| Author | Message | ||
     Andrejs2112 |
Hey there, I took my wife out for the first time today. We did about 125 miles of country back roads. The Uly was great. I did notice that when going over dips the rear suspension would vibrate the bike when the shock was compressed. I weigh 250 and she weighs about 130 or so. I have the bike setup for me, and then the rear knob cranked to max to compensate for a rider. Anyone else have that happen? Any tips? | ||
| Discodino |
Maybe tire pressure to accommodate? | ||
| Ishai |
According to the chart in your owner's manual you need to change other settings as well- look it up. (I do'nt have it in front of me). Air pressure should stay the same. | ||
| Adamd |
Yeah there should be 2 adj on the rear. I noticed it too on a trip last sat.... | ||
| Etennuly |
2112 I have noticed this vibration while riding double also. We are about 200 lbs heavier with the bags loaded than you are. We went on a 470 mile trip last summer with no problems. At first I thought it may have been the belt riding up or rubbing. I checked that and the tire and everything else for rubbing, but found nothing. I have observed that heavily loaded, pulling up hills I can feel the individual engine pulses. I am thinking that the bike when loaded heavy, bottoming in a dip is loading the chassis and suspension to the max. It is also loading the engine mounts to the max and transferring the engine pulses to the chassis for just a moment. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
According to the chart in your owner's manual you need to change other settings as well- look it up. (I do'nt have it in front of me). Air pressure should stay the same. Thanks. I set it up according to the manual. That's why I'm asking someone else. | ||
| Jmhinkle |
Mine also does that. The wife and I are a little less than you two, but still does that vibey thing. I think Etenuly is on to something. I kind of thought it was some drivetrain vibration being transferred through when everything gets taught during compression. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
Maybe it just does that. I can't help but cringe when it does it though. | ||
| Stevem123 |
I also get that but after several miles it seems to lessen some. I believe it's just the engine mounts being fully compressed. I don't think it will hurt anything though. BC Steve | ||
| Thunderbox |
The vibration you are feeling is the belt being tightened as the suspension is compressed. It doesn't seem to effect anything except the little bit of roughness you feel when the bike compresses the suspension. Set the compression setting to a little more firm with the little screw adjustment. Put the preload on full for 2 up. And enjoy. | ||
| Michael1 |
I get it as well. If you add more compression it takes it away a bit. IT's just the belt vibrating during suspension compression. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I believe it's just the engine mounts being fully compressed. I agree with this assessment. I noted the effect on my first two-up ride with my wife a couple of weeks ago. My S3 did the same thing, but MUCH worse. I continue to be amazed at how much better the engine isolation works on the Uly compared to my tuber. | ||
| Roadrailer |
I've never experienced the vibration you've mentioned, although my wife and I combined only weigh in at around 275 (175 for me and 100 for her. I would agree that the other suspension settings may need some adjustment. Does anyone know if the manual gives a range for that weight (I don't have it with me)? Worst case, you may need to look into an aftermarket shock to compensate for the additional weight. | ||
| Thunderbox |
I'm not trying to put a stick in the spokes but the engine and the suspension don't work together at all. I can't see how the engine gets stressed through the suspension but hey if thats what you believe. I know its a belt tensioning thing, if it's making that growl the suspension needs to be tensioned up and the shock needs to be adjusted hydraulicly with the adjuster screw. | ||
| Etennuly |
If the belt were to tighten up in its arc it would be pulling on the front sprocket which is on the transmission which is part of the engine that is mounted on rubber mounts that if pulled by the belt and or by gravitational and centrifugal forces to its limits of travel in the mounts it could transfer the engine pulses to the chassis as the bike was ridden through a dip with a heavy load. The idler pulley system on these bikes is designed to keep an equal amount of tension on the belt through out its range of travel. If it does tighten it will pull on the engine mounts before it could stretch. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Thunderbox, I partially agree with what you're saying- the top of the rear shock is supported from the frame, not the engine. However, the swingarm pivot block is bolted solidly to the back of the engine, so there is some interaction between suspension and the engine, and therefore the isolation mounts. In my bike, this vibration comes through very noticeably in the handlebars when you go through a dip in the road. If it's idler related, that wouldn't explain the same thing occurring on a tube framed bike. | ||
| Windrider |
The XB series Buells were designed with a fixed idler that is positioned in such a way as to provide a constant belt tension for any position of the swingarm through it's travel. It is pretty clever. http://buell.com/en_us/buell_way/buelltech/pdf_111 2_2004.pdf | ||
| Lorazepam |
increase the compression damping and the preload and it will go away. I was at 260 with a 140 passenger and with the bags loaded, and never bottomed out. | ||
| Jmhinkle |
I weigh 185 and the wife 135 + gear and bags. I set it for the maximum weight in the book which lead to another problem that I brought up before and no one really answered. My rear preload stops long before what the book says is available. 20(max) turns (40 clicks) is what the book gives. I get 16 max turns which is a whole weight class short as far as preload goes. I believe that is what also led to the rear cupping on my 616 that appeared after the wife and I did a bunch of riding one weekend. Does anyone have 20 turns available on the rear? Should I be taking the bike in for a defective shock? | ||
| Etennuly |
Mine does 20 turns, no problem. The tire cupping on the D616 is normal. | ||
| Etennuly |
I just completed a comprehensive test of this nearly mysterious vibration. The wife and I went on a little ride this evening, and as we went down a hill and through a dip that has caused the vibration, I pulled in the clutch and shut off the engine. We were doing about 55 mph, the bike got so smooth, we hit the dip and no vibration at all. This is an easy test to try, and it has proved to me that the engine pulses are migrating through the chassis when the engine mounts bottom out, not necessarily the suspension. damn 45 degree V twin piece of crap vibrating lump is causing the problem  | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
Thank you! So I shouldn't worry about it then? | ||
| Etennuly |
When you feel it vibrate just shut it off!   I'm not worrying about mine, I'm just making the wife ride her own bike. |
