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Buell Motorcycle Forum » Old School Buell » Archive through December 17, 2009 » Got the shakes on my M2 « Previous Next »

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2km2cyclone
Posted on Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 03:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have a 2000 m2 cyclone. its in great shape. 7k babied. Im not sure if I have the factory rear shock ,doubt it. I just got the bike. Anyways when I pick it up at any speed over 50 the front end kicks back and forth like crazy. this dont happen if the wheels on the ground. I think I may need a steering damper. Any ideas where I can get a bolt on affordably?
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Jim2
Posted on Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 04:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Congrats on your new bike.
Do these things first:
-Check your front isolator for tears.
-Get your front wheel balanced
-Check your head bearings and wheel bearings for excessive play.
-Make sure that your front forks are both good and adjusted the same.
I believe that any of these or some combination of them may cause excessive head-shake.
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Sloppy
Posted on Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 06:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

You have a major problem with the bike - don't waste your money on a steering dampner and don't ride the bike till it gets completely checked out.

Follow Jim's advice on ideas but you need to get the FSM if you are going to work on the bike yourself.

I would suspect that the steering bearing preload isn't properly set.

And before you ask how and what, get the FSM... ; )
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2km2cyclone
Posted on Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 10:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

all good things. I know the preload is way out. Bike is way stiff im 5 10 170lbs. Its set for a dude that weighed 270. I'm just skeptical that something is wrong with it cause shes smooth at speeds right up there.I do have the owners manual to assist in adjusting the preload.I hope its something stupid. But I can hang wheelies 1st and second no prob. If i catch third or fourth and that front end gets light she does it. real twitchy I guess you could say.Thanks for responding. Im a NooB lots of forums don't respond. Oh and for the record I've Owned fast bikes but BUELLS ROCK i love that low end predictable power curve.No Jap bikes do it like that.Oh and whats up...Ive ridden sportsters and pfft the m2 will roast even a worked sporty. DO THE THUNDERSTORM HEADS MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE?
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Brinnutz
Posted on Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 11:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

That, and they weigh a ton less.
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Sloppy
Posted on Friday, December 11, 2009 - 02:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

We're not talking about the pre-load on the suspension!!! It's the pre-load on the bearings! And it's not in the owners manual...

I think I'll pull a Pontius Pilate on this one...
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V74
Posted on Friday, December 11, 2009 - 07:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

reset all the suspension to standard as per your handbook,then work from there,the front end on my M2 was a bit twitchy,dropped the front forks down the yokes by 5mm,that helped,i reversed that mod when i put superbike bars on it,lower bars put a bit more weight on the front end,other than that check all bearings and isolators and check tires and wheels for balance and any damage,
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Terrycoxusa
Posted on Friday, December 11, 2009 - 09:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I had another brand of bike that developed a sudden headshake after I put on a new front tire. It only did it if I let go of the bars, though.

I'm sure you know that wheelies put a big strain on the frame and front end. It might be OK on a dirt bike but I don't do them on a street bike. Kind of squidly.
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Dwardo
Posted on Friday, December 11, 2009 - 02:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

If you have the original front Dunlop, I would inspect it carefully for cupping.
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2km2cyclone
Posted on Friday, December 11, 2009 - 03:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks for the info guys. Its greatly appreciated. I will try the steering bearing torque and I am going to buy the fsm I know I need one. By the sound of it I think(hope) its the steering bearing preload. Again thanks guys. I know the bearing torque specifications aren't in the owners manual. I stated thats what I had. Regardless thanks for the info.
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Captainkirk
Posted on Friday, December 11, 2009 - 09:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Two easily overlooked possible causes:
1) unevenly worn tire
2) Unbalanced tire
Both are easily and cheaply remedied by installing a new tire and balancing it. Have the rim checked for runout and tracking at this time. You might be surprised.
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Littlebuggles
Posted on Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 03:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I've never had the front tire off the ground above 50mph, it's not very likely that many here have.

Not that I condone that sort of silliness, but if you steering head bearings aren't out of adjustment you'll probably need a steering damper to alleviate the shake.
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V74
Posted on Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 09:09 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i have a sprint steering damper on my M2,but its just for show,if a buell "needs" one then there's a problem with a component that wants sorting not masking with a steering damper
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2km2cyclone
Posted on Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 09:21 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

You guys rock. Thanks again for the info. The front tire is brand new. That would make sense if theres a wobble its evident when the wheel is light and spinning fast enough. What scared me is it happens when the tire gets light. That plus sand means certain road rash.They may not have balanced it correctly
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Littlebuggles
Posted on Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 09:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Did I misunderstand this: "...when I pick it up at any speed over 50 the front end kicks back and forth like crazy. this dont happen if the wheels on the ground." ?

Sounds like you are talking about having the wheel up in the air.

I found my front end developed a shake just over 80 and smoothed out above 86 or so. I found a great deal on a storz damper that was quicker and cheaper than rebuilding and tuning the front end.

Sounds like you've got plenty of info and ideas flowing already. Enjoy.
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