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[Twolanerider]

This has been an interesting weekend on the red SERG.  Had it out briefly yesterday morning.  Behaved as always.  Then in the afternoon had it out again.  Noticed a bit of a swim.  Nothing violent.  But it would occasionally and suddenly just want to dance across about half a lane.  It would just as quickly straighten back up and it'd be like nothing had happened.

Had it out again this morning and it was worse.  Had it out again this afternoon twice.  Last time just now getting home and it's worse yet.

It's not a violent rear street that shakes or causes any kind of a tank slap.  But it's got a mind of its own.  And it dances around enough to make you hold on tight and pucker sometimes.  If it takes a notion to dance in a curve you can be in the oncoming lane veru quickly.  I pushed it down on the board brackets to bring it back enough in what otherwise would have been a very sedate curve this afternoon.  Still thought the rear wheel was going to dance out from under me.

Tires are new and up.  Suspension is aired up.  Fall away isn't bad but I'll tighten it a bit more.  Greased the neck before this last ride.

I honestly can't tell if it's coming from the front or the rear.  I forced to guess I think the front is dancing and the rear is trying to keep up.

Bike only has 20k miles.  Will check the neck and swingarm bushings next.  It's just a weird handling characteristic though.  A bit unlike anything I've ran in to before.

It's worse in mid range speeds.  35-65.  Seems to line out above that.  Had 20-25 mph winds today and on some roads it was a dead cross wind.  In that condition the bike was barely rideable.  A guy stopped beside me coming in to town and asked what was up.  So it's that noticable how much the bike is moving.  Definitely an E-Ticket ride right now.

If fork oil change, checking neck bearings and tightening fall-away nor any other normal service issue makes it better I guess I'll assume a bad tire.  Replace the Dunlops with Metzelers.  Would like to use up these new tires though.

[SBB]

Well you have some good shocks!
Or have you not put them on yet?
Shame on you if you haven't.
So when you gonna meet me on a Friday morning at Traxxion?
You know how impatient I am.
I'm waiting on you.

 

[SBB]

And FYI
I'm a Dunlop man but when it's time the SERG is getting Metzlers.

 

[HogBreath]

The black V-Rod has some of that action going on Don. The SE V-Rod is straight as an arrow. Terry swears it's the Traxxion. It could be, but, who am I to know? Feels to me almost as if something is loose in the rear end. Not enough on this bike to make me pucker though.

[Twolanerider]

The black V-Rod has some of that action going on Don. The SE V-Rod is straight as an arrow. Terry swears it's the Traxxion. It could be, but, who am I to know? Feels to me almost as if something is loose in the rear end. Not enough on this bike to make me pucker though.

Ken, on the latter run this afternoon this bike was dancing enough that I'd not take a hand off the bars to wave back at someone.  It was that weird and lively.

Haven't had a chance yet to look further.  But whatever is the cause is more then would be fixed with the Traxxion Dynamics upgrade or a shock change.  There's actually something that's not just performing badly.  There's something actually wrong.  Have to find and sort out whatever that is before doing any system upgrade.

Can't help but wonder about the old swingarm.  Though that's based on nothing more than knowing that it's got the old itty bitty swingarm in it.

It had handled so surprisingly well previously though.  Then, voila, it's got the hips of a hula dancer left too close to an untended keg.

Chip, I'd not got the shocks on yet.  It was a chore that just hadn't gotten done yet.  Perhaps I'll find a blown air line or something and it'll be that simple to get it back where it should be.  Right now though it's a sneaky little bitch just waiting for a time you're not paying attention.

[sadunbar]

Ken, on the latter run this afternoon this bike was dancing enough that I'd not take a hand off the bars to wave back at someone.  It was that weird and lively.

Haven't had a chance yet to look further.  But whatever is the cause is more then would be fixed with the Traxxion Dynamics upgrade or a shock change.  There's actually something that's not just performing badly.  There's something actually wrong.  Have to find and sort out whatever that is before doing any system upgrade.

Can't help but wonder about the old swingarm.  Though that's based on nothing more than knowing that it's got the old itty bitty swingarm in it.

It had handled so surprisingly well previously though.  Then, voila, it's got the hips of a hula dancer left too close to an untended keg.

Chip, I'd not got the shocks on yet.  It was a chore that just hadn't gotten done yet.  Perhaps I'll find a blown air line or something and it'll be that simple to get it back where it should be.  Right now though it's a sneaky little bitch just waiting for a time you're not paying attention.

Your description sounds like you are looking for something broken, not a design flaw...  Thousands of itty bitty swingarms out there performing fine - unless there is an issue with the bushings?   

Maybe a tire or wheel bearing?  Or neck bearing?     broken motor mount?   

[Twolanerider]

Your description sounds like you are looking for something broken, not a design flaw...  Thousands of itty bitty swingarms out there performing fine - unless there is an issue with the bushings?   

Maybe a tire or wheel bearing?  Or neck bearing?     broken motor mount?   

Yes, definitely Scott.  Something changed, moved, slipped, broke or gave up.  No doubt about that.  Just haven't had a chance to look it over yet to try and find it. 

I can't even tell for sure whether the tail is chasing the front or whether the front is getting shoved by a dancing tail.  It's a really weird feeling bike now.

The smaller swingarms are ok; if everything is ok.  They'll twist more and exacerbate any other weakness though.  So if something is giving up in the rear it'd be an additive factor without being the root cause.

(Knock on wood)...  Aside from the radio that's yet to be changed the red bike finally seems so happy with itself.  Rather thought there'd be two here without issues.  Guess that was too much to hope for.

[SBB]

A bubble on the side of the tire will make it handle strange.
Ask me I know!
And they just appear!

 

[Twolanerider]

A bubble on the side of the tire will make it handle strange.
Ask me I know!
And they just appear!

 

That was ugly.  Your tire had a huge self encapsulated fart just looking for a place to let loose on someone.

I have eyeballed the tires here.  DunFlops visually appear ok.  And even though it does swim; it doesn't really swim like a tire does.  Will get a chance to look at it more later tonight or tomorrow night.  See what it'll show me.

[Boatman]

I can't help you Don but I know you will figure it out.

[Twolanerider]

I can't help you Don but I know you will figure it out.

Yeah, it's pissed me off a little bit.  So when I get time its ass is mine.

[SBB]

Yeah, it's pissed me off a little bit.  So when I get time its ass is mine.

I'm thinking broken or loose air line.

[Twolanerider]

I'm thinking broken or loose air line.

That's my hope.  Really is.  Just flat shocks.  Don't think so though because it wasn't bottoming out.  If lucky enough that this is all it is though I'm a happy camper.

[sadunbar]

That's my hope.  Really is.  Just flat shocks.  Don't think so though because it wasn't bottoming out.  If lucky enough that this is all it is though I'm a happy camper.

You have air up front too, right??  Don't the 2000's have air front and rear?

[SBB]

That's my hope.  Really is.  Just flat shocks.  Don't think so though because it wasn't bottoming out.  If lucky enough that this is all it is though I'm a happy camper.

Remember you have air on the other end also.

And don't take that wrong.