin for.

Im having a hard time believing that Im able/capable to push this this bike to where it starts to need adjusting/tweeking as Ive been out of it for a long time(25 years untill last summer). Its quite a bike though and much better than anything Ive road before.
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Skntpig
Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 04:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Check the tension on your rear iso allens. Mine were loose from a swingarm recall swap at the idiot dealer. The dealer cross threaded the bolts and they weren't even seated on the washer.

At the same time I got some aluminum spacers that barnett used to make and were available at americansportbike.com I did notice it was more connected all together and a bit more vibes. I will have to try the extra tie bar myself, thanks
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Jstfrfun
Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2008 - 12:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

What year n model are you riding?
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Igneroid
Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2008 - 02:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

What year n model are you riding?

Im on a 2002 M2L.....


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Jstfrfun
Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2008 - 03:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Before jumping into a high dollar shock, I would try adjusting the dampening settings, even steering head play. The bottom end Works unit( no dampening adjustability, compression or rebound)is $650. It goes up from there...way up. Then the Penske offering is right out of science fiction. My X1 Showa worked good for my fun and skill level, till the seal failed and leaked the oil out. A $300 re-build and i'm back on the road again(not on the track)having fun.
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