Shogun
Expert Class
Posts: 274
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posted October 16, 2008 05:08 AM
Frustrated with Results
Good morning all. Sorry to present this sob story but I'm at the end of the line with my ZX14. Here's my story:
Goal - Long, Low, Smooth, and Fast for Florida street riding and maybe a trip to the strip.
Mods to reach goal - Exhaust, flies out, PC III, custom map, lowered front 3/4", lowered rear to btm hole in Vortex dogbones, Mac 6" over swingarm, Racetech stiffer rear spring and valve kit, Marchessini wheels, Dunlop GT Q's (200 rear).
Results - looks great, sounds great, rides like hammered crap! Head shake, especially when coasting down from hwy speeds is so bad you don't feel safe taking a hand off the bar. I lowered and did wheels and tires at the same time...that's when the shakey feeling started. Longer swingarm and rear shock mod didn't make things better (or worse).
Have checked front wheel balance and it appears fine.
Any thoughts? Have I made an error in my goals or mods to reach them? Help!!
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
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06 ZX14 - Arata exhaust, PC III, McIntosh Ext swingarm, Vortex lowering links, Racetech rear shock, Marc wheels, To be continued...
  
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Halvefast
Zone Head
Posts: 806
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posted October 16, 2008 05:39 AM
It might be as simple as a bad front tire.
Loads of bikes running just like yours with no complaints,
check steering stem torque while you are at it.
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ECTA Ohio Mile 195.132mph
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Bently
Needs a life
2012 14r In Blue and no Mods!
Posts: 5428
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posted October 16, 2008 05:55 AM
Mine was 5 inches over and lowered in the front and never had head shake. I would check tires
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the14thninja
Novice Class
Show and Go
Posts: 49
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posted October 16, 2008 06:06 AM
Mines is 8 inches over and lowered in the front and rear and i've never had that problem, but i'm going to get a gpr steering stabilizer anyway. And i also have a 240 rear.
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I live to ride and ride to live
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Shogun
Expert Class
Posts: 274
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posted October 16, 2008 06:24 AM
Thanks for the input guys. I forgot to mention I've got a GPR Stabilizer.
I'll try a new front tire this weekend.
Any additional comments and suggestions are welcome.
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06 ZX14 - Arata exhaust, PC III, McIntosh Ext swingarm, Vortex lowering links, Racetech rear shock, Marc wheels, To be continued...
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CrotchRocket
Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038
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posted October 16, 2008 07:02 AM
Put the rear in the middle hole...
You need to adjust the spring preload ontop of the front forks, makeng it a little stiffer since you lowered the front...
Your set up is too stiff compared to the front set up...Your suspention needs to be as equal as possible!!!
ZX12 and 14s do not need steering dampers, when you have the suspention set up correctly...
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Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars
*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
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Shogun
Expert Class
Posts: 274
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posted October 16, 2008 07:48 AM
Cool.
Just curious, anyone with a similar set-up...how many lines of preload are you showing?
I weigh about 190# + gear.
Thanks!
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06 ZX14 - Arata exhaust, PC III, McIntosh Ext swingarm, Vortex lowering links, Racetech rear shock, Marc wheels, To be continued...
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killakaw4life
Expert Class
Posts: 348
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posted October 16, 2008 09:35 AM
your said the wheels appear to be balanced. are you sure? My six I owned would give a little head shake between 40-50. Had it checked and OMG the whole rim was bent and out of round about an inch. But it still took a corner like a perfectly fine bike. Check your balance on both the front and rear at a dealer or aftermarketshop. And also check the front tire has proper air pressure, that the tire is actually good, and the rim is not bent, plus steering stem nut torque
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Shogun
Expert Class
Posts: 274
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posted October 16, 2008 02:33 PM
Thanks everyone! Swapped the front tire out this afternoon from a Dunlop GT Q to a Pirelli Diablo Corsa...night and day difference. Head shake is gone! Hard to believe my lone problem was a bad tire.
Still curious what front preload settings any of you guys with a similar set-up are running?? I jacked mine around so many times working on the head shake I've forgotten the best setting.
Thanks again...feel like I've got my bike back!!
Shogun
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06 ZX14 - Arata exhaust, PC III, McIntosh Ext swingarm, Vortex lowering links, Racetech rear shock, Marc wheels, To be continued...
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MJ
Zone Head
Posts: 560
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posted October 16, 2008 06:21 PM
quote:
Thanks everyone! Swapped the front tire out this afternoon from a Dunlop GT Q to a Pirelli Diablo Corsa...night and day difference. Head shake is gone! Hard to believe my lone problem was a bad tire.
Still curious what front preload settings any of you guys with a similar set-up are running?? I jacked mine around so many times working on the head shake I've forgotten the best setting.
Thanks again...feel like I've got my bike back!!
Shogun
Front tires are always the first thing to cause a problem and the last thing folks check 
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