do you exceed load limit

[lonewolf]

my nomad is at dealer getting a leaking shock replaced. my passenger and i along with all our camping gear, and pulling a trailer, probably exceed the max of 408 lbs, by about 100 lbs. does anyone else exceed the max load of 408 lbs that it lists in the manual? and if so have you had any shock problems ? thanks in advance, for any input/replies.

[ponch]

My wife and I don't ride that often, but we exceed it by quite a bit, more than you do... without gear. I haven't had a blown shocks yet.


my nomad is at dealer getting a leaking shock replaced. my passenger and i along with all our camping gear, and pulling a trailer, probably exceed the max of 408 lbs, by about 100 lbs. does anyone else exceed the max load of 408 lbs that it lists in the manual? and if so have you had any shock problems ? thanks in advance, for any input/replies.

[dantama]

I have a size 4 wife. I didn't choose her because I was a shallow person, I choose her because the bike would be faster with a thin woman on the back :)

My wife and I don't ride that often, but we exceed it by quite a bit, more than you do... without gear. I haven't had a blown shocks yet.


my nomad is at dealer getting a leaking shock replaced. my passenger and i along with all our camping gear, and pulling a trailer, probably exceed the max of 408 lbs, by about 100 lbs. does anyone else exceed the max load of 408 lbs that it lists in the manual? and if so have you had any shock problems ? thanks in advance, for any input/replies.


Poncherello, you damn near exceed that wt. limit by yourself brother!!! ;)

my nomad is at dealer getting a leaking shock replaced....

Is it leaking air or oil or both? How many miles are on your bike?

I exceed the load rating every time we go touring. Probably by 50~100 lbs.

I had one that started leaking oil about a month ago. I put some Barsleak hydraulic oil in it & it seems to have stopped after about 1500 miles. Eventually I'll replace the shocks but I haven't decided with what yet. I doubt I'll get another set of stock Showas again because they're expensive and non-rebuildable.

[coacha]

With two up, we definitely exceed the limit. Add some stuff, and I'm thinking we are a good 100 over. No shock issues that I have seen yet.

[VulcanE]

I'm 6'2" @ 240 lbs + Wife 5'10" @ 140 lbs =380 lbs And I also have the weight of the fairing, trunk, trunk rack, 4 ;100 watt 6 1/2" Polk speakers, stereo, and tachometer, so I'll say when riding 2-up, yes we defiantly are "over the limit", not to mention when we go on a week long trip with all our stuff. Bike has been like this for 3 years now, and have had no shock problems. Have the shocks hooked together with a balancing kit, and for the last year, pressure has remained the same.

P.S., the Nomad don't seem to mind being ladened down, it preforms just as well totally loaded, or riding solo across town.

[macmac]

Exceed the weight limit on a Nomad? Never! I am the guy on the far right! hee hee hee...

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/8bb6.jpg

[skyhookman]

Riding two up, trunk and bags full, at least 150 or more over, no problems yet.

[fish]

OK! we are over the limit. :( I have 20lbs. of air and shocks on #3 what setting are you over weight people using??

Uhh...closer to 35 psi on #3.

[waterman]

Over the limit. My fat arse is plenty. We probably exceed the weight by 100 lbs when loaded. No problems yet.

20# in shock and 1 when riding single and 2 when 2-up and no gear and 3 when 2-up and loaded.

[ponch]

Pretty much.



My wife and I don't ride that often, but we exceed it by quite a bit, more than you do... without gear. I haven't had a blown shocks yet.




Poncherello, you damn near exceed that wt. limit by yourself brother!!! ;)

[coot]

My shock started leaking one month after the factory warranty expired, and with about 8 thousand miles on the clock. Never more than 20# air and never over weight.

It appears there are a lot of failures with the Nomad shocks. Could it be the crappy shocks are the fault and not the rider?

My plan is to replace the Kawasaki shocks with Progressive 412 series.

[fish]

Is it crappy shocks or crappy roads :-/

I'd say the whole suspension is so-so. Adequate but little more.

[coacha]

Just read on "another forum" that there apparently are 12.5" shocks for the nomad for use by those that may be a bit on the larger size. Don't have any idea were you can get them though.

Pretty much.





Poncherello, you damn near exceed that wt. limit by yourself brother!!! ;)


Smile, mio fratello!!


<marquee>http://www.pocicecream.com/images/desserts/spumoni.jpg</marquee>


Yummy!! http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

I'm nore of a Tutti Fruiti man myself.

I'm nore of a Tutti Fruiti man myself.

I told you I won't put up with that kind of talk!!! ;)

It's all in yer head Nico.


(oops!)

[cactusjack]

Do you mean before or after the buffet lunch?

[joesnomad]

Weight limits are suggestions in my way of thinking. Just like you shouldnt speed, maybe you should drink a little less, wear your seat belt, and my favorite just because it says all you can eat doesnt mean that you have to. Yes my bike is over the weight limit hauling double but no problems yet 20lbs in shocks and 2 usually or 3 if I remember to set it up when riding double.

[lonewolf]

thanks for all the input, feel better now. stealer is fixen it cuz its under warranty. its an 07 holdover, ive got about 3500 miles on it now. my 06 had 8000 with same rider, same gear and no problems. i ride with 20# and on 2 with dampener most of the time. and yes it was leaking oil, scared the hell out of me, saw it when i checked my tire pressure after 250 mile ride to wisc. at first thought it was my final drive leakin.

[davidjones1]

ok, can some one tell me is 1-stiffer setting or 4-stiffer setting? no leaks as of yet with 24,000 miles, running with 20lbs and setting on two
ride safe.

[ridemslow]

I am at 15 psi, on number 3 and I weigh 317. Wife adds 175, and other options add maybe 40-50 pounds. I think you might have just goten a bad shock. Just like with anything thats mass produced, you're gonna get a bad one sometime, somewhere. It just stands to reason.

[coacha]

ok, can some one tell me is 1-stiffer setting or 4-stiffer setting? no leaks as of yet with 24,000 miles, running with 20lbs and setting on two
ride safe.

The higher the setting on the shock, the stiffer it makes the ride. We ride #3, 25 lbs. For the Elkins trip, we went #4, 30 lbs. with all our gear. When I'm riding during the week by myself, I sometimes go to #2 setting.

If I understand correctly, the numbered settings are only adjusting the rebound damping. In other words, higher numbers indicate the tire will drop slower, after going over a bump.

Too high and your tire will catch some air after going over a bump. If it does that you'll break traction. Bad for both tire wear and performance.

Two low and the bike will bounce too much after a bump. As if the shocks were worn out.

Having more or less weight on the bike will require more or less damping.

[macmac]

I'ld say you understand just fine.

[coacha]

Ok Caddmann wins with the best explanation for the numbers. All I know is that if I'm on 4 alone, it is a bumpy ride. So it goes to 3 or 2. I'm simple minded.

[davidjones1]

I learn more every day about the nomad from this site. Thanks..
ride safe

[ells]

Might be worth noting that the 408 lbs "limit" also includes all the bike's fluids, which I figure must be about 45+ pounds with a full tank. Running near that limit two-up I find the shocks at 30 psi (rear tire on the ground) and damping at #4 works very well for me, although some of the worst bumps, on the freeways around Denver, are quite a jolt for both of us.

Interestingly the limit, maximum gross weight minus dry bike, for my VN800 Classic is about 30 pounds greater (yes, larger) than for the Nomad. Anybody know why that would be, other than the 800 doesn't have the all extras, doesn't make to much sense practically.

[skeeter]

Had to move to #3 setting today two up because of cattle guards. I was thinking of making the change after go over a few, then one in particular made my mind up for me. 20lbs on the air.

[aj]

I'm a bit of a barge arse 255lbs, ride with 30psi and on 3. My wife is 100lbs so dont need to adjust to much, actually got to tie her down incase she blows of in a cross wind (Gee I'm brave when she's not around!)

[skeeter]

I'll never tell!

[nightmare]

We exceed it on a regular basis, heck just by my self it gets close, I am 6'6" 285lbs

[mmartin]

I go over the weight limit alot of the times and like to ride the so called "less travel roads" and my shocks has held up real good-- no leaks yet
2 up+ gear---at least over by 75 to 100 lbs.
shock setting--- 3
shock psi-- 30
rear tire psi--- 42
No problems yet

[bikerbeagle]

408 is maximum load? ...I thought it was 490.

I might be right at the 410 mark two-up, add a trailer (tongue weight) to that on trips.

I keep my shocks at 35lbs on 3, haven't had a problem with them.

[1stgear]

When two-up on the '03, we are about 50-75 over. I set the shocks up on 4, and put in 40 psi, and still slam into the potholes and bottom out from some of the old paved-over concrete seams here in NJ. No leaks from the stock shocks yet, and am saving my pennies for a set of heavy duty Progressive 412's.

[1stgear]

We have to remember the tire load ratings, too. Which is why I'm running Dunlop E3s- The back tire is rated to carry 992 lbs at 50 psi. Front is 775lbs at 42 psi. Nice solid sidewalls keep the bike from any wallowing in the turns...

[samkjr]

Damn!. I am always over then. I am 345 wife is 175. All the extra chrome and everything. Full saddlebags. Fuel liquids. Little tool kit.

Way overboard.

keep my shocks on 40 and 4.
If they go bad I will replace them with the HD progressives.

We have to remember the tire load ratings, too. Which is why I'm running Dunlop E3s- The back tire is rated to carry 992 lbs at 50 psi. Front is 775lbs at 42 psi. Nice solid sidewalls keep the bike from any wallowing in the turns...

That's a little more than my tires are rated at. The tires I run (Metzler ME880's 160mm rear & 150mm front) list respectively, 853 @ 42 psi & 761 @ 42 psi, which totals 1614 lbs.

You've probably got the 80mm rear, which is evidently good for another 140 lbs over my 160mm.

[pablo]

When Julie and I rode to Eureka Springs and back, I had the shocks set at 35 lb. and the preload at 2. This seemed to be enough to keep us from bottoming out on big bumps and was still comfortable on the highway. We were probably pushing 460-470 with fuel and luggage. I put the rear car tire up to 27.5 psi, but don't know if I needed to. We were very confortable and the bike ran great, even with the big load. I haven't had any leaks or problems with the stock air shocks and am satisfied with them since I put the air balance system on. This keeps them evenly adjusted and makes it easier to check and adjust.

...I haven't had any leaks or problems with the stock air shocks and am satisfied with them since I put the air balance system on. This keeps them evenly adjusted and makes it easier to check and adjust.

Yes, but it also means that if one leaks down they both do. Mac's were doing that until we fixed them.

[chainsaw]

Fish, I suspect it's a little of both. Wife and I are over also. No problems so far though.