| Author | Message | ||
     Daveinm |
I've been crusin around on my new xb9s. I got it last Thursday...it's an '03 2500 miles and has the race kit installed. I've been pushin it pretty hard. Trying to get a good feel for it and get it dialed in. My question is about the stability of the bike at high speeds. It starts shakin pretty good around 90-100, not that I'm normally gonna be riding it like that. It's not uncontrollable, but it's definitely enough to make you want to turn it down a little bit. I've been on the xb9r and xb12r and done 110-120 with no problem. My tire pressures are correct, according to the owners manual, as well as the suspension settings. I really just wanted to know if this is normal and if other riders experience the same thing. If not, is there anyway to get it to run more stable? | ||
| Darthane |
Does it shake without your hands on the bars? Also, are the tires themselves in good shape? If you can, check the steering head bearings for play (pretty simple check if you've got the right stuff and a few minutes). My XB9R is rock solid at triple digits, and the only S I ever rode was stable up to 80. -=shrugs=- | ||
| Xb9srider |
I've had my Lightning up to 125 indicated and the bike seems stable. Now, I'm getting the knocked around pretty good by the wind at that velocity and it's just not fun. However, the bike has never shown any instability at speed. I raised the fork to the limit (it would not raise any further) and forget my suspension settings for my 5'8", 150 lb. frame. Preload is light, compression is light, and rebound is mid. I like the setup as it turns in better on the brakes, is quicker to respond, and seems to have lost little in the way of stability. I had taken it well over 100 prior to the suspension changes (stock) and experienced no instability there either. Good luck and ride safe. Mark  Never Give Up! | ||
| Kcfirebolt |
xb9r Rock steady to 125. All the time; every time. Congrats on the new bike. Somebody on this board will be able to help with your question. I think your experience is unusual. Kc | ||
| Daveinm |
I don't take my hands off the bars at those speeds  The tires are in good shape. I don't know how to check the steering head bearings. I've taken the xb9r out. I agree...in triple digits, it's rock solid. | ||
| Daveinm |
FYI...I'm 6'0", 225 lbs. | ||
| Xb9srider |
Define shaking pretty good. Is it a head shake or is your big bag o' bones being tossed around by the wind really bad? On my bike, above 100, I get pushed around really hard by the wind. The bike remains solid though. If you're being moved about by the wind, is some of that being transferred lightly to the bars? That stuff may cause a bit of instability in this short coupled beast. Never Give Up! | ||
| Daves |
Giving it any input from you to the bars? Check the steering head bearings. Did you buy it from a dealer? Has it been wrecked or laid down? Just asking questions? Ride to the edge! Dave daves@h-dappleton.com | ||
| Austinrider |
6' 250 lbs (yeah, Im a big guy) Taken my bike into the 115-125 range multiple times (both in S form and R form). Only time it was unstable was when I had a death grip on it, after I loosened up a bit it the only thing I fought was the wind. Enjoy the new ride. Anybody wanna go over how to check the head bearings? | ||
| Daveinm |
The shaking is hard to describe. It's not really bad around 80. 90 is controllable, but it's definitely there. At 100 it feels like it's getting to be a bit too much to handle. I've pushed it just over 100, maybe to 110, and it just gets worse. It's all coming from the front. It's probably more of a wobble than a shaking. The bars just seem to start wobbling left to right a bit. I guess it could be the wind, but it seems a little extreme to just be from the wind. I did get it from a dealer...Treasure Coast Harley in Stuart, FL. They said it's never been down. xb9srider: I do get beat up by the wind, but I'm almost certain thats not what's causing the shaking. | ||
| Glitch |
Mine's stable at high speeds. I've got the 03 9S with race kit also. The only suggestion I have is to double check your suspension and tire pressure. Suspension Help | ||
| Jasonblue |
No problems shaking on my kitted 9s. Had it up to around 130. | ||
| Easyflier |
I ride a 9R but with the stock tires it seemed a little squirmy if the tire pressure was low up front even a little bit. On the 9S I think that could feel even more pronounced. | ||
| M1combat |
Tires or wind buffeting getting through your arms are my guesses. You say the tires are the right pressure... What about wear? Are they cupped at all? Does it still have the stock tires? If so, that's about the right mileage for them to be about as used up as you want them to be. I think that a new pair of tires is in order. | ||
| Joojoo |
On my 12S, If I take my hands off the bars at 65MPH there is SLIGHT movement of the handlebars (more like an on and off vibration), but when I put my hands back to the bars, its just the vibes of the bike coming through the bars, and the road imperfections coming through the bars. Otherwise, the bike holds stable as can be. Any Buell will have some vibes coming through the bars causing them to shake a bit when you pull your hands from them... Jack | ||
| Jerseyguy |
How about something simple like wheel balancing? Does it get better and worse and then better again as you run it up to speed? | ||
| Mookie |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=32777&post=255777#POS T255777 um bryan? do you do 90 quite often with your hands off the bars? | ||
| Darthane |
Have many times - principally before I got the throttle lock and needed to rest the arms/wrists. When going down the interstate, I've never felt uncomfortable taking my hands off the bars for a bit (think ten seconds or less). The question was aimed at determining whether or not he was inadvertently causing it by tensing his grip on the bars, which can happen. Now, are you gonna manage to make it over for a beer before I leave again this Sunday? | ||
| Roc |
My first guess is tire/wheel balancing. After I had new tires put on I had a very annoying shake above 55-60 MPH, probably would have been worse at 100. Take a look at your wheels. Is there over 1 oz. of weight on the front wheel? Over 2 oz. of weight on the rear wheel? These weights should be on the right side of the wheels, aka brake side on front wheel. 1.25 oz. on the front wheel, and on the wrong side, was enough to give me a problem. Also – page 2-19 in the service manual – “the yellow circle on the sidewall - of the tire - is a balance mark and should be aligned 180 degrees from the mark (blue dot) on the inside of the rim.” Notice that generally the tire balance mark is lined up with the valve stem, this is not correct for XB’s and was the root cause of my problem. Also the “blue dot” on the inside of my wheel was really a black dot, which was a few inches from some blue writing. Go with the dot. Good luck | ||
| Geofg |
How loose is your jacket? If it's flopping around and you've got a death-grip on the bars, you'll transmit that jacket-flop to the front end. -Geof | ||
| Daveinm |
I'm leaning towards it being a tire problem. I'm bringing it back to the dealer I got it from tomorrow morning to get it checked out. The more I think about it, the more I think it may be the balancing. I'll post back tomorrow and let you guys know the verdict. | ||
| Coolice |
Check the front tire, my XB9R had a definate shake that developed around 45 and reoccurred over 90. Took it back to the dealer and sure enough the tire was defective. So don't get hurt take it back and changed what needs to be fixed and enjoy that Buell. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
If I have the suspension set for exactly my weight according to the manual there is a bit of noticeable headshake in the bars. I say noticeable but not scary at higher speeds. Setting the suspension to the next weight class up the ladder got rid of it. | ||
| Glitch |
Ya may wanna check your fork oil level. Mine wasn't even when delivered. And what Roc said... | ||
| Tucsonxb9s |
I had the shakes at lower speeds start at about the same mileage with my stock tires. Got new rubber and it's gone away. Not sure if they were out of balance or cupped like M1 said. | ||
| Mookie |
yeah i will. i just wasnt looking forward to that long drive to your house | ||
| Buellny |
I've had my 03 XB9SL up to 135 mph (is that about as fast as it goes?...I caught a car and had to let off) and I never felt a wobble at all. I bet it a balanced tire issue too. The thrashing by the wind doesn't bother me...I've never had the benefit of a fairing to hide behind!  | ||
| Dyna |
Cut the neck & rake it out to about 38 degrees, add some 8" over fork tubes & your high speed stability issues will be over. Wont turn for shit, but at least you will be able to go straight quickly.  | ||
| Daveinm |
Shit...well if that's the case, maybe while i'm cutting the neck out, I'll pull the engine out also. Drop a 4 cylinder in there | ||
| Daveinm |
If I decide to get new tires, what should I get? Roughly, how much would they cost? | ||
| Darthane |
Oh, Christ. Tires are like oil - everyone's got a different opinion. Metzeler Sportecs, Michelin Pilot Sports, Pirelli Diablos all seem to be popular. I had a set of D208ZR Dunlops - no complaints. Expect to pay ~$200 for a set including shipping. | ||
| Dyna |
If I decide to get new tires, what should I get? Based on my years of experience, the round black ones are best. Avoid the colored re-tread tires that Koz bought | ||
| Daveinm |
Really, they make them in black??? | ||
| Daveinm |
I took my bike into the dealership this morning. The tech took it for a spin and said he had it up to 90 and didn't feel the wobble I was talking about. That's hard to believe. I changed the tires. It was almost time for new ones anyway. Got a new set of Pirelli Diablos. They're pretty dope. I haven't pushed them too hard yet, but they seem to be a lot better than the stock Dunlops. Unfortunately, I still have the wobble. I'm gonna take them to another shop to check the tire balancing. | ||
| Roc |
Are the weights in the right places, and under the 1 or 2 oz limits? | ||
| Bigj |
Almost any naked bike is susceptible to fork oscillation due to wind blast moving the rider's arms minutely.  | ||
| Daveinm |
Yeah, of course....this feels a different though. It definitely feels like it's coming from the wheel. I'm taking it in tomorrow morning to get the balancing checked out. | ||
| Skully |
I've taken my 2003 XB9S to 130 (indicated) several times including a couple of times with my Ventura bag on back... Absolutely rock steady. My guess is a wheel balancing problem. Check the simple stuff first. Keith |
