| Author | Message | ||
     Sconley |
I've got an '05 XB9Sx and notice during high speed chicanes a certain "nervousness" of the steering head/bars... Starts to shake a little... Not a full blown tank slapper (yet) but don't really want to get to that point. I have my suspension set up via Shawn Higbee's recommended aggressive positions as I do ride agressively and do many track days... I'm not complaining at all as stability and quick turning/maneuverability are inversely proportional and I'm willing to accept the trade-off... However, I'd like to minimize it and dial it out as much as possilble too... Anybody else encounter this as they push the envelope on their XB's and does it bother you at all, and if so... Have you discovered anything that reduces it? e.g. Suspension tweeks, steering damper, etc? Thanks, sc | ||
| Glitch |
What tires are you using? | ||
| Sconley |
The stock Perellis... Any recommendations for a street/track tire that can do both pretty decently (I hate to swap them for a track day). Thanks, sc | ||
| Daves |
When's the last time you checked the steering neck bearings? I would check that first | ||
| No_rice |
thats kind of what i was wondering. i had a slight bobble on mine but it ended up being just a very slight cupping in the tire(stock dunlop) that must have been causing it because once i put the pirelli's on it went away and has yet to reappear | ||
| Darkducati |
What suspension setting are you running? How much do you weigh? Mine handled like crap using the factory setting. I have since tried the settings recommended by another board member and it was a world of difference. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Comes the time in the life of every streetfighting studmuffin who is pushing a bit too hard when he crosses the line of sensible riding and needs a steering damper. Sounds like you are there:-) Assuming that your neck bearings are not loose, ( usually seen as a "clunk" when you apply the brakes, your tires are good, and your suspension settings are right, and that you are riding it as smoothly as possible, I would look into a steering damper. They are made by LSL, Hyperpro, and Storz, and available through a number of our sponsors. Lots of the brothers don't think that a Buell needs one, they must be real smooth. I have a Storz on mine, and it has made me feel much more comfortable, not that an old geezer like me ever rides very fast:-) | ||
| Sconley |
I've only got about 1300 miles on it so I haven't checked the bearings, would they need to be checked/replaced already? The bars do turn smooth from stop to stop with no noticeable play. As mentioned in the post, I'm running the shawn higbee suspension settings for a rider of my weight (180 lbs). I should probably clarify... It's not a very noticeable head shake, and doesn't happen unless I'm pushing it. Mostly notice it during a quick left to right "S" curve... The first turn always goes fine, but during the transition from the full lean left, to full lean right, the bars get a little squirly... They shake maybe a half an inch back and forth a few times and then everything is smooth again once the bike settles into full lean on the second turn. Wasn't thinking it could be the bearings and I will check that a little closer (I hope its not)... I was surmizing it was a design characteristic (not a flaw) of the short wheel base and minimal rake. But maybe not as only a few have mentioned something similar. But I'm a licensed racer and push the hell out of it... So if I just go blasting around town stoplight to stoplight, I probably wouldn't have ever come across it. Thanks for your thoughts and please keep them coming if you think of something more. Shawn | ||
| Sconley |
Thanks gentleman jon, I wrote my response while you posted yours and didn't get to comment... I come from a Ducati background... Monsters and supersports... My street monster had a steering damper, my track bike supersport didn't need one even at the elevated track speeds. Nothing I've ever been on turns like this Buell... And I've never been on a bike that needs one to be so smooth with it. I'll check the bearings, recheck the suspension and if everything looks ok, i'll look into that damper and see how that goes... ~S | ||
| Odinbueller |
Your bearings are probably good, but your should check them out before adding a stabilizer. Here's what you should do: 1. Lift the front end off the ground. 2. Grab the bottom of the forks and gently pull towards you to see if you feel or hear a clunking or loose feeling in the neck. Even if you don't keep going on to the next step, but that is a tell tale sign that your steering head bearing preload is too loose. 3. Remove lower triple clamp pinch bolts. 4. Loosen upper triple clamp pinch bolt behind nut. 5. Loosen then re-torque the steering stem nut on top of the upper triple clamp (can't remember torque spec off the top of my head, consult your service manual for that, around 40 Ft. Lbs. I believe). 6. Using a fish scale measure the amount of resistance needed to bring the wheel from full left lock to center. You may want to remove the clutch cable from the perch to ensure your measurement isn’t skewed. The spec on this has changed several times, but should be between 3 - 6 lbs. of force (again, check service manual for this spec on your model year). Be sure the scale remains parallel with the wheel while rotating the wheel. If your reading is out of spec, then you need to replace your steering head bearings & races. 7. Go out for a shakedown ride. You shouldn't have any problems. If so, and your bearings are good, then you may want to go with a steering damper. Unless you're out racing all the time, a properly set up XB front end should be pretty solid. But always check your bearings first before adding a stabilizer, other wise you're putting a band-aid on a bullet wound  Also, a little blue Loctite on the threads of the steering stem nut wouldn't hurt, just to keep the bearing preload in spec. But be sure to follow the service manual for this prcedure, and you'll verify if your bearings are good or not. Hope all goes well! (Message edited by odinbueller on January 22, 2006) | ||
| Gschuette |
Would air pressure in the tires have any affect on this? No one else mentioned this but I have read here many times that the XBs are very sensitive to air pressure adjustments. | ||
| Odinbueller |
As long as you have 36 psi front/38 psi rear, you shouldn't have any problems. If the front were overinflated, you may feel like you have power steering, and that may cause what you're experiencing. But more than likely, from my experience, it's in the neck bearing preload. Not a bad idea to check both, though. Let us know what you find. | ||
| Keys |
I wouldn't go near the Shawn Higbee settings without getting a steering damper first. | ||
| Bakadoh |
wow this is a timely tread. I've got a bit of clunking... but only when I ride in the rain. During the sunshine, it's solid. When I bough my 9r I could have sworn that PO said he just replaced the head bearings... that was about 2000 miles go. Can anyone give me a neck bearing preload rundown? thanks for any assistance. | ||
| Sconley |
Thanks Odin, that's a solid walkthrough and I'll definitely look into it but it will have to wait until next saturday when I have some time (and a fish scale). Tire pressure is always checked at least once a week if not before each ride. Maybe the higbee settings are a bit too harsh and I could back out of it a little bit to see if it reduces the shake tendency. I guess like all simple questions, there really aren't any simple answers but thanks to all that took the time to point me in the right direction and I'll let you know how many worms are in the can as I continue opening it. | ||
| Gschuette |
Hey Bakadoh! Look up. |
