| Author | Message | ||
     Windaddiction |
Hey there well I have tried to find some info on the specific problem, but no luck. So here's the story, I have 5000 km on the uly and this has been a prob since day one. Whenever I'm on the hiway going above about 140-150 km/h I get a shaking feeling/ vibration transmitting through the handle bars. I have been to the dealer and they can't ever get it to happen. i have also tried going with a really loose grip thinking my arms in the wind may be transmitting some motion but this doesn't seem to be the case. I'm thinking the actual problem may be the tires. At any lower speed the bike is solid as a rock! any ideas? | ||
| Jlnance |
Since I'm sure I'm not the only one who'll have to do this, thats 87-93 mph.  | ||
| Wolffone2000 |
The only thing that I would say would be close to a 'shaking' is the slight 'swimming' the front of mine does at that kind of speed. Which is kind of like a weave, but not a vibration at all- at any speed. | ||
| Dudeman |
I have the same swimming / shaking / weaving / unnerving behavior here. I sure would like to alleviate it, although it's not a major issue. No luggage. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Mine's like scary butter at those speeds. If I were so inclined to ride that fast all the time, I think I would try a steering dampeninger. What do you think, Blake? Steering dampeninger? | ||
| Boiserider |
I get a swimming motion/feeling if my front tire pressure is down even just a couple pounds. A known accurate gage is a must. I was able to test mine at a Dunlop pit area at a race track. Made all the difference for me. | ||
| Windaddiction |
are you just running the stock pressure or a bit higher? I always carry a gage, but ya what everyone else is describing is what is happening to me, I test drove a firebolt and it was so solid, I just want me Uly to feel the same when I'm trying to keep upto all those guys on those... what are they called now... oh ya CBRs | ||
| Boiserider |
I just go with the stock pressure. I don't need to even put a gage on the front to know it's 2 or more pounds low, it has that swimming motion in the bars every time. Higher press. doesn't show any improvement over stock 36lb. | ||
| Wolffone2000 |
So Boise-- Are you saying that 36 pounds made the difference between 'swimming' and not 'swimming'? Even the magazines that I read on the ULY descibed this issue and I just thought it was part of the short wheelbase. | ||
| Goo |
I had the same swimming feeling when testriding the bike. My dealer changed the front tire to a sport/touring tire, I don't remember which type. But anyway, the swimming feeling was gone. My conclusion was that the swimming feeling came from the thread in the centre of the D616 tire. | ||
| Dudeman |
That was my suspicion - tires. So I guess I'll just wait till these are worn or punctured | ||
| Windaddiction |
mmmm perelli can't wait must wear out tires... | ||
| Boiserider |
My stock tires work great (no swimming), as long as the pressure is up to 36lb. I really like the 616 as a compromise tire. They work very well on unimproved roads. | ||
| M2nc |
With all this talk about the head shake problem I had to try it on the M2 to see what I got. I was running 65mph and took my hands off the bars. As it slowed down below 50mph I noticed the slightest head shake. I mean slight and it appear to be tied to the engine's rpm. As the bike slowed below the normal fifth gear range, the bike wiggle to the engine's tone. After it dropped below 40mph it quit and was fine all the way down to below 20mph. I just got parts for the Uly so tomorrow I am going to try to duplicate this head shake thing. I have not noticed it before but I have to try and see. I'll let you know what I get. As far as the Uly wondering at speed the only thing I noticed was that if I was wearing a big coat, the buffeting of my arms pulled on the bars enough to make the bike react. It was ever so slight also. It was one of those I feel it, but don't see it things. The Uly steering is numb to me anyway. The M2 has better feel and is not as reactive. I am wondering if the fact that the Uly riding position is so much off the bars in comparison to the Lightning and Firebolt, that the lack of body weight on the controls is the problem? I've test ridden the Firebolt and it was great. A much more communicative tool than the Uly. It really became a part of me as we sliced and dices through the curves. It's just not as comfortable and usable as the Uly. | ||
| M2nc |
Okay, I took the Uly today and tested for Head Shake three different times. I took the bike up 75mph and let go of the bike's handlebars. I let it slow down to between 20-35mph. So the result? Not even a hint of a wiggle, the bike was rock solid all the way down. As you can see my post from yesterday, the M2 has more a problem (which is no problem because it was so slight) than the Uly. I checked tire pressures before I left. The front tire was set at 35psi cold and the back was at 38psi. Though the frame for the bags is still on the bike they were not on the bike. | ||
| M2nc |
The front tire float I tested for too. I topped 100mph for just a moment while riding, but probably ran between 70-75mph for the most part. The bike handled great and showed no signs of floating the front tire except during hard acceleration in first and second gear. | ||
| Wolffone2000 |
Maybe I need to up my tire pressures. | ||
| Retired_cop |
I have been checking the vibration/headshake situation and have found it to be directly related to engine RPM not road speed. My ULY with only 1300 miles on it has a harmonic vibraton in the bars on deceleration through 2500 to 2000 RPM. No headshake at all, just a slight buzz in the bars that is only really noticable if you let go, not recommended. I have all 3 bags on and if they are removed the vibration stays the same. As for a vague front end, I agree and have found that tire pressure is the most imortant and easily fixed remedy. | ||
| M2nc |
I like to keep the front tire pressure below max recommended pressure anyway. I usually have the M2's D207 set at 32psi and it sticks better to me. If you increase the pressure to 36psi the bike feels like it pushes. So far I have not played with tire pressure on the Uly, but I think 35psi is still a little too high. As the temps warm up in the spring I will try to find the happy place for the D616s. | ||
| Snub13 |
In addition to the tire pressures, you might want to carefully check all of your suspension settings (both ends). I had a similar feeling (very nervous at speed) when I first took delivery. I got home and set the suspension as per the book and it was a totally different bike. After some more tweaking I think I've got it where I want it. The adjustments are so easy to make you can do them on the road side, you just have to play with it a little. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I've had mine up to about 110mph with no ill effects. I'm wondering why there are so many handling descrepencies with this bike? Some are fine and others seem to be unstable. I will say, that my Uly is a very "sharp" bike. Meaning it only takes a slight body input or push on the bar to make it change directions. A violent sneeze while riding this bike could send you off course for sure. That being said, I like my bikes that way. I usually raise the rear of my bikes for a little sharper turn in, but I haven't felt compelled to do that on the Ulysses. | ||
| Lowflyer |
I wonder the same. I have had none of the issues discussed in any of the handling threads. I set my suspension and check the tires periodically according to the OM and have put 2500 miles on #650 without a hint of a problem. I have also not had the front tire rub. (Message edited by lowflyer on January 03, 2006) | ||
| Chadhargis |
No front tire rub for me either. Wonder if some units got defective forks that flex too much? | ||
| Snub13 |
I don't think I had anything out of the ordinary, actually I would fault my dealer for not setting the suspension up for my weight. Once it was setup properly it was/is great. Also no front tire rub with me, but I haven't heard anyone complain about that for awhile. | ||
| Dragon_slayer |
That's because we are too busy complaining about the color black! Actually that black tire rub mark on my chin spoiler may have been the trigger on my down with black campaign! NO, it's all the crowing going on about black. Psss SNUB, Bindy put me up to this!  | ||
| Lowflyer |
I think the tire rub only happens on the orange ones. They painted all of the factory second bikes orange so they wouldn't mistake them for the good ones.  | ||
| Dragon_slayer |
Lowflyer, is that why I got that great price of $9050 out the door with bags?  | ||
| Snub13 |
Lowflyer, that must be it. How else could you explain it? Slayer, with the money you saved on the bike, you could buy black plastic and not be ashamed to ride it in the day light. BTW, I'm sure Bindy didn't have anything to do with your post, she is on my side!  | ||
| Crusty |
Slayer, with the money you saved on the bike, you could buy black plastic and not be ashamed to ride it in the day light. I don't think riding a Black Uly in the daylight is anything to to be ashamed of; but It probably won't feel as good as riding an Orange Uly at any time of day.  | ||
| Chadhargis |
$9050 WITH bags. Wow! I thought $9995 I paid without the bags was good. |
