Scraping bottom...

[corey]

Am I the only XSive who feels like ever time I make a hard turn I drag something? When I bank to the left, its the kickstand (you know, the peg that sticks out beyond the exhaust)... to the right its my Jardine pipes.

*sigh* Maybe its just my pipes.... or maybe my kickstands out of whack. I've tried adjusting the preload of my shocks to no avail. Higher or lower, always scraping..

Anyone?

[prometheus578]

I've found that the Atkin's Diet has helped my bike stop scraping, due to it riding so low.

[Pat Kelly]

The Jardines on my E (fully dressed) cause my centerstad to sit a little lower. Thus I scrape the centerstand foot pedal on left turns.
A mounting bolt for the exhaust scrapes on right turns but not as often.
I have yet to scrape anything on the LG as the handleing does not inspire confidence. I think this is due to the tires (Dunlop K404's). I do have a bork-brace installed .

[Targetman]

Can you get a pic of just how low these things are hanging?
Maybe a pic of the scrape marks?

I've got the jardine pipes with the turn-out tip mufflers and center stand on. Didn't even scrape anything with me, my woman, and all of our camping gear aboard.

My bike has a bad tire combo aswell, Dunlop on back and chen sing in front. I want to replace the front to make it handle better, but there's no sense in scrapping a good tire.
My uncle and I made a forkbrace that bolts on under the fender from a plate of steel. I work great and you cant even see it.

[John]

I have found that the Jardines are parallel to the ground, like those on a Standard, not upswept like the OEM Special pipes, and will cause the center stand foot pad to scrape on the left side. I scraped hard one time on a hard 90 degree turn to the left, with SWMBO on the back and that was a scary feeling.

[John]

Here's a pic

This how low the Jardines sit on my bike.

http://www.photodump.com/viewer/John80SG/014_12A.html

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Corey,

It may not be so much just the preload, as the dampening affect of your shocks as well? I have 4" over front tubes, and newer el cheapo rear shocks(JCW) but on very tight corners, I, too have scraped both the foot lever of the center stand, and my right muffler on my 4-1 pipes. Many times, when encountering these very tight turns, it's usually on some mountain road, and a bit of a dip occurs in the turn, causing a downforce which pushes the frame closer to the ground, and this combined with the lean angle causes these parts to get closer than usual, and so scraping! I only weigh 220.

With better dampening, the bike won't necessarily dip as low or as fast when negotiating those tight turns?! But you could try some taller shocks, or newer if you're still running the OEMs!
T.C.

[Targetman]

Here's how low (or high) my pipes sit.
I should mention that I only weigh 160 (have to run around in the shower to get wet!) That could be a factor.

Looks about the same height as Johns bike. Maybe a little higher.
Corey , let's see a pic of your low hangers.

[Parr8hed]

I have the same problem on my 78E, as topcat said it is usually the downforce that gets me. When there is a dip in the road or such. I seem to always bang the collector on the header pipe (right under the bottom of the bike by the oil filter). I have 4-1 exhaust that I really like so I had to ditch the center stand in order if fit the exhaust or it would drag every turn. Still it is very easy to put on the center stand for repairs just put in the bolts and prop her up, no spring needed if just sitting in the driveway. The only bad thing was when my sidestand bolt came out one day and I had no way to prop up the bike.

I am planning on re-doing the suspension this winter. Probably longer fork tubes 4" or so and at least 1-2" longer shocks. Lots more dampening and a fork brace.

[MartyA]

I have improved the scraping a LOT by installing the Progressive Suspension recommended heavy duty shocks and springs. It took some searching but I found a set for $400. Now I have to REALLY get over before I scrape.

But heck, I scrape the pegs on Ilene...

[corey]

I'm having trouble with the digital camera. However, my pipes look just like TargetMan's. Props on the color, BTW Targetman.

Anywho. Yea, the bottoming out is worse when I hit a dip while turning. I'm not a heavy guy (180 lbs.), either. What else... um... the scrape marks are on the kickstand arm on the left, and right in front of the muffler union on the right side.

Its not such a big deal. Its just kind of annoying. :S

[strom]

I scrape the centestand on both sides, engine guard on the right and footpeg/foot on the left. The PO (one of them) was scraping the engine case (stator/rotor cover) on the right. I don't think it was intentional, but I heard of a guy who did (on the XS11).

LP

PS: Where do I get better shocks... rear that is. I had stock ones, but one was leaking oil, now I have Vmax, that are a bit higher, but they are too soft and two-up I scrape everything in mild turns (mild in XS sense, not goldwing/harley sense).
PPS: I rode a goldwing a few days back. I thaught I was gonna die. Cant turn, cant brake, cant... anything. But its comfy while it scares you ****less.

[MartyA]

Hey strom, how have you been?

This is the selection from the Progressive site. You want the heavy duty shocks and springs:

http://progressivesuspension.com/appview.asp?AppsNumber=507

Then go here to find the part numbers:

http://www.accwhse.com/progress.htm

The prices are listed in US dollars.

I got the Series 12's.
12-1201B shocks 12.5"
("B" is for Black, "C" is for chrome)
and the 03-1365B springs (heavy duty 120/170 rated, terrific!!, sold separately)

$139.95 pair shocks without spings
$57.95 pair heavy duty springs.
+ shipping

Some folks have seen how well my XS handles the curves, even with Sally on board. I highly recommend this combo for your XS Standard.

Oops I see I said $400, it was ~$200 plus shipping, and I borrowed a friends spring compressor to mount the springs.

[AKMac]

My bike sort of wobbles through a hard turn. Nothing major, but it's a little nerve racking when your leaned that far over. Do you think the progressive shocks would help?

[MartyA]

Absolutely.
Unless all you want to do is go down the road in a straight line looking pretty, lacking any of the following will have an effect on your cornering, IMHO all are mandatory:
1. Air pressure in the tires (good tires of course!)
2. FORK BRACE if you don't have one - I canNOT imagine someone on an XS without one!
3. New fork springs. If you have the original 25+ year old ones they gotta go!
4. New fork oil and seals. If you have a fairing or load your XS up add 5-10 to the oil weight. I run 20 wt, I think the book says 10 or 15?
5. Excellent shocks. Now some folks - mostly the skinny ones - will tell you that the JC Whipme and their twins the Parts n More shocks work fine, and they probably do for them. They did NOT work for me, with my fairing and 125 lb Sally on the back. Brand new, one mile from home, and we were bottoming out. That is why I got those heavy duty ones. But with all the other stuff mentioned here, old leaky shocks alone can ruin a good ride.
6. Countersteer ability. If you have to ask, get thee to an Motorcycle Safety Foundation training course.
7. Common Sense. The bike is NOT a top-of-the-list, state of the art, twisty performer. But with all the above it will do very well.


I think that covers it.
Now go forth and lean!