More motorcycle advise sought

[brimic]

I've had my Sportster for almost 2 weeks now. I spent the first week taking it very easy- practicing u-turns, hard braking, starts going up a steep hill, stopping going down a steep hill, and averaging about 35 miles/evening.  I had new tires put on earlier this week, had the bearings repacked/seals replaced, and the mechanic checked the bike over- only thing he suggested was to change the primary oil which I'll be doing next week after vacation.

Since having the tires changes, I no longer fear an imminet blowout, so I've been pushing my limits every day.  First was hitting corners faster/harder- I'm getting better and more confident every day. Next was speed. I rode around at 45-50 before having the tires changes, rode a few times at 55-60 after the change and am still getting used to it. However, I took it out on the interstate last night when there was very sparse traffic and this scared the daylights out of me. At over 60 mph it felt like I was walking a tightrope- real unstable, I had to make constant tiny corrections for air gusts and the tiny bit of wind we had..  I had had a white knuckle ride for about 6 miles and finally exited because I had enough. 

Is this something that I just have to gut out and get accustomed to  or is the bike telling me that something is wrong that might kill me?

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

fear is gods way of keeping you alive

[mgdavis]

It's normal to be uncomfortable on the freeway at first. There are a couple things that you can do to make yourself more comfortable. The first, which is something that I recommend for all riders, is wearing earplugs. Being isolated somewhat from the noise makes for a much more pleasant ride. The second is to simply relax. Your bike is inherently stable. If you were to let go of the bars it would go down the road in a fairly straight line. When you have that white-knuckle grip on the bars, every little movement that you make is transmitted to the chassis, causing your bike to dance around in a disconcerting manner.
Remember, try not to get frustrated. Every rider was a new rider at one point. Things will become easier and more comfortable as you rack up miles.

[Werewolf]

At over 60 mph it felt like I was walking a tightrope- real unstable, I had to make constant tiny corrections for air gusts and the tiny bit of wind we had.. 

That's not normal! When you say corrections what exactly are you talking about?

I've been riding for 35 years. Never experienced what you've described be it a small bike or a large one.

If you're getting a thumping vibration that occurs when you go over a set speed then your swing arm bearing may be bad.

If the instability means you're constantly having to lean one way or the other to just go straight you may have a problem with your front end. Worst case - bent fork. Maybe a really worn out front wheel bearing.

I'll say this again - what you describe isn't normal. You should be able to take your hands off the handlebars at just about any speed or 20 mph and go straight with no corrections. Any vibration that occurs at speed is dangerous and needs to be identified and repaired.

From what you've written I keep coming back to swing arm bearing or bent fork both of which can get you killed.

Have that bike inspected by a QUALIFIED mechanic.

[coppertales]

I wondered what that white glow in the sky was in the direction you are at.....No amount of theroy can replace experience with respect to riding.  All of the little stuff that you notice now will go away with more riding time.  Just remember, observe the road much further out in front of you than you do while in a car.  Watch the fast turns, they do in more new riders than anything else when you take them too fast......have fun....chris3

[brimic]

That's not normal! When you say corrections what exactly are you talking about?....

There didn't seem to be a shimmy, wobble, or vibration, but it felt like more like a balancing act as if I were standing on one leg whereas the bike feels very solid at slower speeds. Not sure if this makes sense, but its the best way  can relate it. I might try agian tonight if its not raining, if it still feels hinky I might get it checked out.


Another thing I thought about is that I might be a bit heavy for the current suspension settings? I weigh around 260, and there's a section of road in town that has expansion joints at certain intervals where it feels like I'm bottoming out the suspension over every crack because of the frequency of hitting of crack. I used to have the same problem with that particular stretch of road with a pickup bed full of gravel where the truck would bounce up and down. It doesn't feel that way on the interstate, but I wonder if my suspension is too soft right now for me?
 Any knowledge on changing the preload on the suspension? My service manual doesn't say much other than there's a cam on each rear strut....

[Werewolf]

That's not normal! When you say corrections what exactly are you talking about?....

There didn't seem to be a shimmy, wobble, or vibration, but it felt like more like a balancing act as if I were standing on one leg whereas the bike feels very solid at slower speeds. Not sure if this makes sense, but its the best way  can relate it. I might try agian tonight if its not raining, if it still feels hinky I might get it checked out.


Another thing I thought about is that I might be a bit heavy for the current suspension settings? I weigh around 260, and there's a section of road in town that has expansion joints at certain intervals where it feels like I'm bottoming out the suspension over every crack because of the frequency of hitting of crack. I used to have the same problem with that particular stretch of road with a pickup bed full of gravel where the truck would bounce up and down. It doesn't feel that way on the interstate, but I wonder if my suspension is too soft right now for me?
 Any knowledge on changing the preload on the suspension? My service manual doesn't say much other than there's a cam on each rear strut....

RE: No vibration, wobble or shimmy but feels like a balancing act. Is that kind'a like when you first rode a bicycle and you were conscious of the need to balance the thing and used the handle bars to get upright and over corrected?

RE: Suspension. If you've got the original toolkit that came with the bike there should be a spanner wrench in it to adjust the rear shocks or struts as the case may be. That cam is probably a stepped ratchet on the outer body of the shock. You'll need to use the spanner to turn it in a direction that compresses the spring to make the shock stiffer. You should be able to look at it and see how that's done with the spanner. But then you've got a Harley and all I've ever ridden is rice burners. Harley's may be different. If they are someone will chime in. In any event if the rear suspension is bottoming out that's a bad thing. You'll need to attend to that by either adjusting it or replacing the shocks if necessary.

[Firethorn]

At over 60 mph it felt like I was walking a tightrope- real unstable, I had to make constant tiny corrections for air gusts and the tiny bit of wind we had.. 

That's not normal! When you say corrections what exactly are you talking about?

I have to agree, though my experience is far less - I took the MSF beginners class, and my new bike is a Yamaha V-Star 650.

I got out on the highway pretty much immediately out of the lot to go home.  Did about 55 all the way.

In my 1k miles of experience, 95% highway, it takes quite a gust to shove me over, and the faster I go the more stable I am.

Except for wind pressure on my legs, 75 is no problem.  

As stated, when at speed I can pretty much take my hands off the bars, and other than slowing down from losing my throttle, I'm perfectly stable.  Even more so than a bicycle because of the higher speeds.

Have that bike inspected by a QUALIFIED mechanic.

A very good idea.

Another thing I thought about is that I might be a bit heavy for the current suspension settings? I weigh around 260, and there's a section of road in town that has expansion joints at certain intervals where it feels like I'm bottoming out the suspension over every crack because of the frequency of hitting of crack. I used to have the same problem with that particular stretch of road with a pickup bed full of gravel where the truck would bounce up and down. It doesn't feel that way on the interstate, but I wonder if my suspension is too soft right now for me?

I'm not familiar with that bike, but I know that you'd be right around the weight limits for my 650, so it's possible.

RE: No vibration, wobble or shimmy but feels like a balancing act. Is that kind'a like when you first rode a bicycle and you were conscious of the need to balance the thing and used the handle bars to get upright and over corrected?

Very odd.  When I'm at highway speeds, I feel like I could hang off of one end of the motorcycle and still not fall down.  Very stable at those speeds.

[Nitrogen]

Could you guys call my wife please?

I want a motorbike badly, but she's convinced I'll fall over at the slightest breeze.

[Marnoot]

I'm a recent beginner motorcyclist, and I understand what brimic is talking about. I don't actually think the bike is less stable at highway speeds, but at 65/70, it does feel less stable to me (though less so the more I ride). I think it's just due to the fact that any handlebar movement translates to exaggerated movement in the bike at higher speeds, just as it does in a car; and it's just going to take some getting used to before it's as natural as the same behavior experienced in a car.

[Werewolf]

I think it's just due to the fact that any handlebar movement translates to exaggerated movement in the bike at higher speeds,

Except that a bike isn't a car. The faster you go on a bike the less the handle bars move. In fact if you want to kill yourself in a spectacular manner at any speed over about 30 mph or so just grab those handle bars and jerk 'em right or left but only do so if you're serious about ending your life.

At speed on an MC you should not feel any movement in the handlebars at all - none - nada - ZERO. I'm not sure of the physics behind turning an MC even though I've been riding for 35 years (I know that supposedly the front wheel turns in the direction opposite of the turn) but I do know if you feel the bars moving in a turn at speed you've got a problem. If you feel 'em moving at speed while trying to track straight you've got a problem.

The faster you go on an MC the more stable it gets - up to a point and that point is no where near 60 or 70 mph.

You cannot turn an MC at speed by manhandling the handlebars. You lean into and let the bike do the rest. Try moving the handlebars by force in a turn at speed and - well - it'll suck to be you.

I'll say this one more time and then I'm done:

If you're feeling anything at speed that you think requires you to take corrective action, that doesn't feel right, that's a vibration or thump, if the bike won't track straight with your hands off the handlebars at 30 mph or so then GET THE THING INSPECTED BY SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING!

Ignore this advice at your peril. Better safe than sorry. MC's aren't a vehicle to mess with maintenance wise - they've got to work right, they ain't cars and there's very little give or tolerance in them safety wise.

EDITED to ADD: and if you haven't already done it run - don't walk - to the nearest MC safety course and take it. It'll be the best money you ever spent. It'll be more valuable to you than carrying a gun in big city ghetto, it'll be more valuable than... well you get the idea.

[Marnoot]

My motorcycle doesn't shimmy or shake. I think it must just be my unfamiliarity with high speeds on 2 wheels. As I said, the feeling I described lessens every time I get up to that speed. Also, I'm riding a Rebel 250; it's a light bike comparatively, and the wind blasts from passing trucks and such probably affect it more.

[Monkeyleg]

What kind of bursts of wind are we talking about? Even the air turbulence from a semi will cause the bike to move a bit. You get used to things like that.

As for being able to take hands off the controls, that's something I can't do on my bike unless I'm on a very straight stretch where I can hike my butt off to the left side of the seat. The front wheel on a Springer is offset to the right of center. It's not on a Sportster, though.

[Marnoot]

What kind of bursts of wind are we talking about? Even the air turbulence from a semi will cause the bike to move a bit. You get used to things like that.

I think that's the case for me. Little bursts of turbulence from traffic that move me around. I am indeed getting used to it.

[charby]

In my experience with a few Sportsters I have ridden is that becasue of their tire size they seem to walk every little crack in the pavement which until you get used to it, will feel like you are on the edge of out of control. I'm not bashing Sportsters because I am really considering purchasing a used 1200 this spring if I can save up enough $$ to pay cash for it.

[MillCreek]

I am unfamiliar with Sportsters, so this may seem a silly question, but does it have a steering damper on it?  If so, is it properly adjusted?

[brimic]

I might get a ride in later this evening to see if its just my nerves or the bike. I asked a friend with a good decade of riding experience to give the bike a try too to see if it feels something wrong with it and he agreed, but it will have to wait until next week- his family and mine are going to different place North for the weekend.
Probably too much traffic on the interstate tonight anyhow with everyone travelling north for vacation + a gazillion Harley riders that are camping down the street from me.

If I get out, I'l try the hands off the handlebars at around 30 mph.
I have a feeling this won't be a problem as I've had to fiddle with my gloves or turn on the petcock on the street behind my house a few times which took 1 hand and my eyes off the road momentarily without the bike doing anything but go straight.... (the street is a long wide street between my subdivision and another subdivision that's starting to be built- no other cars, pets, kids on or near the road).

[Racehorse]

...because of the frequency of hitting of crack.

If you're hitting crack with a lot of frequency, I guarantee that will cause you problems on a motorcycle.

 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

are there rain groves in road? they can give a funny feeling. and there was this darn bridge near hassisburg pa that was that metal grid most of the way across that was extra special in the rain

[charby]

are there rain groves in road? they can give a funny feeling. and there was this darn bridge near hassisburg pa that was that metal grid most of the way across that was extra special in the rain

We had two of those in my hometown, both built in the first decade of the 1900's. One spanned the Mississippi River for about 3/8 of a mile and other is 200 or so feet long. The one that crossed the river you had to drive about 15 mph and it made for a white knuckle drive. The bridge was replaced in 1994.

The other is still standing and when I was still living at home I used to hit the bridge on my bike doing the speed limit of 25 mph and when I left the bridge I'd be somewhere around 60mph. Seemed when you poured the coals on it smoothed out the ride across the bridge.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

i hated those bridges  real fun in snow

[Firethorn]

You cannot turn an MC at speed by manhandling the handlebars. You lean into and let the bike do the rest. Try moving the handlebars by force in a turn at speed and - well - it'll suck to be you.

In the MSF course I was taught to push the handlebar in the direction I want to turn when at speed.  I want to turn right, I push a bit with my right hand, and vice versa.

Note:  This is a gentle pressure.

edit:  Oh yeah, and even at the highest pressure I dare, the wheel doesn't turn visibly.  The bike leans in response.

EDITED to ADD: and if you haven't already done it run - don't walk - to the nearest MC safety course and take it. It'll be the best money you ever spent. It'll be more valuable to you than carrying a gun in big city ghetto, it'll be more valuable than... well you get the idea.

I found the MSF course very good.

[Monkeyleg]

Steering by pressing against the handgrip is called counter-steering. The more you press against a hand grip, the more your bike leans in the direction of the handgrip, causing the bike to turn. After reading the initial posts on this thread, I tried to turn the bike to the right or left by trying to turn the front wheel right or left; it couldn't be done.

You need to know your limitations when it comes to leaning into a turn. Too little lean and you'll overshoot the curve. Too much lean and you'll find some part of your bike scraping the pavement. On mine, it's the sidestand on the left that hits pavement first, and the front muffler on the right side. I've gone through three sidestands and a couple of mufflers on my bike by grinding the metal off.

A guy I knew lent his bike to a brother in law who was learning how to ride. The BIL was a little too aggressive when trying to learn to counter steer, and wound up being impaled by a guard rail post.

The grooved pavement is something you'll get used to. Just don't try to fight it.

[brimic]

Alright, took it out tonight.

I started at 30 mph, let my hands hover above the handlebars- no problems. Repeated this excercise at 40 adn 50 mph- again no problems. Got on the on-ramp to the interstate, made a effort to relax, held the  grips very lightly and kept my eyes far ahead. Took her up to 70, let go of the grips entirely, bike stayed straight as an arrow. I then tried clamping down tightly on the bars and found that the bike was tough to handle, relaxed and it was easy again. I also noticed that when I clamp down on the bars my whole body starts to tense up as well. Learned something new today. Cool.

Only problem I had was grooves cut across the road that I hit every 1/2 second or so where the pavement was slightly puckered up to the edges of the grooves, gave the bike a bucking bronco type of ride. I think the rear suspension is too mushy for my weight. Have to figure out the springs' preload adjustments I guess.

[brimic]

Steering by pressing against the handgrip is called counter-steering. The more you press against a hand grip, the more your bike leans in the direction of the handgrip, causing the bike to turn. After reading the initial posts on this thread, I tried to turn the bike to the right or left by trying to turn the front wheel right or left; it couldn't be done.

I found out yesterday on a country road that I could wiggle the handlebars back and forth very slightly and make the bike wobble- not practical or something I want to do.  I learned about countersteering awhile ago from a youtube video and practiced it on my mountain bike a lot before getting the motorcycle. 
I found that if I do this unnatural act coupled with another unnatural act of keeping my head/shoulders on the inside of the headlight on a turn, turning is really easy and I find myself letting up on the handlebar pressure to stay on my side of the road.