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BIKELAND > FORUMS > ZX-14.com > Thread: High speed wobble NEW TOPIC NEW POLL POST REPLY
kawboy81


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posted June 03, 2010 01:48 PM        
High speed wobble

I tweaked the suspension settings a little per advice from a local guy and now at wot I'm getting headshake when I shift. It's always done it a little but last night it almost turned to tank slap and I had to clutch it and shut her down. Scared me to death. What is causing this and how can I fix it? BTW the front tire is brand a brand new Michelin road 2. Thanks guys
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Hellmutt


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posted June 03, 2010 01:56 PM        Edited By: Hellmutt on 3 Jun 2010 22:45
Did you play with fork settings at all? Sounds to me if you did, put it back and then some to possibly eliminate that problem...........and get a damper on there if you don't already
::edit:: and CR is right if the rears too soft.......I'm no drag racer, but let us know what you've done if you want real help with this
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CrotchRocket


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posted June 03, 2010 02:02 PM        
You have to tell us what you did first...

Sounds to me that the rear is way too soft now...You prob have 2 loosen up the front & stifen up the rear...

How much you weigh?
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LAB3


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posted June 03, 2010 02:37 PM        
PM sent. Crotch Rocket has a good point.
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Lucky14


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posted June 03, 2010 02:41 PM        
Did it do it BEFORE the new front tire?
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BenzTech


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posted June 03, 2010 03:13 PM        
OT but what red screen is that in your avatar Kawboy81?
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SLVR_BLT


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posted June 03, 2010 03:29 PM        Edited By: SLVR_BLT on 3 Jun 2010 23:31
I had that problem when i raised the rear too much. After about 170mph~ mine started to get a little front end lift w/ throttle pinned in 6th and since it was barely skimming the ground it started a little headshake when it got to the bumpy section of the freeway but my Scotts damper took care of it before it got out of hand. I definitely recommend getting one, you just never know when you will need it. But first fix the suspension geometry that is causing it to be upset, and then use the scotts damper as a back up for just in case.










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kawboy81


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posted June 03, 2010 05:14 PM        
quote:
You have to tell us what you did first...

Sounds to me that the rear is way too soft now...You prob have 2 loosen up the front & stifen up the rear...

How much you weigh?


That could very well be the case....As far as what I did, I call myself trying to get it back to stock settings I had it adjusted before, for the track when I had my extensions on.... Well track got shut down so I reverted back to stock settings or what the guy said was stock, but it could be allllllll outta wack now. Im back SWB and when giving it throttle at speed the rear sags alot... maybe Ill try stiffing up the settings... Also I weight right at 200lbs so if anyone could tell me the right settings and air pressure i should be running for the street I would GREATLY appreciate it.
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kawboy81


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posted June 03, 2010 05:15 PM        
quote:
OT but what red screen is that in your avatar Kawboy81?

Sporttech, red mirror....got it from ebay
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SLVR_BLT


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posted June 03, 2010 05:19 PM        
You may need to respring the rear shock @ 200lbs, the stock spring is pretty soft. Even me weighing in at 240lbs my version of a bandaid fix for now is lots of preload and stiffer compression and rebound settings. Im trying to save up for something nice like Penske or a Ohlins shock.
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kawboy81


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posted June 03, 2010 05:19 PM        
quote:
Did it do it BEFORE the new front tire?

no, and It didnt do it when I installed it either, only after i went by this guys instructions and messed with preload and rebound.....Where should my settings be for 200lbs for street use?
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kawboy81


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posted June 03, 2010 05:23 PM        
quote:
You may need to respring the rear shock @ 200lbs, the stock spring is pretty soft. Even me weighing in at 240lbs my version of a bandaid fix for now is lots of preload and stiffer compression and rebound settings. Im trying to save up for something nice like Penske or a Ohlins shock.


I may have to do that...... ive never messed with preload on rear, just comp and reb.....how many turns should i go on the preload to stiffen it up a tad?
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SLVR_BLT


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posted June 03, 2010 05:23 PM        
This video will help you on a start point:

Basic Suspension setup click this link

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LAB3


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posted June 03, 2010 06:05 PM        
I am 235, I will look for the notes on my settings. Disregard my PM. My 07 does not shake the front wheel

at any speed. The front tire does need to be on the ground :-)

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kawboy81


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posted June 03, 2010 06:41 PM        
Shifting at high speeds, say into 4-6th at over 140 is when it does it. Like the front is skimming the ground going into next gear. If I ease into next gear then it's not as prone. I haven't checked ya pm, I'm on my phone at the moment.
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SLVR_BLT


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posted June 03, 2010 08:31 PM        Edited By: SLVR_BLT on 4 Jun 2010 04:31
quote:
Shifting at high speeds, say into 4-6th at over 140 is when it does it. Like the front is skimming the ground going into next gear. If I ease into next gear then it's not as prone. I haven't checked ya pm, I'm on my phone at the moment.


it could be by you not unknowingly shaking the handle bar real quickly during the quick shift closing the throttle and reapplying. At those speeds even the slightest handle bar movement will move the bike side to side.
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kawboy81


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posted June 03, 2010 09:19 PM        
Ok. I'll take note and see if it still happens
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LAB3


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posted June 04, 2010 02:14 AM        
quote:
quote:
Shifting at high speeds, say into 4-6th at over 140 is when it does it. Like the front is skimming the ground going into next gear. If I ease into next gear then it's not as prone. I haven't checked ya pm, I'm on my phone at the moment.


it could be by you not unknowingly shaking the handle bar real quickly during the quick shift closing the throttle and reapplying. At those speeds even the slightest handle bar movement will move the bike side to side.



I PM him that very thing :-) but he said it did not do that before. There are several videos for setting the

sag First. With you on the bike and a friend with a tape measure. He raised up on the front fairing and measured. Locked front brake and pushed on bars, measured. etc Same on rear. Follow the video. I know my spring preload is screwed way down for my body weight. Spanner screws on rear shock is almost all the way Down tocompress the spring. Then fine tune rebound so no pogo effect. Then compression......shit gives me a head ache. I use the same PR2's tires at 40PSI.

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Quarter Pounder


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posted June 04, 2010 05:21 PM        
good thing is that it wasn't anywhere near a tank slapper....if it was, as soon as you let off the throttle it would have gotten much worse. Bad thing to lift off the throttle in a tank slapper if at all possible, it just weights the front even more causing it to amplify.

Check tire pressures, and as mentioned above many times, suspension.
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kawboy81


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posted June 04, 2010 05:27 PM        
Lmao man I know. But until it happens it's hard to say how to react. You can read how to react a million times then when it happen, you forget everything. It was pretty bad. Not just a wobble, it was slapping back and forth and I didn't know what to do. Ima try setting the sag. Looks easy, but I found a video for a 14 on YouTube a while back. Just can't find it now
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tnt


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posted June 04, 2010 05:57 PM        
quote:
I tweaked the suspension settings a little per advice from a local guy and now at wot I'm getting headshake when I shift. It's always done it a little but last night it almost turned to tank slap and I had to clutch it and shut her down. Scared me to death. What is causing this and how can I fix it? BTW the front tire is brand a brand new Michelin road 2. Thanks guys
Man , that headshake may not ever happen again , but every bike acts different when you change a front tire , and tweaking the front suspension too , well , it's hard to tell which thing is the cause? It could have just been the particular road condition at speed you was acheiving that caused it also ! Do a head bearing check also , and now that you know what a shake feels like just be aware that this shit can happen! My son Chad (Bawls , I mean Craig Christ ) called me one day with the same experience, and it seems it was just the front wheel lifting right at the shift , under certain conditions , and after checking everything out , it never happened again! I've made hundreds of 1/8 th , 1/4 mile and even a few top speed runs with no problem then BOOM , an 1/8th mile pass with a head shake(almost tank slapper) but it has never happened again ! Get a stabilizer and don't worry , just always remember SHIT HAPPENS !
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kawboy81


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posted June 05, 2010 10:35 AM        
Ok with the rebound all the way out, I have about 1 inch sag in rear and front. I'm going to rewatch video now to see where I go with this. Sure that settings for a 600 would be the same for a 14?
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SLVR_BLT


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posted June 05, 2010 03:25 PM        
quote:
Ok with the rebound all the way out, I have about 1 inch sag in rear and front. I'm going to rewatch video now to see where I go with this. Sure that settings for a 600 would be the same for a 14?


it's a general guide, I used that method on all my bikes I've had
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wndsrfr


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posted June 05, 2010 06:08 PM        
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AzTkpqasr0



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXi3XRZdA44&feature=related


hope this helps

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