Been getting familiar with my first Buell lately. Its a 2007 Buell xb12scg. As for as I'm concerned it's all stock, I just have a few suspicions that the previous owner put a bad tune on her because she's doesn't seem to be running like a stock bike that has nothing done to her. But that's besides the point. I'm noticing the she gets real unstable coming out of turns. She likes to wobble a lot when I power out of a corner. I figured with the shorter wheel base this shouldn't be happening. Is this normal for the bike? I do have brand new tires on, but I've already broken them in for over 100 miles. They are balanced and I run 32psi front and 36psi rear. Suspension settings are all normal.
Handling issues
- Thread starter HMTRAN
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Could be one or several factors.
How's your body position? With the short wheel base coupled with the amount of torque these bikes offer, that wobble could be a result of too much weight on the back wheel. Your front wheel may be lifting ever so slightly reducing your contact patch. When it comes back down and your tire is not in line, it will wobble trying to sort itself out.
Put more weight on your front end, lean into it. Maybe think about a stabilizer just on case.
How's your body position? With the short wheel base coupled with the amount of torque these bikes offer, that wobble could be a result of too much weight on the back wheel. Your front wheel may be lifting ever so slightly reducing your contact patch. When it comes back down and your tire is not in line, it will wobble trying to sort itself out.
Put more weight on your front end, lean into it. Maybe think about a stabilizer just on case.
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My scg will wobble a bit, if I bottom out the rear suspension while in a hard turn. Check your settings...if your in the 235-245 zone, hit me up and you can try the settings on my scg.
captain chaos
Well-known member
+1 on the suspension settings.
Buells are VERY sensitive to how the suspension is set up.
Use the factory specs as a starting point and then adjust to taste. Keep in mind the factory settings probably won't be ideal, but they are a good place to start. Personally, I found that I liked a couple clicks more preload inthe rear and a couple less in the front and then some minor tweaking on the C/R settings.
Once you get it dialed in, the XB is a thing of beauty in the corners. [up]
Buells are VERY sensitive to how the suspension is set up.
Use the factory specs as a starting point and then adjust to taste. Keep in mind the factory settings probably won't be ideal, but they are a good place to start. Personally, I found that I liked a couple clicks more preload inthe rear and a couple less in the front and then some minor tweaking on the C/R settings.
Once you get it dialed in, the XB is a thing of beauty in the corners. [up]
Thanks for all of the advice. I do have the suspension set to factory settings right now, but I think the problem is what Netty is saying. I'm riding with a broken collar bone so I'm steering the bike with very minimum input into the handle bars. As a result I'm gripping the bike with my legs and most of my weight is to the back of the bike. I really don't weigh too much though but anything will still be enough to make a difference. I've lost a lot of weight after my accident and I'm still recovering. Once I've recovered completely I'll start playing with my suspension settings some more. My normal weigh is right around 120lbs. Everybody's settings will be a little different, I'm just curious to see what y'all settings are at for the same weight, maybe it'll give me a closer starting point then the factory.
go cytocis
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The Wobble might also be an indicator to check your steering head bearings, if for no other reason to eliminate them from the list of possible causes.
Considering all the praise that's often lavished on the XB for its handling, I find that when pushed hard in corners, the short wheel base combined with the extremely steep rake can cause a bit of wobble like you describe. As others have mentioned, you can certainly tame this tendency with some tuning, but you may not eliminate it completely.
Steering dampers often help in these circumstances.
In my case a went with a “Lightening Long” model and I find that the extra wheel base assists hugely with front end nervousness.
Considering all the praise that's often lavished on the XB for its handling, I find that when pushed hard in corners, the short wheel base combined with the extremely steep rake can cause a bit of wobble like you describe. As others have mentioned, you can certainly tame this tendency with some tuning, but you may not eliminate it completely.
Steering dampers often help in these circumstances.
In my case a went with a “Lightening Long” model and I find that the extra wheel base assists hugely with front end nervousness.
Your normal weight is 120lbs and your under that now? With a healing collar bone? Do you have any previous sport bike experience? What tires are you running? and at what pressure?
These are pretty huge factors. The XB is pretty light compared to other bikes but gobs of torque in the corners require a little weight to keep the bike settled. I ride a 'Bolt so our suspension setups are different, but I have never felt un expected tank slap or wobble coming out of corners, this bike is PLANTED.
Being so light you really need your suspension dialed in. Having broken and re broken the same collar bone before and knowing what its like to have a new bike sitting you cant ride I would still advise strengthening up a bit before doing much riding.
This is a great place to start when trying to fine tune your suspension.
http://steveturnbull.co.uk/buell/thexbpages/xbhandling.htm
Good luck!
These are pretty huge factors. The XB is pretty light compared to other bikes but gobs of torque in the corners require a little weight to keep the bike settled. I ride a 'Bolt so our suspension setups are different, but I have never felt un expected tank slap or wobble coming out of corners, this bike is PLANTED.
Being so light you really need your suspension dialed in. Having broken and re broken the same collar bone before and knowing what its like to have a new bike sitting you cant ride I would still advise strengthening up a bit before doing much riding.
This is a great place to start when trying to fine tune your suspension.
http://steveturnbull.co.uk/buell/thexbpages/xbhandling.htm
Good luck!
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There is nothing wrong with using your legs, you'll just want to move your body more forward.
Awesome link Thalok, thanks. And yes I do have lots of experience on many different bikes including many different sport bikes. I know my limits especially with an injury, that's why I got a little concerned about wobbles when riding as tame as I have been riding. I wish I could push her harder, but I'm not stupid. I'll have plenty of time to push her once I'm all healed up, but I still don't think I should be having steering wobbles coming out of low speed turns. And btw I'm running Bridgeston battleax bto16 tires. Got about somewhere over 200 miles on em. Still pretty new, but I'm sure I managed to break em in pretty good.
And thanks go_cytosis for the advice. Ill check out those bearings first thing in the morning.
And thanks go_cytosis for the advice. Ill check out those bearings first thing in the morning.
Hrmm then. Wobbles like that are uncharacteristic for an XB. I know someone that has your exact bike and is maybe 20lbs heavier than you and he rides the piss out of that thing as his first street bike, he has never asked me or said anything about wobbles.
I remember someone else on the board a long while back describing something similar and I think it ended up his rear axle was bent, if the above suggestions dont lead anywhere checking the rear axle isn't a difficult process.
I remember someone else on the board a long while back describing something similar and I think it ended up his rear axle was bent, if the above suggestions dont lead anywhere checking the rear axle isn't a difficult process.
