Vibration at 70+ mph

boomerang2120 · 07-27-2010, 11:17 AM

On my first real highway distance riding over this past week. I noticed the bike was nice and smooth as expected up till 70mph. At 70 it slowly starts to vibrate and increases with speed so much that by the time you hit 80 you feel like you're on a massage chair gone berserk. Slow down to 65-70 and the ride smooths back out. It is very predicable and consistent. Tried different gears, up and down hills, under power, and power backed off - it's not related to engine speed. It is related to actual speed of the bike.

Tires are the standard Dunlop's with maybe 500 miles on them.

I'm thinking it's just a wheel balancing issue, but thought I'd see what y'all have to say.

Muchas Gracias in advance!

cactusjack · 07-27-2010, 11:27 AM

You might try balancing the wheels with Dynabeads. Those should give you a smooth ride unless it's some other problem, like a defective tire causing the vibration.

**ringadingh** · 07-27-2010, 12:24 PM

It sounds like a tire balance problem, or a bad tire. Is it front or rear?

boomerang2120 · 07-27-2010, 02:37 PM

Guessing :-/ - I'd like to say the rear tire as I think I felt it more in the seat than the handlebars - but honestly I can't say for sure. At 80 it was enough to be scary. What I noticed was the "smoothness" of the vibration - very fast - consistent - almost "controlled".

**ringadingh** · 07-27-2010, 03:34 PM

You should check the balancing at least, it also wouldn't hurt to check the driveshaft U joint if checking the tire doesn't solve the problem.

trosco · 07-27-2010, 05:36 PM

I was thinking U-joint also. Usually if the tire is out of balance you can "drive through it" meaning above and below that vibration speed, things will be pretty smooth. And the vibration would normally show up lower than 70 MPH.

Jack the back tire off the ground, put bike in neutral and slowly spin rear wheel. watch if tread "weaves" or if tire is out of round and feel for "tight spot" when rotating tire. If tread weaves or is out of round , it's bad tire. If tire seem true but you have tight spot it's bad universal (make sure rear brake isn't dragging on disc high spot) and if spin is smooth and free then pull valve stem, put a ounce of beads in and air up tire to 40PSI and go for ride to see if it was just out of balance.

AlabamaNomadRider · 07-30-2010, 09:51 AM

Boomerang have you had a chance to check things out yet? Interested to know whether it was out of balance or what.

recumbentbob · 07-30-2010, 10:23 AM

++ 1 On Dynabeads...........

wiz · 07-30-2010, 02:10 PM

Does pulling in the clutch affect the vibration?

Stump · 07-30-2010, 07:36 PM

Had that problem on my 800 vulcan and turned out to be a bad tire, but like some others said could be bad u-joint on the shaft . I'd like to hear what you find out myseif , Iam learning new stuff all the time by reading all these letters.

07-27-2010, 11:17 AM	#1
boomerang2120 Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 115	Vibration at 70+ mph On my first real highway distance riding over this past week. I noticed the bike was nice and smooth as expected up till 70mph. At 70 it slowly starts to vibrate and increases with speed so much that by the time you hit 80 you feel like you're on a massage chair gone berserk. Slow down to 65-70 and the ride smooths back out. It is very predicable and consistent. Tried different gears, up and down hills, under power, and power backed off - it's not related to engine speed. It is related to actual speed of the bike. Tires are the standard Dunlop's with maybe 500 miles on them. I'm thinking it's just a wheel balancing issue, but thought I'd see what y'all have to say. Muchas Gracias in advance! __________________ '00 - 1500 'Carbed' Nomad VBA #01600 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-27-2010, 11:27 AM	#2
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Vibration at 70+ mph You might try balancing the wheels with Dynabeads. Those should give you a smooth ride unless it's some other problem, like a defective tire causing the vibration. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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07-27-2010, 12:24 PM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Vibration at 70+ mph It sounds like a tire balance problem, or a bad tire. Is it front or rear? __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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07-27-2010, 02:37 PM	#4
boomerang2120 Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 115	Vibration at 70+ mph Guessing :-/ - I'd like to say the rear tire as I think I felt it more in the seat than the handlebars - but honestly I can't say for sure. At 80 it was enough to be scary. What I noticed was the "smoothness" of the vibration - very fast - consistent - almost "controlled". __________________ '00 - 1500 'Carbed' Nomad VBA #01600
	0

07-27-2010, 03:34 PM	#5
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Vibration at 70+ mph You should check the balancing at least, it also wouldn't hurt to check the driveshaft U joint if checking the tire doesn't solve the problem. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-27-2010, 05:36 PM	#6
trosco Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,464	Vibration at 70+ mph I was thinking U-joint also. Usually if the tire is out of balance you can "drive through it" meaning above and below that vibration speed, things will be pretty smooth. And the vibration would normally show up lower than 70 MPH. Jack the back tire off the ground, put bike in neutral and slowly spin rear wheel. watch if tread "weaves" or if tire is out of round and feel for "tight spot" when rotating tire. If tread weaves or is out of round , it's bad tire. If tire seem true but you have tight spot it's bad universal (make sure rear brake isn't dragging on disc high spot) and if spin is smooth and free then pull valve stem, put a ounce of beads in and air up tire to 40PSI and go for ride to see if it was just out of balance. __________________ trosco: just call me Ross 2007 Black & Titanium Nomad (Nomad made 65K but got replaced 2014) 2010 Titanium Goldwing 2014 KLR 650 New Edition
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07-30-2010, 09:51 AM	#7
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Vibration at 70+ mph Boomerang have you had a chance to check things out yet? Interested to know whether it was out of balance or what. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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07-30-2010, 10:23 AM	#8
recumbentbob Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newburgh IN Posts: 3,404	Vibration at 70+ mph ++ 1 On Dynabeads........... __________________ VBA #01084 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
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07-30-2010, 02:10 PM	#9
wiz Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 498	Vibration at 70+ mph Does pulling in the clutch affect the vibration?
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07-30-2010, 07:36 PM	#10
Stump Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Scottown ohio Posts: 1,225	Vibration at 70+ mph Had that problem on my 800 vulcan and turned out to be a bad tire, but like some others said could be bad u-joint on the shaft . I'd like to hear what you find out myseif , Iam learning new stuff all the time by reading all these letters. __________________ Everyday is a holiday when you love your job, And if you don't you live in a nightmare.
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