front wheel shacking!

[madbuell]

hi guys,
i'm experiencing, since day 1 of my bike, and now after a year even more, a really dangerous shaking on the front wheel or forks on high speed (over 110 MPH).
now i just brought my bike to the 5000 miles service and they told me it was the big and heavy stem cap skull shape i put on my bike, but after i took it off, yesterday i tried the bike and i have exactly the same problem!
it's really dangerous and i don't feel confortable on driving my bike anymore, so my question is: where's the problem that cause this shaking and how can i fix it?
is a steering dumper the solution?

 

[midlifecrisis]

It's called headshake (or tankslapper) and yes it can be fatal. Choppers with a heavy rake and trail are amazingly stable at high speed while radical rake and trail figures (like an XB) are inherently unstable. The lower your rake and trail numbers the better is your ability to turn, thus - own the corners.
A steering stabilizer is made for just these instances actually. Uneven pavement at high speed or even under a hard launch when your front tire tends to get light also contribute to headshake. I've been over 120 on my Firebolt and have not had any serious headshake. Lightening up your grip will lessen this condition believe it or not as it tends to work itself out and a 'death' grip on your bars will tend to worsen the situation. Don't let this turn you off though, it's a known and workable thing.

 

[NL90]

YOU DO NOT NEED A STEERING STABILIZER!!!
The Buell has a Racing Wheelbase and is ready to run!
I had the same problem when I first got my Buell!
When you get up to 100mph you can't be sitting on the bike like your going 60mph. Move your ass back on the seat, hunch over, chest on airbox, and use your weight to push down!

THE END

 

[madbuell]

man, that's what i do, but the problem shows up whan i lean on my airbox cover, not when i have my chest straight up!!!!
it can be weird, but is like this!
i also have a MV Agusta Brutale, a 125hp at rear wheel beast, so trust me, i know how to ride a bike and i know i have to change my riding position, but my problem is exactly there, when i lean on the bike!
i think i definately need a steering dumper, that's what also told me at HD...

 

[BuellPartsGuy]

NL90, you honestly think he doesn't need a stabilizer? Wow....[down] Why would every single racer have them? Why are most other motorcycle producers installing them from the factory? You obviously have a personal vendetta with them or something.

A stabilizer would completely fix that problem, madbuell, and other ones too. It was the best thing I bought for my bike, no question.

 

[njsxb9]

Stabilizer, Stabilizer, Stabilizer. Will solve your problem. check out the LSL Stabilizer

 

[MPea3]

Get the stabilizer. Many race organizations, including WERA, mandate them.

 

[NL90]

I ride mountains everyday.. I hit the 5th gear rev limiter everyday.. You must know how to ride

Sorry for being a real rider that knows how to handle his bike..

From what I can tell there is a problem that can be fixed.. Check the air in the tires.. Go ahead and add an extra 2psi to each tire.. Make sure your springs/shock is set to the correct weight. Check your rebound!

Why spend $250+ for a stabilizer? [down][down]

 

[BadS1]

Actually alot of Buell Racers don't use them also. I can name 8 right now that 4 have pro licenses. It's not really fix.


Ed,

Has the bike been set to your weight??? And sometimes if the tire pressure is not to Buell spec it can create this problem. I have a 12S also and my set-up by the help of a race buddy. I weigh about 215 lbs. and have no problems all the way until the bike is out of breathe. Check these first. One more thing.... is the front tire wearing properly and not cupping??

 

[madbuell]

Dana,
i just picked up my bike yesterday from HD cause in had my 5000 miles service on it, so they also adjust the pressure on the wheels, they took off the stem cap and for them the problem was fixed!
i tried the bike on the highway right after, and as soon as i reached 110 mph and changed my riding position, the front wheel started to shake again!
but it does not shake when i ride in normal cruise position...
that is weird!
a question for NL90: so you drive your bike very fast every day and you have the same problem i have but you know how to drive so you know how to get that problem fixed or you never experienced that problem? that are two different things...
anyway all the street bikes with a lot of HP or torque have a steering dumper or they suggest you to put it on the bike, cause is easy to get the front wheel floating on a full throttle, so easy to get the head shaking and lose control of your bike!!!
hope you guys understand me, i'm not american and it's not easy for me sometimes to make me understand, especially when i hit technical thems!!!

 

[NL90]

When I first got my Buell I had the shaking problem!
I set everything up to meet my weight and checked the tires PSI. After that it was fine. I first went to the HD shop and YES they said Stabilizer..

NO!!! Do not blow your money on it. .
Properly adjust the suspension and you will be good to go. Trust me... If you don't have the proper weight charts then let me know. I will post it for you!

Neil [up]

 

[madbuell]

i would appreciate if you could post the adjustments for the suspentions!
i'm 6 foot tall and weight 190-195 pounds...

 

[squiers007]

I agree, the weight chart would be nice to have.

 

[BuellPartsGuy]

NL90 sounds like the same people that say helmets kill people, because they break peoples necks in some crashes. Yes, in very few cases it doesn't solve your problem. But me personally, I would rather have it and its not a waste of money. I don't know about you, but $250 doesn't break my bank and its worth the investment to me.

Also, I do know how to handle my bike thanks, I guess I just rode mine more agressively, enough to need one. My suspension was set for my weight and still managed to get head shake.

 

[BuellPartsGuy]

If its not such a needed item on a Buell, why would Eric Buell himself have an Ohlins damper as a standard option on the factory XBRR race bike? [confused]

 

[dmp0001]

to each his own, there isn’t only one answer to every question. I do not have or need a damper, but could see why someone would want one... with the proper set up you shouldn’t see much head shake, but if you still do a steering damper would be an easy fix. if I was to spend much time in the triple digits I would probably invest in a damper just to be on the safe side. I think this is more a matter of preference than skill level.

 

[BadS1]

If its not such a needed item on a Buell, why would Eric Buell himself have an Ohlins damper as a standard option on the factory XBRR race bike?


Pretty easy answer there. Your comparing apples to oranges. A 150 plus HP bike to a bike thats mid 80's to mis 90's. A bike like that can be twice as violent coming out of corners and can cause severe head shake. If Erik thought his XB line needed a dampner I'm quite sure they would have gotten it. I also have a friend that runs a XBRR. Yes it has a dampner his other race bike....a 9R and a 12R don't ..... not needed. The XBRR in flat out top speed in the straight's is a very stable motorcycle. That fairing was designed by Erik personally to be very dynamic at Daytona. I'd be will to bet the bike doesn't need a dampner in the straights but does under hard braking and exiting corners. Like I said I have had mine to its limits as far as Top speed and mine doesn't as much as twitch.

 

[NL90]

P = Preload
C = Compression
R = Rebound


FRONT SUSPENSION

Less than 130lbs
P-7
C-2
R-1 3/4

130-150lbs
P - 6.5
C - 1 3/4
R - 1 3/4

150-170lbs
P - 6
C - 1 1/2
R - 1 5/8


170-190lbs
P - 5.5
C - 1 1/2
R - 1 1/2


190-210lbs
P - 5
C - 1 1/4
R - 1 1/2


210-230lbs
P - 4.5
C - 1 1/4
R - 1 1/2


230-400lbs
P - 4
C - 1
R - 1 1/4


REAR SUSPENSION

Less than 130lbs
P - 1
C - 2 1/2
R - 2

130-150lbs
P - 2
C - 2 1/2
R - 1 3/4

150-170lbs
P - 3
C - 2
R - 1 1/2

170-190lbs
P - 4
C - 1 3/4
R - 1 1/2

190-210lbs
P - 5
C - 1 1/2
R - 1 1/4

210-230lbs
P - 6
C - 1 1/4
R - 1

230-400lbs
P - 7
C - 1 1/4
R - 1


There ya go!! [cool]

-Neil[up]

 

[NL90]

I love how I post this and no ones comments back to it..
Guess you guys didn't think I knew what I was talking about eh?

Thats ok.. 17 year old knows a thing or two.
By the way, Track is coming up soon at Summit Point!!!

I just got my Pazzo Levers.. Going to put them on Sunday.

-neil [up]

 

[MPea3]

NL90: I'm not as young as you so I can't know as much as you so please give me the proper settings for a 95 pounds rider on an XB12Scg. Oh by the way, did you remember to tell everyone that the settings you listed are NOT for the cg model?

I'm glad you can ride your bike, best of luck to you on your track day. I've ridden for 30 years and prepped race bikes for 20, both for motocross and road racing. Right now I'm building an RD400 for Beth to run in WERA vintage 2. She's ridden for 10 years but she's still new to racing. When she first got her cg, she also had the shaking, which we were able to dial out. Still, the addition of a stabilizer made the bike feel even better, and of course WERA requires it on every bike through tech. If it helps, I can't see any reason not to add it.

I can drag my knees on my bike on hard tires, but so what? I still run sticky rubber just for safety's sake.