Rough Ride

[gixxer]

I live in eastern Canada. We had a hard winter last year and the back roads here are normally bumpy but this year is worse. My XS had a full set of three suitcase saddle bags but the rough roads rattled the the bag's frame apart so I removed them for repair. The bike's ride and stability were OK before but now the bike rides super hard and tends to wander after a bump in the straightaway or bunny hop on a bump in a corner. It seems like the saddle bags were acting as a damper / stabilizer. I have changed the fork oil, tried all different air pressures including zero in the front forks, no difference. I have new tires front and back and the pressures are perfect in them. I have a fork brace, not the TKat variety but nonetheless. Anyone have any ideas on what might be happening?

[fredintoon]

I live in eastern Canada. We had a hard winter last year and the back roads here are normally bumpy but this year is worse. My XS had a full set of three suitcase saddle bags but the rough roads rattled the the bag's frame apart so I removed them for repair. The bike's ride and stability were OK before but now the bike rides super hard and tends to wander after a bump in the straightaway or bunny hop on a bump in a corner. It seems like the saddle bags were acting as a damper / stabilizer. I have changed the fork oil, tried all different air pressures including zero in the front forks, no difference. I have new tires front and back and the pressures are perfect in them. I have a fork brace, not the TKat variety but nonetheless. Anyone have any ideas on what might be happening?

Hi Gixxer,
I'll see your eastern back roads and raise you Saskatchewan's back road system of alternating frost heaved thin membrane blacktop and gravel patches.
You didn't mention the rear shock spring pre-load settings.
Betcha they were clicked round to full pre-load to cope with the weight of your hard bags?
Try clicking them back to minimum and do a test ride.

[gixxer]

Yup, sounds like our road conditions for sure. I've had my whole life flash in front of me several times while doing a bunny hop in gravel through a corner that should have been paved. The main roads are pretty good now but the secondary roads may never get fixed before the snow flies again.

I ratcheted my rear springs to their lowest preload setting shortly after my first ride without the bags. Now it's easier on my back but handles like crap. I can't believe those bags would make such a difference.

[skids]

Maybe your steering head bearings have somehow tightened-up (old grease?). Put the bike on the centerstand, get the front wheel off the ground, and check to see that the steering moves freely.

[fredintoon]

Maybe your steering head bearings have somehow tightened-up (old grease?). Put the bike on the centerstand, get the front wheel off the ground, and check to see that the steering moves freely.

Hi Skids,
or perhaps they have loosened? That too will show up in the steering.
It may be that gixxer's handling problem was slowly worsening over time and that removing the luggage focussed his attention on it.
I would suggest a total frame checkover. Tear down the steering head, inspect, regrease and reset. Check the swingarm bearings and reset if needed.
Do a visual on the frame, a broken weld can spoil your whole day. And even spend the big bucks on replacing the rear shocks?

[HobbyMan]

by "perfect" what are your tire pressures at?

[gixxer]

Thanks for the input guys. When I first got the bike last year I took the steering head apart, cleaned and greased it because it was hitching and making the bike not want to do smooth left turns. The wheel now turns side to side freely with no hitching...I just rechecked it the other day. I replaced the rear shocks because the units that were on the bike when I got it were not the right shocks for the bike, they were too short and not heavy enough so the bike was bottoming out all the time. The new shocks are not new but they are off another low mileage XS. I've been real happy with them. The dealer set my tire pressure when he put my new tires on 32 front / 35 rear. That seemed to work great with the bags on. By the way I'm 185lb and ride alone.

I believe the problem is in the front end. I'm thinking that the PO may have fiddled with the fork springs too putting longer or stronger springs in there which would make the front end too stiff and too high but that's just a guess. How could I determine that?

[DiverRay]

The wrong fork oil will also do that. You should have 10W fork oil in the front, 15W if you have a LOT of miles and carry a lot of load. At 185, I would stick with the 10W, and be sure you don't have too much. That will cause a "hydro-lock" and the front end will be VERY stiff.

[motoman]

gixxer.............your tire pressure should be at 40psi, luggage or no luggage. It will handle better, ride better..........pretty much do it all better, aside from the fact you won't have "cupping" of the front tire. Look at sidewall of tire. Will have manufacturer max. recomended PSI(likeley will say 41psi).

[gixxer]

Motoman, I went out after supper and put more air in the tires (before I saw your post here), bringing them up to 38 R / 35 F. The handling and ride improved dramatically. I checked the sidewall as you said and it says Max load 680lb @ 41psi. I'll bump them up to 40 and I expect my handling woes will completely disappear. Weird how this wasn't a problem with the bags on. Oh well, it's a cheap fix anyway. By the way when I was out for my test drive I checked the fork travel using a couple of cable ties around the fork tubes and it's 4" after a RR track, bumpy stretch of road, and a panic stop. Something tells me that this is about right. Thanks guys for all your input.