956 miles...Rear Brake Squeals

[bfancett]

I was out on a short ride last night with my wife riding 2 UP, and she noticed that the rear brakes makes a high pitch squealing sound, like when metal rubs against metal. The bike is brand new, so I am not sure if this is because of the new brakes or mayeb the dealership didn't tighten something down enough.

Also, she says that the ride (in her opinion) is rough. We have a lot of bumby roads around here. When riding by myself I think the ride is pretty smooth. Combined riding weight is about 320lbs, and I haven't changed the shocks from the default setting of 2.

What should I do?

Regards,

Brian

[VulcanE]

For a good cushy ride, put about 17 psi into your shocks (only use a hand pump) and set your rebound on 3.

On your brakes, either you need to really get on them a couple of times (to seat them to the rotor), or you may have a lot of dust in them. I hardly use a water hose to wash my bike (prefer detailing spray), but every now and then, mine will start squealing. I'll take the hose and rinse them out good, and that solves the problem.

[macmac]

Use the brakes harder.. With these few miles nothing is wrong that the dealer did. The factory set up the rear brakes. You have been using the brakes too lightly probably and have built a glaze.

I almost never use brakes, other than the last second to stop at a light I didn't time right, but when I do I use them hard.

If you like get a course skuffy 3-M pad and wipe the rear rotpr clean, which should be done from time to time anyway.

You want a stiff ride, and not to be bouncing around like the bike is a caddy... You are going to feel bad bumps on bad roads, unless you swerve around them all, like I do.

2 up my wife and I run about 300 pound combined, and I run shock setting II and 10 psi.

I set my air with the bike on the ground.. I have a 'progressive air kit' and a gauge to show air, which has to be the same over the system.

I hear the books say to raise the rear wheel off the ground and pull the shock air valves out to allow the shocks to hang downwards then replace the valves and set the bike down.

Supposedly this is how you get 10psi in the rear shocks.

[dogdoc]

I just air my shocks with the bike down like you do Mac, works fine. Im around 10# and rebound #1 for single. 20# and #3 for 2-up riding.

[billmac]

My 07 rear brake squeeked sometimes when new. Guess it needed time to break in. 10k miles now and no noise for a long time now.

My Nomad new came with a vibrating backrest that the wife insisted I fix. Mounted some rubber bushings between pad and frame.

I am a big guy and ride two up almost all the time. Run rear shocks on 4 setting and about 15 lbs. I would rather not bottom out on the highway and absorb the lack of suspension with the frame.

[macmac]

I may try out setting III and stay at 10 psi in the shocks. I don't mind a hit from below much, but I don't like the squiggly feeling of the rebound.

I need to check the rear tire psi too about now. Haven't in 3 weeks.. probably needs Summer air.

[bfancett]

I changed my setting to III and that seemed to help a little, but not much. I haven't checked the air pressure, waiting to purchase a hand pump first.

There seems to be a big discrepency between what PSI people recommend, anywhere between 10 and 20. I guess I will see where I am at know and then increase it by 5 psi and see what happens.

Thanks,

Brian

[johnb]

Mac's right on about the brakes, you probably built up a glaze on them.

I set my shock air pressure with the wheel off the ground at 20lbs and have the rebound set at #3. I'm 250, and had it set at #2 and that was not comfortable at highway speeds. Got a little "squirrely" on curves.

[macmac]

The shock settings vary widely because some guys like a cushy ride, while other like it stiff.

We all weigh something different and I think I am near the lightest guy here there is.

In the USA and Cadada the roads varry from not to bad to pure livin hell. NH USA has roads mostly bad. When they re-pave a raod and it is flat and new tarmack it scares me. really !

I can't get used to the feel of that, which is like riding on fresh paint if you ask me. That sort of surface doesn't last a year, befoe the ice freezes it and breaks it into pot holes and frost heaves.

Now I know how to ride on pot holes and frost heaves.

I like the suspention stiff like the Bob Cat is.