Did I find my first death wobble today?
#21
Was it like this?
https://youtu.be/Gmw6QppXnEY
Forum member Grbrown wrote a good article a couple of years ago on the how and why the wobble occurs. And no, the new frames didn't help much...primarily because the inherent problem resides in the way the rear of the motor is attached (i.e. not attached ) to the frame. This is why the True Track stabilizer, when mounted properly under the bike, helps to minimize if not cure the problem.
https://youtu.be/Gmw6QppXnEY
Forum member Grbrown wrote a good article a couple of years ago on the how and why the wobble occurs. And no, the new frames didn't help much...primarily because the inherent problem resides in the way the rear of the motor is attached (i.e. not attached ) to the frame. This is why the True Track stabilizer, when mounted properly under the bike, helps to minimize if not cure the problem.
I have run my bikes both "old frame" and "new frame" much harder than that on the street (less than perfect pavement) and never had an issue like is in the video.
Yes, my bikes have suspension that is properly set up, not worn out, good tires and proper chassis alignment and steering neck adjustment, but no braces of any kind. heck, I press them harder then that with no hands...
#22
#23
You unloaded the rear suspension when you came up from the dip, touching the floor board didn't help either. The rear shock did not have enough travel to keep your rear tire planted. There is nothing wrong with your bike, it's just not designed to do dirt bike maneuvers.
Your going to need a full riding suit, boots, gloves and full face helmet before you try that again.
Your going to need a full riding suit, boots, gloves and full face helmet before you try that again.
Sorry chaps, been away for a biking weekend, just got back! I did indeed write a piece explaining the source of the wobble here, which is worth reading IMHO. I have subsequently read a comment by another member who watched a rider hit a big pothole, his shocks compressed fully, the bike shot up in the air and he lost control when his bike came back to Earth. That was caused almost entirely by crap shocks. So your plan to buy Ohlins (I have them as well) is a very good one, they should dramatically improve control of your rear end when hitting a dip or pothole. Add a True-Track kit and you should find your bike is worlds better.
Yep, when exploring the limits on a motorcycle, rider skill and experience becomes important, not saying anything negative about you or your skill level just that you probably learned something that day... from your description I would think that there is nothing wrong with your bike but as others have posted I would check the tire pressure and the fall away just to be sure...
high speed sweepers put incredible loading on the suspension and the frame of the motorcycle, sounds like that dip that cause the floorboard to scrape upset the loading.. glad you got out of it okay!
high speed sweepers put incredible loading on the suspension and the frame of the motorcycle, sounds like that dip that cause the floorboard to scrape upset the loading.. glad you got out of it okay!
Also, the rear tire was in fact 5psi lower (35) then the book value (40). The front was spot on. I suppose in that perfect combination of conditions that could have effect.
Nevertheless, thank you all for the helpful comments, and those that need to say otherwise, I understand the need of some to be critical. It's just tough love huh?
#24
Some of the human ways are lost sitting behind a screen punching away at the keyboard.
Although most of us do a pretty good job of communicating in the digital world, that's really not how we were raised. Anyways...
I was in similar situation once, with the same question...WHY? Why did it do what it did?
(I've ridden a lot of bikes, most of the sporting type, canyon carvers outta the box VFFs, GPZs, FZR's)
Back then there was no internet chat rooms. So, unless I spent every weekend at the track, picking everyone else's brains, I had to solve my motorcycle's issues on my own. Ride the hell out of them, find their shortcomings and work them out. And that's what I did, and how I learned.
So, get out there and replicate that death wobble, but before you head out, do a fallaway test, see if you're in the hunt, check your drivetrain alignment, just so you can say yup, drivetrain is true to rest of chassis. Now you've got the basics covered. Preload the shocks a bit more, or change the fork oil to something a little heavier, head out and look for differences. Try adjusting your riding position, and if the wobble comes back, don't focus on your pucker, instead focus on what's going on and how to diminish it.
65-70 is well within the machine's suspension tolerances. If it starts to misbehave and gets worse, it's not the bike...it's you!
This may not make sense to you, it's just another comment in a sea of suggestions, but your bike has a lot of room in handling capability, most of it unexplored. Stabos and other links will help, but you'd be surprised how far you can push your rig with just good tires, the right compliant suspension and a little body english.
And next time try steady throttle to get you out of the curve, (there's a lot of room before hardware meets asphalt, and even when it does, there's still room)
You may not grind parts yet, but when you do you'll have the experience along with confidence to do what you think you should do next
Although most of us do a pretty good job of communicating in the digital world, that's really not how we were raised. Anyways...
I was in similar situation once, with the same question...WHY? Why did it do what it did?
(I've ridden a lot of bikes, most of the sporting type, canyon carvers outta the box VFFs, GPZs, FZR's)
Back then there was no internet chat rooms. So, unless I spent every weekend at the track, picking everyone else's brains, I had to solve my motorcycle's issues on my own. Ride the hell out of them, find their shortcomings and work them out. And that's what I did, and how I learned.
So, get out there and replicate that death wobble, but before you head out, do a fallaway test, see if you're in the hunt, check your drivetrain alignment, just so you can say yup, drivetrain is true to rest of chassis. Now you've got the basics covered. Preload the shocks a bit more, or change the fork oil to something a little heavier, head out and look for differences. Try adjusting your riding position, and if the wobble comes back, don't focus on your pucker, instead focus on what's going on and how to diminish it.
65-70 is well within the machine's suspension tolerances. If it starts to misbehave and gets worse, it's not the bike...it's you!
This may not make sense to you, it's just another comment in a sea of suggestions, but your bike has a lot of room in handling capability, most of it unexplored. Stabos and other links will help, but you'd be surprised how far you can push your rig with just good tires, the right compliant suspension and a little body english.
And next time try steady throttle to get you out of the curve, (there's a lot of room before hardware meets asphalt, and even when it does, there's still room)
You may not grind parts yet, but when you do you'll have the experience along with confidence to do what you think you should do next
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RiverB (10-31-2016)
#25
Until they change the design the wobble will always be there. Whether you find it or not depends on your riding style and road conditions. It's on my 15 RGS and I feel it all the time on freeway transition ramps because it's a sweeping curve with bumps. I use the Alloy Art brace to help control it. Simple design and easy to install.
http://www.alloyart.com/bagger/touri...-09-to-present
http://www.alloyart.com/bagger/touri...-09-to-present
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